Ciara Waugh serves as the Board President for Thrive! Flint Hills. Ciara began their participation with Thrive in 2022. Ciara is married and three cats and two dogs. They are a longtime Kansan who enjoys reading, movies, television, cooking and travel. Ciara has spent their decade long career in various levels of business management with a strong background in Human Resources. What brought Ciara to Thrive was their drive to help others who may come from a similar background as themselves but were not given the same opportunities along the way to reach their goals. What Ciara loves most about Thrive is the community that is built and how everyone works to help each other grow and reach success, whatever that may look like.

Megan is an activist who is passionate about prison abolition, eradicating poverty, reproductive rights, and stopping the school-to-prison pipeline.  She works as a Social Emotional Coach at a local elementary school where she is working to integrate restorative justice practices and trauma-informed educational practices.  
She was the co-chair for the Manhattan-Riley County Coalition for Equal Justice from 2020-2022, and for the last year and a half has volunteered for the Compassion Prison Project creating writing prompts for incarcerated individuals.  

Brandon came to the Manhattan area in 2018 and serves as the News Director for Manhattan's long-standing community radio station KMAN. 
A graduate of Belton High School, in the Kansas City area, Brandon earned his Bachelor's Degree in Broadcast Media, with a minor in Journalism from the University of Central Missouri. He enjoys storytelling and reporting on local issues. He is particularly passionate about inspiring others to be the best version of themselves and enhancing the voices of those who don't have a voice in our community.
In the past, Brandon has volunteered his time mentoring high school kids and donating to local organizations that support the LGBTQ community.
Brandon has been married since 2007 to his wife Heidi, living in Missouri, Nebraska, and Kansas over that time. Together, they have two children and reside in the City of Riley.​

Brenee is a THRIVE! board member who began in summer 2024. Brenee has lived in Manhattan, KS for close to 12 years. She worked at K-State for 10 years where she had the privilege of working with first-generation students and students who are traditionally underrepresented in academia to help them accomplish their academic goals. She accomplished this by developing and implementing programs related to recruitment and retention. She currently works as a medical writer. Upon learning about the work of THRIVE! she was compelled to get more involved to help support its mission of strengthening families and individuals within the community.

Betsy Draper joined Thrive as an Ally in 2018. After serving one term on the Board of Directors from 2020-2022, Betsy was reappointed in 2024. Betsy, and spouse, Marty, have two daughters with supportive spouses busy raising five beautiful grandchildren. Betsy retired from K-State after spending 40 years in the information technology field at public universities and federal government. Grounded in the ethic of do no harm, do good, and respect all, Betsy has spent much of her adult life working with others on social issues, particularly around affordable housing and reducing hunger. Seeing families grow healthier and strengthen relationships is the best part of Thrive!

After 39 years of service to USD #383 in multiple roles, beginning as a school custodian, Jim retired as Ogden Elementary Principal in 2021. Although he immigrated from Mexico, he has spent most of his life in Manhattan, a community he loves, so he now volunteers wherever he can make a difference in youth and families with unmet basic human needs. THRIVE! and its mission of empowering families to literally thrive, piqued his interest in 2023 and he now serves as a board member. He is a highly experienced educational advocate who uses all available avenues and creates partnerships to advance the interests of the entire educational community. He believes that all students can and should learn and has volunteered as an Innovation Project Facilitator and enrichment math teacher in an elementary school for the past two years. Though he prefers to work closely with students, especially those who struggle most, his passion for supporting them also finds him in the civic community, serving on boards of directors, in businesses, writing grants, and lobbying in the legislature, fighting fiercely for students and their right to a high-quality public education that empowers them to thrive. Jim and his wife, Cheryl, have two adult daughters, one cat, and one dog he spends time with. When he’s not volunteering, Jim enjoys reading, shared DIY home projects, and gardening. He really enjoys golfing with Cheryl and their friends when time and Kansas weather allow.

Carrie C Andrade joined the thrive board in 2021. She and her husband have lived in Manhattan since 1983 and raised their five children in our community. They all live around the U.S. at this time. Carrie currently is a special education teacher in the USD 383 school district. She has volunteered on several community advisory boards such as the Humane Rights Advisory Board and the Joint Corrections Advisory Board. Carrie enjoy spending her free time with friends and family and attending KSU activities. Carrie enjoys helping others learn how to be empowered and to advocate for themselves. Building relationships is the foundation for this important endeavor. "I believe that giving to others brings so much more joy to the giver."