Washburn University names Price/Allendorf family as 2021 “Family of the Year”

     Topeka, Kan. – Today Washburn University officially named the Price/Allendorf family as the “Family of the Year.” This designation honors their family’s dedication to, support of and enthusiasm for the university over the last several decades. It also acknowledges their embodiment of the Washburn University motto, Non Nobis Solum - Not for Ourselves Alone - which they have embraced through their careers and work in our community.

     Angie’s great grandmother, Thelma Allendorf, great aunt, uncle, aunt, cousin and her sister all attended Washburn. Scott’s brother-in-law and aunt are also graduates. Family legacy, good scholarships and wanting to attend the same university as each other led Angie and Scott Price to choose Washburn.

    While coming to Washburn was a very natural choice, Angie and Scott chartered their own paths on campus. Angie earned a bachelor’s degree in music, an associate degree in the humanities and creative and performing arts with an emphasis in dance and an associate degree in computer information systems. Scott was already working for Topeka radio station KTOP and this steered his interest to radio and TV.

    “Computer information systems was a fairly new area of study at the time [in the mid 80’s] and that really interested me,” said Angie. “But I have always loved the fine arts, so I chose to also earn degrees in music and dance.”

      A mutual love for music is how Scott and Angie met at a music convention during high school. During their time at Washburn, they were both Washburn Singers under the direction of Dr. Floyd Hedberg.  They both recount some of their favorite memories as part of this group and their relationships with Hedberg.

      While still a student, in 1988, Angie become the coach of the Dancing Blues. This combined her love of dance and music as this position is an adjunct faculty position under the Department of Music. Sometime later, she also began teaching a class for the Kinesiology Department. Angie remained the coach of the Dancing Blues until 2020 when she retired the roll and passed the baton to another coach. Angie continues to teach for Washburn University, and is an instructor and co-owner with her daughter Josie of Infinity Dance Studio.

       After graduation, Scott stayed in the radio and TV industry, however he had gained a peripheral interest in emergency services. Budget cuts in 1994 at the radio station he was working at turned a passing interest into a new career when he became a police officer and firefighter with the Metropolitan Topeka Airport Authority at Forbes Field. Since that position, Scott has worked for other rural fire departments and EMS services, eventually achieving the rank of battalion chief.

       “Washburn also helped me develop an interest in teaching, and I began teaching new firefighters and CPR/First Aid classes to the public,” said Scott. “I took a medical retirement from the fire service in 2016. 

       Before she retired from Dancing Blues, it was my job as Washburn alumnus to sit next to Angie at WU football games and keep her warm [on the field].”

        You can still find the Price/Allendorf family in the stands and at campus events. Their favorite events are Vespers presented by the Washburn University Department of Music each holiday season and the “Day at the K” hosted by the Washburn Alumni Association and Foundation at Kauffman Stadium every fall.

        “Attending Washburn University not only gave our family an education, but also taught us the importance of giving back to the community,” said Angie.  “Our family has been involved in many church, civic, youth and service organizations, and we all learned the importance of community involvement through our various interests here at Washburn University.”

A legacy for their daughters

      They have inspired their two daughters, Josie (Price) Dease and Abby (Price) Offerman, with their passion for Washburn and service to others.

     Josie earned her bachelor’s in music in 2013 from Washburn University. After meeting her husband, she developed a love of teaching, and came back to Washburn to complete the elementary educational licensure program in 2016.  She continued her education path and received her master’s in early childhood unified. She now works as an early childhood special education teacher and community outreach coordinator for Mathes Early Learning Center in USD 345 and is partner with her mom at Infinity Dance Studio. Josie and her husband are also raising a 4-year-old son and a 1-year-old daughter. 

    Abby graduated from Washburn in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology, with a minor in leadership. In 2000 Abby married Washburn alum Micah Offerman. She currently works for the Topeka Community Foundation, is studying online for her master’s degree and serves as an adjunct professor for the Washburn University Leadership Institute.

    “From my family, I have gained a strong sense of self-motivation. I have always been told by my parents that I was capable of anything I would put my mind to,” said Abby. “Just like Washburn, my family provided me with a strong, direct support system that did not do the work for me but encouraged me to challenge myself.

     “My family made me Washburn. Washburn, institutionally, has six core values: integrity, excellence, accountability, respect, collaboration, and innovation. Each of these values was made important to me before I recognized that I was an Ichabod. From taking dance classes from my mom to show me teamwork and collaboration, to playing school with my sister to learn accountability and respect, and being encouraged by my dad to be innovative and my own self.

    “My family and I have always been Ichabods.”

A legacy for others – The Angie Allendorf Price Fund

     Family and friends have created the Angie Allendorf Price Fund at the Washburn University Alumni Association and Foundation to honor Angie's time with the Dancing Blues. This fund will be used to support future Dancing Blues, the program and travel opportunities. A generous donation of $5,000 was given from an anonymous donor in her honor. 

    Recognizing a family of the year is an annual tradition at Washburn University that normally occurs as part of Family Weekend celebrations, during the football game.

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