JAYHAWK K RING CELEBRATION
MAY 1, 2023
DEAR JAYHAWKS,
WELCOME TO THE 2023 JAYHAWK K RING CELEBRATION!
This event is a time-honored tradition and is one of the most monumental moments of your student-athlete journey at the University of Kansas. As a KU alumnus myself, I am humbled and privileged to share the events of this evening with you. The resilience and achievements this class displayed throughout the past couple of years is inspiring and has continually given hope to many individuals and communities.
Collectively, your class has provided Kansas Athletics and Jayhawk Nation with many memorable moments and we are honored to recognize your accomplishments. Your commitment to success both on and off the playing field has culminated in five Big 12 Team Championships, six Individual Big 12 titles, 149 Academic All-Big 12 First Team accolades, 11 Athletic All-American awards, and one team National Championship. In addition, this class features 15 recipients of the Dr. Gerald Lage Academic Achievement Award, the conference’s highest academic honor. That’s called leaving a legacy — a legacy of which you should be very proud.
It is my honor to recognize your commitment and accomplishments as a class. You have helped elevate our tradition of exceptionalism. The K Ring bonds generations of student-athletes to the University of Kansas and acknowledges your contribution to our storied history. As you place the ring on your finger, remember that this signifies the unity and shared experiences among all KU student-athletes.
In just a short time, you will be reaching the cherished milestone of graduation. As you pass through the Campanile Bell Tower, one chapter of your journey will end, and another chapter will begin. I hope the lessons you learned as a Jayhawk student-athlete will empower you to bring character and integrity to your chosen profession, create positive change in your communities, and inspire you to strive for excellence. In the future, when you wear your ring, take time to cherish your Jayhawk memories, treasure your friendships, and know you will always have a home at the University of Kansas.
Wherever life takes you, remember...
Once a Jayhawk, always a Jayhawk!
Rock Chalk!
Sincerely,
Travis Goff Director of Athletics
THIS EVENING’S PROGRAM
Guests, please be seated by 6:30 p.m.
WELCOME
Wayne Simien, Associate AD of Engagement and Outreach (Men’s Basketball)
OPENING REMARKS
Travis Goff, Director of Athletics
Douglas A. Girod, MD, Chancellor
PRESENTATION OF THE SENIORS
K CLUB LIFETIME SERVICE AWARD
presentation by Maggie Mohrfeld, K Club President (Volleyball)
Andrea Norris, Director of K Club (Track & Field)
PRENTICE GAUTT BIG 12 POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
presentation by
Susan Williams, PhD, Chair of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Faculty Athletics Representative
Ryan King, Associate AD for Student-Athlete Support Services
Sandra Gautt, PhD
This award pays tribute to Prentice Gautt, former outstanding University of Oklahoma football player, who served as the ultimate role model for excellence in academics and athletics. To honor the lifetime service of the late Associate Commissioner of the Big 12, the conference established 24 postgraduate scholarships to be awarded to two seniors from each institution who have demonstrated their commitment to excellence in academics and have pledged to continue their education in graduate school.
ROBERT E. FREDERICK SENIOR SCHOLAR ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
presentation by Travis Goff
Nicole Corcoran, Deputy AD for Sports Administration and Student-Athlete Well-Being/SWA
This award honors Robert E. Frederick, former Director of Athletics and Professor at the University of Kansas. A Jayhawk for most of his career, he earned all three of his degrees from KU, was a member of the basketball team and served as an assistant basketball coach. The award pays tribute to Dr. Frederick’s dedication to excellence at KU and was named in his honor when he retired as the Director of Athletics in 2001.
SENIOR ADDRESS
presentation by Kai Alexander, Senior (Rowing)
ALMA MATER AND ROCK CHALK CHANT
Led by Hannah Hawks, Junior (Women’s Golf)
SENIOR CLASS PHOTO
K CLUB CELEBRATION TOAST
CONGRATULATIONS, SENIORS
BASEBALL
Jake Baker
Business Administration
Collin Baumgartner
Health, Sport & Exercise Sciences (master’s)
Jackson Cobb
Communication Studies; Sport Management minor
Cole Elvis
Liberal Arts & Sciences
Sam Ireland
Liberal Arts & Sciences
MEN’S BASKETBALL
DaJuan Harris
Liberal Arts & Sciences
Michael Jankovich
Finance
Cam Martin
Sport Management (master’s)
Kevin McCullar
Liberal Arts & Sciences
Jalen Wilson
Communication Studies; Sport Management minor
Joseph Yesufu
Business Administration
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Chisom Ajekwu
Community Health; Psychology minor
Chandler Prater
Communication Studies; Leadership Studies minor; Business minor
FOOTBALL
Tabor Allen
Finance; Jennett Finance Scholars Program
Jelani Arnold
Sport Management; Journalism minor; Health, Sport & Exercise Sciences (master’s)
Jason Bean
Liberal Arts & Sciences
Jacob Borcilla
Finance
Earl Bostick
Supply Chain Management; Business Administration (master’s)
Sam Burt
Environmental Studies; Environmental Assessment Certificate
Mac Copeland
Communication Studies; Business minor; Leadership Studies Certificate
Zion Debose
Health, Sport & Exercise Sciences (master’s)
Kalon Gervin
Curriculum & Instruction (master’s)
Hayden Hatcher
Communication Studies; Business minor
Kwinton Lassiter
Liberal Arts & Sciences; Health, Sport & Exercise Sciences (master’s)
Malcom Lee
Liberal Arts & Sciences
Torry Locklin
Sport Management; Business minor
Lorenzo McCaskill
Liberal Arts & Sciences
Ron McGee
Liberal Arts & Sciences
Mike Novitsky
Communication Studies; Sport Management (minor)
Jordan Preston
Business Administration
Spencer Roe
Sport Management; Business (minor)
Caleb Sampson Psychology;
Sport Management (minor)
Kevin Terry
Liberal Arts & Sciences; Health, Sport & Exercise Sciences (master’s)
Eddie Wilson
Liberal Arts & Sciences
Trevor Wilson
Liberal Arts & Sciences
MEN’S GOLF
Sion Audrain
Finance
Henry Lierz
Finance
Zachary Sokolofsky Marketing
WOMEN’S GOLF
Esme Hamilton
Entrepreneurship Graduate Certificate
Pear Pooratanaopa Economics; Business minor
(continued on next page)
ROWING
Kai Alexander
Anthropology; Journalism minor; Gender, Law & Policy Certificate
Karlie Brewer
Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies; Anthropology minor
Loretta Brueckner
Business Analytics (master’s); Entrepreneurship Graduate Certificate
Danielle Brunig Geology; English minor; Honors Program
Amanda Ferguson Sport Management; Psychology minor
Amber Haden
Psychology; Deaf Studies & Social Justice
Certificate
Jaydn Jay
Strategic Communications; Business minor; Business Administration (MBA)
Ty Kelly-Martin
Exercise Science; Sport Management minor
Grace Morris Wallrapp
Finance; Jennett Finance Scholars Program
Shay Pemberton
Community Health; Applied Behavioral Sciences minor
Savanah Skack
Architectural Engineering
Stella Warren
Exercise Science
SOCCER
Lia Beyer
Social Work; Business minor
Rylan Childers
Elementary Education
Kaela Hansen
Sport Management; Business minor
Elizabeth Prybylski
Political Science; Applied Behavioral Sciences minor; National Security minor
Mya Sheridan Economics
Grace Wiltgen
Exercise Science; Psychology
SOFTBALL
Shayna Espy
Liberal Arts & Sciences
Haleigh Harper
Exercise Science
Peyton Renzi
Community Health; Psychology minor
Jordan Richards
Business Administration (MBA)
SWIM & DIVE
Dewi Blose
Management & Leadership; Supply Chain Management
Mackenzie Bravence
Speech, Language, Hearing: Sciences & Disorders; Applied Behavioral Sciences minor; Learning & Communication in Children with Autism Certificate
Amanda Fingerut
Speech, Language, Hearing: Sciences & Disorders; Applied Behavioral Sciences minor
Autumn Looney
Management & Leadership; Human Resources Management minor
Kaitlyn Witt
Mechanical Engineering: Biomechanical; Bioengineering (master’s)
TENNIS
Carmen Roxana
Psychology; Sport Management minor
MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY AND TRACK & FIELD
Joshua Dick Finance
Colin Dwyer
Master of Architecture
Clay Eckert
Marketing
Ethan Fogle
Liberal Arts & Sciences
Marcus Freeman
Liberal Arts & Sciences
Chandler Gibbens
Accounting; Political Science
Samuel Hubert
Mechanical Engineering; Bioengineering Certificate
Patrick Larrison Communication Studies; Business minor; Professional Communication Certificate
Nicholas McMillin
Liberal Arts & Sciences
Tyler Pride
General Studies
Creed Puyear Sport Management; Business minor
Xavier Wolf
Communication Studies; Psychology minor
(continued) (continued on next page)
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY AND TRACK & FIELD
Makenna Anderson
Elementary Education; Linguistics minor
Rylee Anderson
Exercise Science; Healthcare Management minor
Addison Coppinger
Chemical Engineering
Lorielle Daniel
Community Health; Applied Behavioral Sciences minor
Clare Fallon
Exercise Science
Saudia Heard
Business Analytics (master’s)
Avryl Johnson
Industrial Design; History of Art minor
Faten Laribi
Sport Management; Business minor
Evann Seratte
Psychology; Applied Behavioral Sciences minor
Samantha Van Hoecke
Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology; Psychology minor
Satanya Wright
Social Work (master’s)
VOLLEYBALL
Lauren Dooley
Sport Management (master’s)
Kennedy Farris
Community Health; Psychology minor
Riley Foltz
Chemical Engineering
Rachel Langs
Speech-Language Pathology (master’s)
Anezka Szabo
Sport Management (master’s)
Gracie Van Driel
Digital Content Strategy (master’s)
(continued)
THE K RING
The K Ring symbolizes a uniquely shared experience between generations of varsity letter winners at the University of Kansas. As a Jayhawk you are expected to uphold tradition and retain the characteristics of a champion while continuing to create your own legacy.
The Crimson in the ring depicts passion with purpose as you maintain your lifelong devotion to excellence.
The Blue in the ring signifies loyalty to your university and your enduring commitment to integrity and service.
The K personifies the spirit of the mentally tough competitor who came before you and the one that lives within you.
ALMA MATER
THE CRIMSON AND THE BLUE, WRITTEN IN 1891
Far above the golden valley
Glorious to view, Stands our noble Alma Mater, Towering toward the blue.
CHORUS:
Lift the chorus ever onward, Crimson and the blue
Hail to thee, our Alma Mater
Hail to old KU.
FOLLOWED BY THE ROCK CHALK CHANTTHANK YOU
Thank you for your dedication to the University of Kansas, to your sport and to Kansas Athletics — and for being with us this evening to celebrate these special student-athletes.
