Trombonists of the K-State Marching Band perform the first verse of the Wabash Cannonball slowly and quietly as they crouch on the ground at the K-State Student Union renovation groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday afternoon. (Parker Robb | The Collegian)

Shiny shovels and hard hats wait eagerly to turn dirt at the K-State Student Union renovation groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday afternoon. (Parker Robb | The Collegian)

Flag bearers of the K-State Marching Band alternate leaning and clapping during "The Band is Hot!" at the K-State Student Union renovation groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday afternoon. (Parker Robb | The Collegian)

Tuba players of the K-State Marching Band shout while performing "The Band is Hot!" at the K-State Student Union renovation groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday afternoon. (Parker Robb | The Collegian)

The K-State Marching Band's cymballist dances while a drummer hits her cymbal at the K-State Student Union renovation groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday afternoon. (Parker Robb | The Collegian)

K-State Marching Band tuba players perform at the K-State Student Union renovation groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday afternoon. (Parker Robb | The Collegian)

Joe Tinker, senior in psychology and K-State Student Body Vice President, speaks of how the Union is the campus' living room and hangout spot and enhances the K-State community at the K-State Student Union renovation groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday afternoon. (Parker Robb | The Collegian)

K-State Student Body Vice President Joe Tinker, senior in psychology, elaborates on all the hard work that students have performed since the student referendum that gave permission to renovate the Union two and a half years ago to bring the Union renovation project to the point of finally commencing construction at the K-State Student Union renovation groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday afternoon. (Parker Robb | The Collegian)

K-State President Kirk Schulz speaks during the K-State Student Union renovation groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday afternoon. (Parker Robb | The Collegian)

K-State students and Manahttan residends gathered on Bosco Plaza to hear remarks from K-State dignitaries and to witness the turning of dirt at the K-State Student Union renovation groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday afternoon. (Parker Robb | The Collegian)

K-State Student Body President Andy Hurtig, senior in accounting, speaks as other dignitaries listen at the K-State Student Union renovation groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday afternoon. (Parker Robb | The Collegian)

Union Corporation Board President Becky Brady, senior in elementary education, speaks about how even though she didn't think anything of the building upon first arriving at K-State, the Union quickly became her home on campus, at the K-State Student Union renovation groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday afternoon. (Parker Robb | The Collegian)

K-State Dean of Student Life Pat Bosco describes how a student referendum in the 1940s passed a measure to build the first student union on campus, requiring each student to pitch in $5 per semester at a time when tuition was $50, at the K-State Student Union renovation groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday afternoon. (Parker Robb | The Collegian)

K-State Student Union Director Bill Smirga speaks joyfully about the commencing renovations to the Union at the K-State Student Union renovation groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday afternoon. (Parker Robb | The Collegian)

K-State leaders speak about the meaning of the impending renovations to the Union to the K-State community as shovels await the ceremonial turning of dirt at the K-State Student Union renovation groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday afternoon. (Parker Robb | The Collegian)

Union leadership attempts to pin a construction hard hat on Willie's head at the K-State Student Union renovation groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday afternoon. (Parker Robb | The Collegian)

K-State and Union leadership, including (from left to right) Student Body Vice President Joe Tinker, K-State President Kirk Schulz, Student Body President Any Hurtig, Union Corporation Board President Becky Brady, Dean of Student Life Pat Bosco, Union Director Bill Smirga, and Willie the Wildcat turn the first dirt at the K-State Student Union renovation groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday afternoon. (Parker Robb | The Collegian)

Student Body Vice President Joe Tinker, senior in psychology, takes a selfie with K-State President Kirk Schulz, Dean of Student Life Pat Bosco, Union Corporation Board President Becky Brady, senior in elementary education, and Union Director Bill Smirga at the K-State Student Union renovation groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday afternoon. (Parker Robb | The Collegian)

From left to right, Student Body Vice President Joe Tinker, senior in psychology, Student Body President Andy Hurtig, senior in accounting, and Union Corporation Board President Becky Brady, senior in elementary education, were on hand to initiate the construction on the Union at the K-State Student Union renovation groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday afternoon. (Parker Robb | The Collegian)

K-State students and Manhattan residents enjoy Call Hall ice cream at the K-State Student Union renovation groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday afternoon. (Parker Robb | The Collegian)