Pitt State announces recipients of 2026 Outstanding Alumni Award

The Pittsburg State University Alumni Association has announced the two recipients of this year's Dr. Kenneth K. Bateman Outstanding Alumni Award: Derek H. Hoffine and Dr. Sabuhi Sardarli, PhD.

The award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated significant professional growth and advancement since the completion of their degree or last credit hours. Candidates must have earned their last credit hours or degree from Pittsburg State University at least 11 years prior, but no more than 25 years.

The recipients will be recognized alongside recipients of the university's GOLD (Gorillas of the Last Decade) Alumni Award at 2 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 17, at the Wilkinson Alumni Center as part of Homecoming.

Derek H. Hoffine

Derek H. Hoffine earned a Bachelor's in Construction Engineering Technology in 2002 and has built an exceptional career in the construction industry through leadership, operational excellence, and workforce development.

Hoffine currently serves as executive vice president for Hensel Phelps, overseeing the Pacific Northwest, Rocky Mountain, and Southcentral regions, as well as Hensel Phelps Diverge.

Since joining Hensel Phelps, he has advanced through a variety of roles, including field engineer, project manager, operations manager, and regional vice president. For more than two decades, he has managed major construction projects across the country, including work in Nebraska, South Carolina, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Florida, Washington, D.C., Virginia, Maryland, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and Montana.

In addition to his professional responsibilities, he is committed to developing the next generation of industry leaders through his service on the Workforce Development Committee for Associated Builders and Contractors National. His dedication to both the construction profession and workforce development has helped strengthen opportunities for future construction professionals nationwide.

He resides in Erie, Colorado, with his wife, Jen Hoffine (BS '02, Family & Consumer Sciences), and their five children.

What does it mean to you to receive the Outstanding Alumni Award?

Receiving this award is both humbling and deeply meaningful. Pittsburg State University played a pivotal role in shaping my career and leadership journey, so to be recognized by an institution that has invested so much in my development is truly an honor.

What makes this award especially significant is that it reflects not only professional achievement, but also leadership, service, and the impact you have on others. Throughout my career, I've been fortunate to work alongside incredible teams, mentors, and colleagues who have challenged me, supported me, and contributed to any success I've achieved. In many ways, I view this recognition as a reflection of those collective efforts.

As a Construction Engineering Technology graduate, I'm proud to represent the construction industry and Hensel Phelps, where I've had the opportunity to help build projects, develop future leaders, and contribute to the communities we serve. Those experiences have reinforced the values that Pittsburg State instilled in me - hard work, integrity, continuous learning, and service to others.

Most importantly, I hope this recognition serves as encouragement to current students and young alumni. If my journey demonstrates anything, it's that with dedication, strong relationships, and a commitment to excellence, there are incredible opportunities ahead. I'm grateful to Pittsburg State, honored to receive an award that bears Dr. Bateman's name, and committed to continuing to give back to the university and the profession that has given me so much.

How did Pitt State prepare you for your future and your career?

Pitt State gave me far more than a degree - it gave me the foundation for how I approach leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving. The Construction Engineering Technology program emphasized practical, hands-on learning and taught me how to think critically, communicate effectively, and solve complex challenges. Those skills have served me throughout my career and continue to influence how I lead today.

Beyond the classroom, Pitt State taught me the value of relationships. The faculty genuinely cared about student success, and the connections I built with classmates, professors, and industry partners helped shape my professional network and opened doors early in my career.

One of the biggest lessons I took away from Pitt State was that success is built by teams, not individuals. Construction is ultimately a people business, and Pitt State instilled in me the importance of collaboration, accountability, and servant leadership. Those principles have been central to my growth from a young field engineer to an executive leader.

Looking back, Pitt State prepared me not only for a career, but for a lifetime of learning and leadership. It gave me the technical foundation to succeed in the construction industry and the character values that continue to guide me today. For that, I'll always be grateful.

Dr. Sabuhi Sardarli, Ph.D., CFA

Dr. Sabuhi Sardarli earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Economics and Management in 2005 and has established a distinguished career in higher education, finance, and research.

He currently serves as associate dean of administration and finance and associate professor of finance in the College of Business at Kansas State University.

He earned an MBA in Finance from the University of Missouri in 2006 and a Ph.D. in Finance from the University of Florida in 2013.

Throughout his career, he has held a variety of leadership and industry roles, including director of the Gates Capital Management Center for Financial Analysis at Kansas State University, finance consultant for SigFig, visiting lecturer at ADA University, and financial analyst for Sprint. He is also a founding partner of Elemental Wealth Group, a financial advising firm based in St. Louis, Missouri.

An accomplished educator and scholar, he has received numerous honors from Kansas State University, including the Bob Campbell Faculty Fellowship, the Ralph E. Reitz Outstanding Teaching Award, and the College of Business Outstanding Faculty Award. He is also a prolific researcher whose work has appeared in leading academic publications, including European Financial Management, Journal of Investment Strategies, Journal of Corporate Finance, Financial Management, and Journal of Financial Research, among others.

He resides in Manhattan, Kansas, with his wife, Aynura Alakbarova, and their two children, Adnan and Leyla.

What does it mean to you to receive the Outstanding Alumni Award?

I am incredibly honored to receive this award. Pitt State holds a very special place in my life. I arrived as an international student, far from home and adjusted to a new country, culture, and educational system. Pitt State quickly became a place where I felt welcomed and supported.

Being part of Honors College gave me an immediate sense of community, and the faculty took a genuine interest in my success.

Looking back, I could not have asked for a better place to continue the early years of my education in the United States. To now be recognized by the university that gave me that start is both humbling and deeply meaningful. I am very grateful for the people at Pitt State who invested in me and helped set me on the path I have followed since.

How did Pitt State prepare you for your future and your career?

Pitt State gave me a strong academic foundation while also helping me discover the career I wanted to pursue. In fact, Pitt State is where I was first inspired to go into academia. The faculty in the Kelce College of Business were outstanding teachers, and the way they engaged with students and brought their subjects to life gave me role models for the kind of professor I wanted to become.

My professors challenged me to think critically, encouraged me to pursue opportunities I might not otherwise have considered, and prepared me well for graduate school and a career in finance. But their influence went beyond academics. Seeing how much impact a great professor could have on a student helped shape my own aspirations.

Years later, as a professor and university administrator, I still draw on what I experienced at Pitt State. It not only prepared me for the next stage of my education; it helped inspire the career I ultimately chose.