2014-15
K CLU B RE V I E W
2014-15
IN THIS ISSUE
K Club Executive Board of Directors Jeff Long Board President jefflong@ku.edu (816) 500-2339
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ATH LE TI C S D I R EC TOR D R . S H E AHO N ZE N G E R
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K C LU B PRE SI D E N T, J E FF LON G
Liz Dobbins Vice President ldobbins@ku.edu (785) 312-0314
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AB OU T K C LU B, B E N E FI TS OF MEM BE R S HI P
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2 01 5-1 6 K C LU B B OAR D D I REC TORY
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N E W B OARD STRU C TU R E AN D GOA L S
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SAV E TH E DATE
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N LWA I N VOLV E ME N T
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PR E S E RV I N G H I STORY
Bob Lockwood Immediate Past President kucoachbob@yahoo.com (785) 840-8002 David Johnston Special Assistant to President davidjohnston@kualumni.org (785) 979-6167
Kansas Athletics Staff
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Candace Dunback Director of Traditions cdunback@ku.edu (785) 864-7446 Mandy Leibold Membership Coordinator – K Club mleibold@ku.edu (785) 864-7915
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Stay Connected Website: KUAthletics.com/kclub Facebook: /KansasKClub Twitter: @KansasKClub LinkedIn: University of Kansas Athletics Alumni Network Email: kclub@ku.edu
S U PPORTI N G C U R RE N T STU D E N T-AT HL E T E S
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JAYHAWK SENIOR CELEBRATION WILLIAMS EDUCATION FUND COMPLIANCE “ASK BEFORE YOU ACT” KU LEADS AND CAREER CONNECTIONS GAME TICKETS
K C LU B CON N EC TS JAYH AW KS
Mailing Address: Kansas Athletics- K Club 2460C Wagnon Student-Athlete Building 1651 Naismith Drive Lawrence, KS 66045-4069
10 K CLUB LIFETIME SERVICE AWARD 11 DEBRUCE CENTER, BOOTH HALL OF ATHLETICS 12 JERSEY RETIREMENT: JILL LARSON-BRADNEY
22 ONCE A JAYHAWK FEATURES 23 KCLUB FIRST GAME TAILGATE AND SPRING GAME TAILGATES 24 K CLUB WEEKEND 25 SPECIAL EVENTS 26 MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY 28 CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS & SP ORTS REUNIONS
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NE W K C LU B ME R C H AN D I SE W E B S I T E
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K C LU B ME MB E R SH I P FORM
C REDITS: Editor: Candace Dunback / Editorial Assistance: Erin Penning, Kansas Athletics Communications Office, K Club Executive Board and Student-Athlete Development / Photography: Jeff Jacobsen and Student-Athlete Development Staff / Additional Photography: Booth Family Hall of Athletics Archives / Layout and Design: Jackie Berra / Printer: Pittcraft Printing
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Athletics Director Dr. Sheahon Zenger
Dr. Zenger joined generations of volleyball players in honor of head coach Ray Bechard’s 1000th victory.
Dear K Club Members,
What an honor that we have more K Club members now than in the history of our program! K Club provides a vital connection for its members and also preserves the traditions of Kansas Jayhawks of past, present and future. We believe each of us shares the responsibility of protecting our legacy and tradition. We could not succeed in these endeavors without your involvement and support. K Club members who give their time and talent to the Jayhawk Senior Celebration and Jayhawks After College (JAC), as well as participating in special events and reunions, are essential to our student-athletes. The Jayhawk Senior Celebration has become a highly anticipated event, where our senior student-athletes receive their K Rings from a K Club member and former KU athlete in their sport. Talk about passing on the tradition!
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I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the K Club Board for its efforts to strengthen this program with more members and additional opportunities for involvement. Through K Club and student-athlete development programs like KU LEADS, we will continue working together to preserve tradition, support our student-athletes and grow our K Club program. Once a Jayhawk‌Always a Jayhawk. Rock Chalk!
Sheahon Zenger Director of Athletics
K Club President, Jeff Long
Former basketball players Jeff Hawkins and Aaron Miles with K Club President and KU Director of Aviation Jeff Long
Dear K Club Members, I cannot believe how quickly a year has gone by‌ wish we could slow things down a bit. Maybe it is flying by because we are having so many good times and great things are happening. Please enjoy this year in review, largely captured in photos, as a reminder of how K Club is working for you. Thank you for participating in the many events that have transpired throughout the year. And, if you did not have the opportunity to join us this year, we hope you will set aside the time to be in Lawrence or to join us in an event in your part of the world. Every time I talk with a K Club member I hear stories of good times from our college days or about reuniting with teammates at a K Club function. Some even say it is like they were never apart; the relationship was just in pause. We hope you can get back more often and enjoy your Jayhawk family while reliving your Rock Chalk moments! This year even more events took place with K Club involvement. If you noticed this, then you are aware that we are receiving tremendous support and endorsement from Kansas Athletics. We are grateful for that, and look forward to having the opportunity to provide even greater support to our current student-athletes, while reaching out broadly to our K Club members. With all the new activity we found it necessary to adapt to our larger role, and increased level of activity. For K Club to excel in this larger role we have decided to alter the way we operate. The K Club Executive Board met several times before announcing a subcommittee structure with operating
Jeff Long with baseball senior and 2015 K Ring recipient Taylor Rappaport
procedures to accomplish the three primary functions of K Club; Preserving History and Tradition, Supporting Current Student-Athletes, and Connecting Jayhawks. Have a great summer. We look forward to seeing you in the fall, and thank you ahead of time for helping us make this letterwinnners organization the best in the land! Rock Chalk!
Jeff Long President, K Club Board of Directors
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About K Club K Club’s mission is to help preserve the history and traditions of Kansas Athletics, support current student-athletes, and connect former participants, coaches, student athletic trainers and managers of varsity sports at the University of Kansas.
varsity athletics at the University of Kansas have changed through the years,
Benefits Include: • Earn active status in the Williams Education Fund
but the “K” each of them wore proudly on their chest binds them forever. There
and start earning Priority Points (10 pts for initial
are currently over 7,000 former KU coaches, athletes, managers and student
membership, 1 pt for renewed membership)
athletic trainers worldwide representing 24 sports. Kansas Athletics and K Club are extremely proud of our tradition and we thank
• Receive K Club publications • Ability to purchase exclusive K Club merchandise • Special seating option in section 22 for KU football
those who helped build the foundation that supports our current student-
season tickets and discounted season tickets for
athletes. You can continue to contribute to the legacy by becoming and
Olympic sports season tickets
remaining an active member of K Club. Together we can successfully bridge the
• Priority in purchasing Kansas football
past and present by welcoming each class of Jayhawks into our family.
K Club began when the first baseball letter was awarded in 1877. The faces of
single-game tickets
• Assistance with K Ring repair and letter jacket, K Club strives to gain a diverse membership base across all sports and all
generations of Jayhawks. Help K Club better represent your sport and remain
• Career and social networking
watch or blanket replacement
a leader among peer letter winner associations across the nation by becoming a member today!
Membership Dues Support: • K Ring Letter Award for Senior Student-Athletes • Kansas Athletics Hall of Fame Display and Induction Ceremony • K Club Events and Sport Reunions
“It is important to realize we had an opportunity that few have, to be a Division I student-athlete and Jayhawk. So few get the chance to compete for an institution that has our revered history and tradition. That is our foundation and it is an honor to be a part of it, As a former athlete, I feel an obligation to support our club and KU Leads in a way that gives them the best opportunity to grow while at KU, and to succeed in their chosen profession after college. No matter the situation, I believe there are ways to be involved and belong to our Jayhawk Nation. My hope is that you will feel like you are part of the family, and you will assist us with the mission in whatever way you can.”
JEFF LONG, K CLUB BOARD PRESIDENT
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• Exclusive invitations to K Club activities: •
First Game Football Tailgate on the Hill
•
K Club Weekend (Homecoming Weekend)
•
Spring Football Game Tailgate
•
Career Development Night
•
Jayhawks After College
2015-16 K Club Board Directory The K Club Board of Directors is composed of former student-athletes from the University of Kansas. The Board strives to represent all varsity sports that have ever been sponsored by Kansas Athletics and consists of no more than 25 members at one time. The group meets quarterly to discuss topics such as Hall of Fame inductions, membership, K Club functions, sport reunions and ways to support the current studentathletes. Please contact any members of the Board with comments, suggestions or to simply inquire how YOU can help celebrate our Jayhawk legacy. We are here to serve you, K Club and the University of Kansas.
In April, K Club conducted Board member elections. Part of that action is saying thank you to those who have served. K Club expresses gratitude to those whose terms are ending at the end of June 2015. They have been involved in the steady growth of our organization in the last few years, and in some cases for many, many years.
A hearty Rock Chalk to: Micah Brown, Football and Track and Field Harry Gibson, Men’s Basketball Pat Henderson, Football Katie Martincich, Volleyball Maggie Mason-Dixon, Soccer Jim Moore, Football Bud Stallworth, Men’s Basketball Also, congratulations to our newly-elected K Club Board members marked by an asterisk by their name. Thank you for your interest in serving in this new way. K Club looks forward to working with you to continue increasing our impact on the Jayhawk Nation.
Jeff Long President Baseball/Football jefflong@ku.edu Liz Dobbins Vice President Golf/Gymnastics ldobbins@ku.edu Bob Lockwood Immediate Past President VB, WR, MGYM, WGYM, MTN kucoachbob@yahoo.com David Johnston Special Assistant to the President Cross Country/Track and Field davidjohnston@ku.edu Dino Bell Football dbell@ku.edu Chip Budde Football/Track and Field chip@emailbsa.com Tracy Bunge Softball tracybunge@aol.com Brian Cooper* Gymnastics bcooper58@hotmail.com
Rick Ensz Cross Country/Track and Field rick-ensz@kc.rr.com
Vickie Lowe Basketball/Softball vlowe@sunflower.com
Nancy Fankhauser Basketball nfank3398@sbcglobal.net
Eric Patterson Football/Track and Field epatt@sbcglobal.net
Jeff Hawkins* Basketball jhawkins@lawrenceks.org
Mike Rivera* Football mike.rivera40@gmail.com
Natalie Hoogveld-Krueger* Soccer nhoog@hotmail.com
Jim Sauer* Swimming and Diving jim.russ.sauer@gmail.com
Scott Huffman Track and Field usa.olympian@hotmail.com
Ally Stanton* Softball allystanton@ku.edu
Lee Ice Baseball ice@lawrenceks.org
Brad Wells Swimming and Diving bwells@kualumni.org
Al Kelley Basketball babaloo@sunflower.com Matt Kleinmann Basketball matt.kleinmann@gmail.com Beth Llewellyn* Field Hockey/Track and Field bethllewellyn55@gmail.com
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New Board Structure and Goals Recently the K Club Board of Directors has reorganized into the following structure. Please take a moment to witness the many ways we are enhancing our mission. PRESERVE SUBCOMMITTEE • Hall of Fame • Lifetime Service Award • Jersey Retirement • Hall of Athletics Collection Review Committee • Jayhawk Senior Celebration • K Club merchandise and website SUPPORT SUBCOMMITTEE • Career Development Night • Jayhawks After College • Mock interviews • Traditions Night • Participating in local community service CONNECT SUBCOMMITTEE • Responding to surveys • Further the mantra of “Once a Jayhawk, Always a Jayhawk”, • Supporting sport and K Club reunions • Outreach PRESIDENT’S ADVISORY COMMITTEE • Assist the K Club Board President as needed • Help facilitate meetings • Annual review of bylaws • Membership drive • Articulate the vision of K Club • Connecting with coaches and Kansas Athletics administration • Host the 2016 National Letterwinners Association Conference UPCOMING GOALS • Endow K Rings and Jayhawk Senior Celebration • Expand K Club merchandise offered and simplify shopping for the member • Work with Kansas Athletics to establish a formal letter jacket ceremony • Formalize regular participation in community service events • Provide checklist for coaches to use for sport reunions • Identify areas of outreach • Provide framework for acknowledging Jayhawk Milestones • Work with Athletics to assess the need for a gathering place for K Club members
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Preserve Liz Dobbins, Chair Rick Ensz, Co-Chair Lee Ice Vickie Lowe Jim Sauer
Support David Johnston, Chair Scott Huffman, Co-Chair Jeff Hawkins Matt Kleinmann Beth Llewellyn Eric Patterson Ally Stanton Brad Wells
Connect Bob Lockwood, Chair Nancy Fankhauser, Co-Chair Dino Bell Chip Budde Tracy Bunge Brian Cooper Natalie Krueger Mike Rivera
PRESIDENT’S ADVISORY COMMITTEE (NON-VOTING MEMBERS): Harry Gibson Pat Henderson Bill Houglund Morris Kay Bill Lienhard Gary Padgett Dick Reamon Tommie Smith Bud Stallworth Jerry Waugh Odell Weidner
Save the Date
September 5, 2015 First Game Tailgate
October 30-31, 2015 K Club/Homecoming Weekend
This is an annual event to help kick start the competitive season
This event is K Club’s premiere weekend-long celebration centered on
for all sports. It is important the current athletes feel the K Club
Homecoming. Throughout the weekend K Club will celebrate those
presence. Join us for a tailgate on the Hill two hours prior to the
who helped build the foundation of Kansas Athletics. Events will
game. Game tickets will be offered through the event registration.
include a 25 and 50-year letter pin ceremony, Hall of Fame inductions,
ROOMS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS 3411 Iowa Street (785) 749-7555 - Room Rate: $129/night Reserved for evening of September 5 Please make reservations by August 14
Spring 2016: Spring Football Game Tailgate
the Traditions Golf Tournament at Alvamar Golf Course, a fun social and the ever-popular tailgate prior to the football game versus Oklahoma. Game tickets, again, will be offered through the event registration. ROOMS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE SPRINGHILL SUITES MARRIOTT One Riverfront Plaza (785) 841-2700 - Room Rate: $159/night Reserved for evenings of October 30-31 Please make reservations by September 30
This event includes a tailgate on the Hill one and a half hours prior to the annual Spring Football Game. It is a great family atmosphere with plenty of activities on the Hill for the young and old alike. The date is to be determined, but as soon as the date is set, K Club will inform you.
UPCOMING SPORT REUNIONS SUPPORTED BY K CLUB & WHO TO CONTACT FOOTBALL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . September 5-6 . . . . . . . Candace Dunback . . . . . . . . . kclub@ku.edu SOCCER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .October 9-11 . . . . . . . . Jessica Smith . . . . . . . . . . jpsmith@ku.edu FLOYD TEMPLE BASEBALL ALUMNI GAME AND SOCIAL . . October 31 . . . . . . . . . Marcia Bagby . . . . . . . . . .mlbagby@ku.edu Note: Other reunions will be scheduled after the printing of this publication. Further information regarding all reunions will be sent at a later date.
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NLWA Involvement
Since 2010, K Club has been an active member of the National Letterwinners Association (NLWA). Each summer, the NLWA hosts a national conference, attended by peer Division I institutions on a member campus. In June 2014, three K Club representatives attended the annual conference hosted by the University of Louisville L Club. Once again, K Club was invited to give presentations highlighting some of our activities, recognized as some of the best in the country. K Club President Jeff Long, Vice President Liz Dobbins and Past President David Johnston shared some of the recent successes K Club has had in supporting current KU student-athletes through programs such as Jayhawks After College (JAC), Career Development Night and the Jayhawk Senior Celebration. These programs would not be possible without the support of the Student-Athlete Development and Leadership Training staff (KU Leads). The “Once a Jayhawk, Always a Jayhawk” online feature was also highlighted in a presentation on effective communications and online engagement. After sharing several examples, the presentation
concluded with footage of Billy Mills’ incredible Olympic victory 50 years ago, which drew applause from the assembly. K Club’s structure is unique among its peers, with strong support from the athletics department, making it a model for other institutions. As a result of its reputation as one of the premier letter winner clubs in the nation, K Club was selected to host the 2016 NLWA national conference. “From all I can tell and have been privy to, the University of Kansas’ K Club simply DOES IT RIGHT! Having attended the National LetterWinners Association Conference these last four years, seeing their presentations, learning of their ‘How’s + Why ’s,’ and experiencing their passion, I have become increasingly impressed with the programs they have in place, and am inspired by those in charge! In fact, it seems that each time I’m around them, my wish list for my beloved L-Club just grows longer and longer! Congratulations, Jayhawks, on having a top-notch organization… one to be envied by other such clubs across the nation!”
JOE YORK, PRESIDENT, L-CLUB UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE | SWIMMING & DIVING, ‘83-‘84
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2015-16 Goal: Assist with creating a letter jacket ceremony
K CLUB
PRESERVES . . . the history and traditions of Kansas Athletics
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K Club Lifetime Service Award The K Club Lifetime Service Award was established in 2011 to formally recognize a K Club member who has shown continued service to Kansas Athletics and its studentathletes. The recipient of this award upholds and advances the K Club mission: preserving history and traditions, supporting current student-athletes and connecting former student-athletes.
Past Recipients 2011 . . . Don Fambrough (football) 2012 . . . Floyd Temple (baseball), Bob Timmons (track and field/cross country) 2013 . . . Jerry Waugh (basketball, golf, administration) 2014 . . Bill Hougland (basketball)
The award is presented annually at the Jayhawk Senior Celebration in the spring. Open nominations are welcome and can be e-mailed to kclub@ku.edu.
About the 2015 Recipient
From 1979 to 1982, Padgett served as the Alumni Association’s representative to the Kansas Athletics Corporation Board and served many years on the K Club Board of Directors. Additionally, he was a member of the Alumni Association’s Board from 1983 to 1988, chairing the Audit Committee and serving on the Jayhawks for Higher Education Committee. In 1990, Padgett received the Alumni Association’s Mildred Clodfelter Award for sustained local volunteer service and in 2003, was awarded the Fred Ellsworth Medallion for providing unique and significant service to the University.
Gary Padgett is a champion of small Kansas communities, and currently serves as president and CEO of the Citizens National Bank in Belleville, Concordia, Lansing, Leavenworth and his hometown of Greenleaf. Padgett is also a longtime champion of the University of Kansas and Kansas Athletics, remaining devoted to KU since his time spent as a letterwinner for both the baseball and basketball teams in the 1950’s.
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Longtime donors to KU, Padgett and his wife Sue are members of the Chancellors Club for KU Endowment and the Williams Education Fund to benefit scholarships for student-athletes. In 2012, the Padgett family made a gift of two million dollars for asthma research to KU School of Medicine. His impact on Kansas Athletics has been extraordinary and his athletic legacy is celebrated every year as the Jayhawk baseball team presents a current student-athlete with the Gary Padgett Team Captain Award. Gary Padgett personifies the Jayhawk spirit and displays an unwavering loyalty to this university and its athletics program.
DeBruce Center & Booth Family Hall of Athletics
Hall of Athletics
DeBruce Center
Twenty-fourteen featured multiple donations to the Hall of Athletics related to the 1920s. First, in honor of Joe Bloomer (baseball, 1921-23), we received two signed baseballs: one by the 1926 Yankees (including Babe Ruth!) and one by a late 1920s Philadelphia Athletics team, including Connie Mack. Then, the Hall of Athletics received a donation of Howard Firebaugh’s 1924 track and field uniform. Finally, Dick Endacott, son of Paul Endacott, donated his father’s Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame induction plaque and ring. Paul’s induction took place in 1971 but he competed for the University of Kansas from 1921-23.
In early 2015, construction began on the new, permanent home of the “13 Original Rules of Basket Ball,” written by James Naismith. The DeBruce Center is slated to open in early 2016 and will include several eating options for the public, training table for the men’s and women’s basketball teams, exhibit spaces and a gift shop. It is adjacent to the northeast corner of the Fieldhouse and, when completed, will strengthen Kansas’ claim as a mecca for college hoops fans.
If you are planning a visit to Lawrence over the summer, please note the Hall of Athletics closed to the public immediately following the end of the men’s and women’s basketball seasons. It is undergoing some upgrades as part of the DeBruce Center project that is providing a home for the Original Rules of Basket ball connected to Allen Fieldhouse. It is anticipated that the Hall of Athletics will reopen by midSeptember, well in advance of K Club Weekend and Homecoming October 30-31, so be sure to stop by to see the changes when you are in town!
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Jersey Retirement
Jill Larson-Bradney, KU Softball’s First All-American Over the years, Kansas softball history has been written by many student-athletes. Jill Larson-Bradney (1978-81) is one of those Jayhawks who contributed to KU’s history in a multitude of ways throughout her time in the Crimson and Blue uniform. The Wichita, Kansas native was the first Kansas softball player to receive All-American honors and earned the prestigious award from the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women concluding her record-breaking senior campaign. In the same year, LarsonBradney was a first-team all-region selection, as well as named to the Big Eight Championships All-Tournament Team. The three-time All-Big Eight performer was inducted to the Kansas Hall of Fame following her senior season in 1981. As a senior, Larson-Bradney led the team in six different offensive categories: hits (43), runs (17), doubles (4), RBIs (17), home runs (1) and batting average (.341). In her career as a Jayhawk, LarsonBradney registered a batting average of .341, listing her sixth in Kansas’ all-time career records. Larson-Bradney was coached under Bob Stanclift, who led the Jayhawks to a winning season during each of her years at KU. The
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four-time letterwinner holds Kansas sophomore records in hits (60), doubles (8) and batting average (.400). While Larson-Bradney dominated on the softball field, she also sported a Crimson and Blue uniform on the volleyball and basketball courts. After a decorated career, Larson-Bradney continued to stay involved with softball by taking up coaching at the high school level. Larson-Bradney is just the third Jayhawk to have her softball jersey retired. The other two honorees are Camille Spitaleri and Sheila Connolly. Congratulations, Jill!
2015-16 Goal: Endow Senior K Ring Letter Award
K CLUB
SUPPORTS . . . current student-athletes
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Jayhawk Senior Celebration
K Ring Class of 2015
The annual Jayhawk Senior Celebration was established in the spring of 2012 in order to celebrate the achievements of each senior class and officially transition these individuals into their alumni experience through the presentation of the K Rings. The entire event is laced with the raw emotion of the different stages of the Jayhawk Journey.
“Coming back to campus and feeling this sense of pride everyone has here, it’s something you have when you play here. When you come back on campus you feel it again.” DON CZYZ, ALL-AMERICAN PITCHER AND BASEBALL K RING PRESENTER
A senior student-athlete is chosen to share his or her experiences through the Senior Address. One letterwinner from each sport is invited to present the K Rings to the seniors within their sport. A former athlete is also designated as the Director of the K Ring Ceremony and is asked to share his or her personal Jayhawk Journey and the meaning of the K Ring. The seniors are then instructed to place their rings on their fingers as a class while reflecting on their journey to date, creating a sense that their time as a Jayhawk does not end with exhausted eligibility. Instead, it is seen as a lifelong commitment. Just as yours is.
Aaron Blevins, Maddie Stein, Dr. Sheahon Zenger
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K Ring Class of 2015 Accolades:
Academic All-Americans: . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
“The foundation to live a successful life has been set. Work hard and never give up until you get to the top. Remember what it took to become a Jayhawk and that’s something we’ll always have forever.”
All-Big 12: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
MICHAEL STIGLER, SENIOR CLASS ADDRESS
Individual National Champions: . . . . . . . . 1 Athletic All-Americans: . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Academic All-Big 12: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Individual Big 12 Champions: . . . . . . . . . 11 Team National Championships: . . . . . . . . . 1 Team Big 12 Championships: . . . . . . . . . .6 Other Honors and Awards Presented:
Director of K Ring Ceremony David Johnston (Track and Field) Senior Class Address Michael Stigler (Track and Field) K Club Lifetime Service Award Gary Padgett (Baseball and Basketball) Prentice Gautt Postgraduate Scholarship Maddie Stein (Softball) and Aaron Blevins (Track and Field) Del Shankel Teaching Excellence Award Dr. David Besson (Physics and Astronomy) Dr. Robert E. Frederick Senior Scholar Athletes Pat Lewandowski (Football) and Deanna Marks (Swimming and Diving)
Dr. Sheahon Zenger, Michael Stigler, David Johnston
K Ring Presenters (pictured left to right): Ellen Remsing, Maggie Hull-Tietz, Pat Brown, Liz Dobbins, Don Czyz, Ken Saathoff, Wayne Simien, Connie Tilton, Bill Penny, Sarah Gonzales, Nancy Bell-Dorsey, Nancy Fankhauser, Jeff Long, Linda Ellis-Sims Pat Lewandowski, Deanna Marks, Dr. Sheahon Zenger
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Thank You K Club Members!
A LL ME MB ERS O F THE K CL U B REC EI V E AN OU TLAND LEV EL M EMBE RSHIP TO THE WIL LIAM S FU ND. With your membership, the legacy of Kansas Athletics lives on through our current and future student-athletes who proudly wear the Jayhawk uniform. Learn more about Williams Fund benefits by visiting www.WilliamsFund.com. ROCK CHALK JAYHAWK
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Compliance “Ask Before You Act”
QUESTIONS?
KU Athletic Compliance Office compliance@ku.edu 785.864.4200 Twitter: /jayhawkcomply
WHAT CAN YOU DO? PERMISSIBLE FOR YOU TO: • • • • •
•
•
• • •
Be a great resource on dealing with University of Kansas expectations. Offer academic advice and help within the normal ethical boundaries of your position as a faculty member. Be a trusted friend when the student-athlete does not know who to communicate with. Offer the best advising information available anywhere. On an occasional basis you may: • Provide a meal for a student-athlete or the entire team. The meal can be prepared in your home, on the institution’s campus or at a facility regularly used for practice activities. All occasional meal requests must be approved by the KU Compliance Office. • Provide local transportation for a student-athlete to attend a meal only if the meal is hosted at your home. Send a student a reasonable token of support (card or flowers) in the event of a serious injury, serious illness, or death of a family member. This must be approved by the compliance office prior to providing such a benefit. Continue to have contact with an established family friend or neighbor who is a prospective student-athlete (9th grade or older). Contact Compliance for pre-existing relationship form. View a prospect’s competition on your own initiative. Receive a call from a prospect only if the prospect initiates the call and it is not for a recruiting purpose. Notify the Kansas Athletics coaching staff of prospects.
WHAT CAN YOU NOT DO?
RULE 16.01.1 – Eligibility Effect of Violation. “A student-athlete shall not receive any extra benefit. …If the student-athlete receives an extra benefit not authorized by NCAA legislation, the individual is ineligible in all sports.” RULE 16.02.3 – Extra Benefit. “An extra benefit is any special arrangement by an institutional employee or representative of the institution’s athletics interests to provide a student-athlete or student-athlete’s relative or friend a benefit not expressly authorized by NCAA legislation. Receipt of a benefit by student-athletes or their relatives or friends is not a violation of NCAA legislation if it is demonstrated that the same benefit is generally available to the institution’s students or their relatives or friends or to a particular segment of the student body (e.g., international students, minority students) determined on a basis unrelated to athletics ability.” NOT PERMISSIBLE FOR YOU TO: • • • • • • • • • • • •
• • • •
Pay student-athlete upfront for an employment opportunity. Student-Athlete must be paid for work actually performed. Pick-up the tab of a student-athlete(s) if you run into them at a restaurant or any other commercial entity or location. Buy a student-athlete, their friend(s) or relative presents or other items (e.g., gift certificate for dinner or a movie). Allow the student-athlete to use your “discount” or other special benefits at a local club, business or any other establishment. Loan the student-athlete your calculator, palm pilot, iPad, Nook, Kindle, or other electronic equipment to use and return later. Guarantee a bond or co-sign a loan for the student-athlete, their friends or relatives. Let a student-athlete use your car or other personal items for any purpose. Offer a ride in situations other than when an occasional meal is provided or when an emergency exists. Buy any items (e.g., new suit) for graduation, or make payments on a car following graduation. Allow a student-athlete to use your office or personal phone to make phone calls (e.g., long distance calls). Help pay medical or dental expenses for a student-athlete or their family. Allow a student-athlete to live or store their possessions at your house, including any semester break or institution vacation period (e.g., summer vacation, spring break). Contact or call a prospect that you have not had a pre-existing relationship with from prior to the 9th grade. Contact or call a prospect’s parent, coach, principal or counselor. Assist with the evaluation of talent at the direction of a Kansas Athletics coaching staff member. Promote Kansas Athletics in any way to encourage a prospect to attend the University of Kansas (e.g., social media). 17
KU Leads & Career Connections KU LEADS IS STUDENT-ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT AND LEADERSHIP TRAINING WITHIN KANSAS ATHLETICS. ITS MISSION IS TO DEVELOP COMMITTED LEADESRS WHO REPRESENT THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS AND ITS INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS PROGRAMS WITH PRIDE, INTEGRITY AND INTENSE COMPETITIVE SPIRIT. K CLUB IS CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROGRAM THROUGH PERSONAL AND CAREER MENTORING. What makes us different?
Our journey as Jayhawks. Each of us had our own reasons for becoming a Jayhawk, we played different sports, positions and earned different degrees. We each defined and still continue to define what our Jayhawk Journey looks like. The time spent and memories made at the University of Kansas have travelled with us through our professional careers. Memories are still being made, and champions continue to be built because of the bricks you laid for future generations. Coaches change, new facilities are built, but there is one constant that has lasted through generations, the Jayhawk tradition associated with being a student-athlete. The competitive spirit lives on in each of us. We all competed with Kansas across our chests; we are all guardians of the tradition and culture of Kansas Athletics.
Reach Out! We want to hear from you! Is your company hiring? Want more Jayhawks on your squad? Let us know! We can relay the hiring information to qualified and interested student-athletes. Give your time! Reach out and make a difference in a student-athlete’s life by offering career-related advice. Email Carrah Haley (chaley@ku.edu), Director of Career Services or Candace Dunback, (kclub@ku.edu), Director of Traditions today!
Where are we going?
It is time to start connecting our generations. By doing so the Jayhawk family will grow stronger. No matter the sport, position or major, our common bond was formed from our athletic experience, intangible competitive spirit and drive inside each of us. Career Development is constantly striving to strengthen our Jayhawk connections. You have learned many things along your journey, whether it was navigating an industry for the first time or developing a strategy that led you into your career. It’s time to share your experience with other Jayhawks! Our mission is to build a “Jayhawks helping Jayhawks” mentality by connecting former athletes with current student-athletes in a career-related capacity. How can you help connect Jayhawks?
We are not asking you to find jobs for student-athletes. They will not ask you for one. We are asking you to give meaningful advice and tips you learned through your journey! Let us know you are interested in assisting current Jayhawk student-athletes in a career-related capacity. No matter what your profession is currently or what your degree is, we can connect you with a student-athlete who has a similar interest as you or a similar major.
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Scott Huffman
Current pole vaulters Casey Bowen and Greg Lupton with former American record holder Scott Huffman (middle) at the Journalism Career Community event.
Programs JAYHAWKS AFTER COLLEGE Attend a meeting with Jayhawks finishing their athletic career. Discuss your transition and what you learned along the way. Passionate about a certain aspect of the athlete transition from college? Tell us and share your knowledge! Meetings have a specific topic covering personal identity, personal finance, nutrition, networking, professional interviewing and transitioning into a career. STUDENT-ATHLETE CAREER FAIR AND NETWORKING NIGHT Attend as an athlete gone-pro representing your major and sport. You can also choose to represent your company. Talk to studentathletes, answer questions about your major or industry. Network with other Jayhawks! JAYHAWK CAREER COMMUNITIES This is a new program that was launched this year. We have created communities specifically tailored to majors and career paths to facilitate communication with current student-athletes and our alumni. Serve as a reference and answer questions through email, phone call or, if you are near the area, meet in person with the student-athletes in the athletics department. We are looking for former athletes who are willing to help with the following majors and related careers: • Engineering • Journalism and communications • Law • Business • Health Professions
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Trent Smiley
1.
“What motivates me to give back to the student-athletes at KU is my love for my university and my athletic department. I know it sounds cliché, but I wouldn’t be where I am today without KU and the people I met there. And because I remember what it was like after I graduated, I want to help the current KU student-athletes transition into life after college. I remember the strange, lonely, unfamiliar feeling that I was no longer really a part of KU or the athletic department once I’d graduated. Fortunately, there were still a few key coaches and staff members that were willing to counsel me and guide and direct me into the next phase. Now, KU and the athletic department have enabled me and other former Jayhawk athletes to show the current Jayhawk athletes that “Once a Jayhawk, Always a Jayhawk” is more than just a slogan. I consider it an honor to be allowed to play even a small role in helping in this mission.”
2.
“The process of connecting with former KU sprinter, Zac Graves, started with me working with Carrah Haley throughout the spring semester. One of our main objectives was to begin to form connections with industry professionals, as well as former Kansas athletes working in environmental fields. To achieve this goal, we searched through the University of Kansas Athletes Alumni Network on LinkedIn.com. We came across Zac’s profile, and began to explore avenues to reach out to him. We decided that we should see if Candace Dunback knew him from her time on the track team. Thankfully, she knew Zac well and encouraged us to reach out to him through LinkedIn’s InBox feature. With Carrah’s help, I composed a message asking Zac for the opportunity to ask him questions about the environmental industry. He was nice enough to respond back and offer his guidance throughout my job search. He was invaluable through the process and will continue to be an amazing resource for years to come. It is fantastic to have such great resources in K Club and the rest of the student-athlete development staff to lean on during the transition out of athletics.”
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2015-16 Goal: Assist with Further Structuring Reunions
K CLUB
connects . . . Jayhawks
Once A Jayhawk, Always A Jayhawk “Once a Jayhawk, Always a Jayhawk” features on former athletes and coaches have increased visibility for each of KU’s sport programs while allowing us to celebrate some of the individuals behind the Kansas Athletics story. Twice a month the communications staff interviews former athletes about their playing days, their professional careers and the impact sports have had on their lives. The interview is then shared on the Kansas Athletics website, in “Rock Chalk Weekly” and shared via social media. To browse all the interviews in their entirety, visit www.alwaysajayhawk.com.
2014-15 features: Gilbert Brown, football Monica Dolinsky, soccer Tamecka Dixon, basketball Homer Floyd, football Al Frame, track and cross country Andrea Geubelle, track and field Jaclyn Johnson, basketball Wally Marciel, baseball Kyle Moore-Brown, football Liz Phillips-Dobbins, golf and gymnastics Patti Regan, softball Adolph Rupp, basketball Gale Sayers, football Ernie Shelby, track and field Lisa Tilson, swimming and diving Bob Timmons, track and cross country
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Much of the content in these features will no doubt remind you of your time as a student-athlete. It’s also evident that the values learned as an athlete certainly carry over to one’s profession.
“Building camaraderie among the team and being a team player are so important. I’ ve learned so much from being a student-athlete. Setting goals and being accountable to yourself and teammates translates so well into the working world. Be all you can be, push yourself as hard as you can–on and off the field.” PATTI REGAN, SOFTBALL It is important to note the influence coaches and staff members had on us as well.
“Coach used to do these things we called ‘Timmie talks’. He would have each athlete sit next to him on the bus ride home and go over goals and school, etc. On our way back from a meet at Washington High School, Timmons called me up and told me he thought I could run the mile in under four minutes.” JIM RYUN ON COACH BOB TIMMONS The effect of empowering those who wear the uniform after you is immeasurable.
“Anytime I can come back for a football game, I will. I come back and try to talk to the football squad and other students. I went to class, I worked hard and I made it. When I see kids I tell them that getting a degree will help you be a successful individual.” GALE SAYERS, FOOTBALL
K Club First Game and Spring Game Tailgates
Bryan Sperry was a member of the 1948 Orange Bowl Team and is a World War II veteran.
The K Club First Game and Spring-Game Tailgates are similar events logistically but serve different purposes. The First Game Tailgate takes place at the first football game of the season (September 5, 2015) and is designed to symbolically celebrate the start of another competitive season while enhancing the game day experience and showing unconditional support for our sport programs. The Spring Game Tailgate, on the other hand, is a more family-oriented atmosphere with many activities taking place on the Hill. Some years have featured events such as a bike fair, a football clinic hosted by the current players called “Train Like a Jayhawk,� autograph sessions and even an Easter egg hunt depending on the date of the game. NEW in 2015 was a football alumni game that made national headlines. We hope you can join us in the near future!
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K Club Weekend What is K Club Weekend?
K Club Weekend is a two-day, all-sport reunion that is hosted annually on Homecoming Weekend and includes a variety of events such as The Traditions Golf Tournament, Hall of Fame inductions, 25 and 50-year letter pin ceremony, a lively social and pregame tailgate, the football game itself and a prideful atmosphere you can share with your family. Why should I attend?
The question might be “Why shouldn’t I attend?” K Club events such as this are a unique way in which you can stay in touch with friends across all sports and build your own personal network. The many hours spent in tutoring, classes, the weight room and training room were certainly not within the boundaries of your sport. When our eligibility is done, life takes over. K Club Weekend is the perfect destination weekend to put on the calendar annually to enhance these relationships. 25 and 50-year letter pin recipients
What are the 25 and 50-year letter pins?
Twenty-five and 50 years after the first time you lettered you are eligible to receive your letter pins. They are awarded over K Club Weekend and are another example of the many steps in the Jayhawk Journey. When should I expect to see more information?
Mark your calendar today for the 2015 installment of K Club Weekend. It will be the weekend of October 30-31. A more detailed itinerary will be sent in the first couple of weeks of September. Keep in mind; game tickets can be purchased through the event registration.
Homecoming Parade Grand Marshall Rob Riggle with former running back David Winbush
Did you know K Club is one of the most active alumni organizations across the entire campus on Homecoming Weekend?
2014 Traditions Golf Tournament Champions:
SCORECARD PLAYOFF WINNER T-1ST: . . Dave Robisch, Ted Owens, Bud Swallworth, Tony Guy (60, -12) T-1ST: . . Fred Chana, Richard Haitbrink, Rick Kennedy, Doyle Gerard (60, -12)
2014 Traditions Golf Tournament Champions
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Special Events
60th Anniversary of Allen Fieldhouse On a night that welcomed Roy Williams back to Allen Fieldhouse, emcee Jay Bilas summed up the experience by stating, “If you love basketball; if you love and respect the history of the game, every road leads back to Lawrence, Kansas. This magnificent building cannot be captured in words. This building has a soul. It’s a cathedral of college basketball. It is the ultimate bucket list place for every player, every coach, every fan, every official – everyone.”
Chris Banks Memorial
Chris Banks was a member of the 1992 Aloha Bowl Team and played for the Broncos and Falcons in the NFL. Recently, Chris unexpectedly passed away. On the one-year anniversary of his passing, Chris’ family joined K Club and KU football in planting a tree in his memory on Campanile Hill. The current team also wrote personal notes of encouragement to Chris’ young childern.
Traditions Night Prior to the annual campus Traditions Night festivities, freshman student-athletes are gathered to learn about K Club and the awesome responsibility of being the keepers of the Kansas Athletics tradition while they are here on campus.
Race and Sports in American Culture: A KU Symposium Pro Bowl participant Darrell Stuckey and K Club Board President Jeff Long
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
1958: Homer Floyd, Chancellor Murphy, Thurgood Marshall, Charlie Tidwell and Ernie Shelby. Photo courtesy of University Archives
In 2015, KU Vice Provost for Diversity and Equity, Nate Thomas, approached K Club about assisting the University with the celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr., Day. It was decided former athletes Homer Floyd (football), Wilt Chamberlain (basketball) and Ernie Shelby (track and field) would be honored for their greater footprint on the desegregation of Lawrence in the 1950s. When Chamberlain, Floyd and Shelby arrived at Kansas in the mid1950s they found a heavily segregated community in which they were not allowed to dine in local restaurants, were refused service at barbershops and denied use of public swimming facilities. Along with Kansas All-American track star Charlie Tidwell, these young men stood up against the injustices of discrimination in the Lawrence community. In 1957, during a meeting with then-Chancellor Dr. Franklin Murphy, they expressed their intention to leave KU if these issues were not addressed. Chancellor Murphy, inspired in part by this meeting, soon
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increased efforts to encourage change in the community surrounding KU. He then reported back to the students that the businesses of Lawrence had agreed to change their policies. Following this historic meeting and progress of the desegregation of Lawrence, Chamberlain, Floyd and Shelby again made history as KU’s first African-American team captains. Never before had the captains of three major NCAA Division I sports; basketball, football and track and field, been African-Americans in adjacent years. Tidwell and Shelby also lead KU to the 1959 outdoor track and field national title. As part of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebrations, KU welcomed Floyd and Shelby back to campus. While visiting campus, they participated in a candlelight vigil and walk from Strong Hall to the Kansas Union for a special social justice celebration. Later that evening they were honored in Allen Fieldhouse during the men’s basketball game on ESPN Gameday.
“Thank you K Club for an incredible two days at Kansas University in celebration of Martin Luther King’s birthday. I greatly appreciate the recognition that Ernie Shelby and I received for the role we played in helping to overcome some of the challenges that African-American students faced during our stay at KU. I also appreciate the extensive tour the staff provided in updating us on the growth of the campus, the state-of-theart athletic facilities, and the supportive services available to the student athletes. KU is indeed a special place; I will always cherish the time that I spent on campus and the special recognition made possible by K Club on MLK Day. ROCK CHALK JAYHAWK!” HOMER FLOYD REFLECTING ON THE MLK DAY EVENT
“I went to a track meet less than a mile from my house at Occidental College. I went there to meet with former Athletic Director Dixon Farmer in the press box above the stadium. I got there before Dixon showed up and was greeted by this “‘kinny Old Dude’ whom I didn’t remember ever meeting before. When he asked me where I knew Dixon Farmer from I answered, ‘Oh, I’m just an old track guy from the distant past.’ He asked me my name and when I told him he literally gasped for air!!! He said ‘Man, I’m Stan Whitley… I broke all your records at KU.’ We were both ecstatic and astonishingly taken aback… Like a couple of kids, we couldn’t stop grinning! What a great surprise and a small world!” ERNIE SHELBY FOLLOWING THE MLK DAY CELEBRATIONS
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Championship Teams & Sports Reunions People are the business of our business. Through reunions you are able to connect to one another on a personal and sometimes professional basis. Perhaps as important, current student-athletes see that they, too, will be welcomed throughout their Jayhawk Journey. Your presence at these events creates a more visible unity and support system for the generations of student-athletes and the University of Kansas as a whole. Reunions are what you, as an individual, make them. Reach out to your teammates and coaches and join us for your sport’s next gathering. Your K Club dues help, in part, fund sport reunions. Thank you for helping make these events such a success.
Softball
Reunions hosted in 2014-15 included:
September 26-27, 2014 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rowing September 27, 2014 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Floyd Temple Alumni . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Baseball Game and Reception October 3-5, 2014 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Soccer October 4-5, 2014 . . . . . . Men’s Golf/Ross Randall HOF Induction October 11, 2014 . . . . . Football Letterwinner Tunnel at OSU Game October 25, 2014 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Volleyball November 1, 2014 . . . . . . . .Track & Field/Cross Country at Big 12 November 14-15, 2014 . . . . . . . . . . . Men’s and Women’s Tennis January 24, 2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Women’s Basketball March 27-28, 2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Softball April 17, 2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Baseball Alumni Day April 17-18, 2015 . . Track and Field/Cross Country at Kansas Relays April 24-25 . . . . . . . . . . . Football Alumni Game and Reception
Floyd Temple Alumni Baseball Game
FOOTBALL Letterwinner Tunnel @ Oklahoma State Game
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Soccer
Football Alumni Game
Track & Field/Cross Country @ Kansas Relays
Men’s & Women’s Tennis
Women’s Basketball
Men’s Golf
ROWING
Baseball 29
Onc e A J ay h aw k , A lway s A J ay h aw k
K Club Apparel Store Custom embroidered apparel with your choice of either the K Club logo or a sport-specific logo. Several options and styles to choose from! • Oxfords
• Pants
• Polos
• Hats
• Jackets
• Accessories
KUATHLETICS.COM/KCLUBSTORE
For replacement K Rings, watches, blankets and letter jackets contact K Club. K Club Contact: Candace Dunback Director of Traditions kclub@ku.edu 785-864-7446
2015-16 Membership Form K Club’s mission is to help PRESERVE the history and traditions of Kansas Athletics, SUPPORT current student-athletes, and CONNECT former participants, coaches, student athletic trainers and managers of varsity sports at the University of Kansas.
Personal Information First Name:
M.I.
Last Name:
Maiden Name:
City:
State:
Zip:
Cell Phone:
Email:
Sport(s)/Year(s):
KU Degree(s):
Street Address:
Postgraduate Degree (s):
Membership Type
Profession:
(CHECK ONE)
c RECENT GRAD
1 Year at $25 if eligibility or 5th year was complete after June 2011 (whichever comes last), expires June 30, 2016
c ANNUAL
1 Year at $40, expires June 30, 2016
c THREE YEARS
3 Years at $105, expires June 30, 2018
c LIFETIME
$700
c SENIOR LIFETIME
$350, must be 65+
Other c ADDITIONAL SUPPORT I would like to donate $_____________ to assist K Club in supporting its mission. I would like information about (check all that apply):
c Becoming a career mentor for current student-athletes.
c Participating in the Student-Athlete Career Fair on behalf of my company.
c Assisting with mock interviews for student-athletes.
Payment Options
c CREDIT CARD c CHECK (PAYABLE TO KANSAS ATHLETICS) Card Number: Exp. Date:
Security Code:
TOTAL:
Sign Name as it appears on card:
PLEASE RETURN FORM TO: KANSAS ATHLETICS | ATTN: K CLUB | 1651 NAISMITH DRIVE | LAWRENCE, KS 66045-4069 FAX: 785-864-1223 | PHONE: 785-864-7915 | KCLUB@KU.EDU
KUAthletics.com/KClub /KansasKClub
@KansasKClub
University of Kansas
Athletics Alumni Network