On Monday afternoon, Austin Budke’s tuition balance for the spring semester had not yet been paid, although it was due the next day. His mother was worried that he would not get into Anderson Hall to make that payment and he would have to pay a late fee.

Fortunately for Budke, he wasn’t hit with any late fees. Not because he had walked in and paid his balance, but because after a year and a half of playing the role of walk-on, Budke was awarded a basketball scholarship.

“I thought about (giving the scholarship) in the fall,” Kansas State coach Bruce Weber said. “I talked to him about it and I said, ‘I want you to earn it. I want you to prove to all of us that you deserve it with your work ethic, being a great teammate, whether you play or not.’ I just wanted him to earn it and I think he did. He definitely deserves it and he’s kept a great attitude.”

There’s no doubt that Budke earned his way into this scholarship. It began with his contributions last season. Budke only averaged 2.3 points and two rebounds per game, but was someone that K-State could turn to in games last season in the 13.1 minutes a game that he played.

He continued to help out the team this season both in practices and in games. Games like Colorado State where he scored four points and was a go-to player for Weber while Isaiah Maurice was serving suspension and Dante Williams was not with the team. Or the Kansas game when he hit a 3-point shot that extended the Wildcats’ lead early in the game.

“He’s come to practice every day, put in the work, gives us good, quality minutes when he comes into the game,” Wesley Iwundu said of Budke. “I wasn’t surprised at all that he got put on scholarship because I’ve been feeling like since we had an open scholarship, that one should have been his. I think it’s pretty good for him and I’m happy for him.”

Those who knew Budke prior to his days at K-State echo that same sentiment.

“It’s an honor and he earned it while he was there,” said Budke’s high school coach, Ryan Eilert. “A lot of times, scholarships are given for what you’ve done at a different level. He’s earned it because of what he’s done at the Division I level.”

Budke began at small Beloit High School in Beloit, Kansas and then went to Hutchinson Community College before walking on at K-State. And even though he was a standout player in high school and continued to be a strong force at the junior college level, being on scholarship at a Division I school is still crazy for him to believe.

“If you would’ve told me two years ago that I’d be on scholarship and playing basketball at K-State, I would’ve said you’re nuts,” Budke said. “It’s one of those things that not many people get to do. Every school only gets 13 scholarships so I’m honored to be one of those 13.”

The feeling of being put on scholarship is a special one for Budke, but it did not come without some struggles.

As a chemical engineering student, Budke’s curriculum is incredibly challenging. The challenge of playing collegiate sports and going to school in a tough major is not an easy one. Even so, Budke did so well in class that he was named to the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll in the fall and spring semesters last year.

“Last year there was times where it was really tough with school and everything,” Budke said. “The engineering curriculum on top of basketball and the grueling schedule we have, it gets kind of tough. I kind of got adjusted to it second semester last year. It was tough at the beginning to get used to it, but second semester I kind of got adjusted to it.”

The Wildcats are an improved team this season. They are 14-4 and have a chance to get back into the NCAA Tournament this season. Part of that can be credited to the addition of players like Xavier Sneed, or Isaiah Maurice who gives K-State a post presence. Unfortunately for Budke, that means seeing his minutes go down.

This season, Budke is playing just 4.5 minutes a game and averages 1.1 points a game. None of that is important to him, though.

“This is my senior season. This will be the last time I ever play basketball so I want the team to go out on a good note,” Budke said. “You can’t get down on playing time or anything like that. If I was one of those guys that cared about playing time, I would’ve went to a different school where I could’ve played.”

Budke will likely create some moments as his senior year winds down, but being awarded a full scholarship is one moment that will always stay with him.

“It’s one of those moments that not a lot of people get to experience, being on scholarship at Division I level,” Budke said. “To get to experience that with all of your teammates and everyone in there and everyone giving you high fives, it was a cool moment and one of those things you’ll remember for a long time.”