Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly honored longtime state employees at a ceremony on April 28.
The Kansas Department of Administration held the ceremony for employees who have been with the state for 40 and 50 years. There were 92 employees recognized for 40 years of continuous employment with the state, and nine employees recognized for 50 years of continuous employment.
“I multiplied all that and came up with a combined, staggering, 4,130 years of service, sitting in this room,” Kelly said. “I want to take a moment to sincerely acknowledge your unwavering dedication to the state of Kansas.”
Gov. Laura Kelly takes pictures with 92 employees recognized for 40 years of continuous employment with the state, and nine employees recognized for 50 years of continuous employment during a ceremony at the Statehouse on April 28, 2025.
Kelly also noted that the past five years has been challenging for state employees. She said Kansas’s employees had to adapt to alternative working conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic and intense public backlash to public servants.
“I’m also aware that we are currently in an environment that tends to undervalue and undermine public service at both the federal and state level, jeopardizing the central services Kansans rely on, threatening critical agency objectives to keep our people safe and healthy,” Kelly said.
Gov. Laura Kelly shakes hands with Kansas professor David Darwin for his 50 years of continuous service as a state employee during a ceremony at the Statehouse on April 28, 2025.
After her remarks, all 101 employees were asked to walk to podium to receive a certificate recognizing their years of service, and take a photo with Kelly and their respective agency heads.
Jack Harvel is a Statehouse Reporter for The Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached by email at JHarvel@Gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas gov. honors state employees at Capitol ceremony