Fall 2021
WELCOME HOME A JAYHAWK THROUGH AND THROUGH
A GRAND KU GEOLOGY FIELD TRIP Rafting on the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon is a dream trip for many geologists. This past summer, KU students and faculty experienced a weeklong adventure to study the history and mystery of the natural phenomenon’s origin. On-site observations are vital for geology education according to professor Mike Taylor. “You can look at as many pictures of the Grand Canyon as you can get your hands on, but you will never understand its enormity until you stand on the rim of the canyon or float in a raft along the Colorado River.” Taylor credits the generosity of donors and alumni for the strength of KU’s fieldwork. This trip was supported by Bob and Jan FitzSimmons. Read more on Page 12.
FALL 2021
KU Giving is published by KU Endowment, the private fundraising foundation for the University of Kansas. You are receiving this magazine because you support KU. CHAIR, BOARD OF TRUSTEES David B. Dillon PRESIDENT Dale Seuferling AVP, COMMUNICATIONS AND DONOR RELATIONS Michelle Keller PUBLICATIONS DIRECTOR Valerie Gieler CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jodi Bouyack Katherine Corliss Valerie Gieler Victoria Sickinger Michelle Strickland Shelly Triplett SENIOR ART DIRECTOR Sarah Meiers We welcome your comments, suggestions and questions. KU Giving magazine P.O. Box 928 Lawrence, KS 66044-0928 785-832-7400 kugiving@kuendowment.org Postmaster: Send address changes to: KU Endowment P.O. Box 928 Lawrence, KS 66044-0928
ON THE COVER This composite photo illustration is of KU Student Endowment Board members showing their Jayhawk spirit and pride. Individual photos by Brian Goodman. Cover design by Sarah Meiers. PHOTOGRAPHY Ann Dean, 3, 19 • Brian Goodman, Cover, 6–8, 10–11, 22 • Diane Guthrie, 22 • iStockphoto, 20 • Olivia Jones, IFC–1, 12–13 • Michelle Keller, 2 • KU Athletics, 4 • KU Endowment, Back Cover • KUMC photo services, 5 • University of Kansas/Meg Kumin, 4, 20 • Mark McDonald, 4, 9 • Sarah Meiers, 25 • Contributed photos, 5, 14–17, 21, 24 Some photos show KU and KU Medical Center before the COVID-19 pandemic. Protect KU protocols were followed for current photos. For information about how Jayhawks are currently living, studying and working on KU campuses, visit protect.ku.edu and kumc.edu/covid-19.
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PRESIDENT’S NOTE
WORKING TOWARD A MORE INCLUSIVE ORGANIZATION A CORE VALUE OF KU ENDOWMENT IS CULTIVATING A PEOPLE-CENTERED
Harriet Speaks Founder Jyarland Daniels and DEI Subcommittee Chair Cathy Daicoff lead a discussion at the Board of Trustees’ annual meeting.
ENVIRONMENT that is welcoming to all in an atmosphere of respect and fairness. We recognize we best achieve our mission of building a greater University of Kansas by embracing diversity, equity and inclusion. We also believe it is important for us to mirror the makeup of the organizations and individuals we are partnering with — and we know we are not there yet. Accordingly, our staff, Board of Trustees, volunteers and donors are working together to create a more representative, equitable and inclusive KU Endowment. Our staff-led Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Workgroup increases awareness of related issues by providing educational resources, hosting programming and reviewing KU Endowment policies to make sure they promote inclusivity and a sense of belonging. The DEI Workgroup organizes regular discussions on relevant topics coinciding with historical events and national observances. The DEI Subcommittee of the KU Endowment Board of Trustees was formed this year to explore ways to increase diversity on the board. The subcommittee includes representation from all standing board committees and is creating a plan to build and sustain a more diverse governing body for our organization. Meaningful discussions, goal setting and educational sessions have been their initial focus. They invited Jyarland Daniels, an award-winning global DEI leader and KU alumna, to conduct a session at the annual board meeting in October. (You can read more about the board on Page 23.) Daniels is the founder of Harriet Speaks, named after abolitionist and human rights activist Harriet Tubman. She shared her personal journey of a challenging upbringing and said stories are essential to the human experience. Stories allow us to see ourselves in others and connect with them. She said, “We can call people out or we can call them in. We must figure out a way to focus on belonging and building community.” For Daniels, the key to change is to first have awareness and a learning spirit. She delivered this message with a generous smile and a contagious warmth. It was a pleasure to connect with her and learn about her approach to diversity and inclusion. KU Endowment is committed to continuing this important work and to being part of the progress to create a more just society.
Editor’s note — You can connect with Jyarland Daniels and find educational resources at harrietspeaks.com, including a downloadable reflection journal and workbook on race, diversity and inclusion. 2 KU
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EVERY GIFT MATTERS
CREATING SCHOLARSHIP IS A DREAM COME TRUE FOR AMANDA HOLT, LIVING IN MARGARET AMINI SCHOLARSHIP HALL
was central to her KU experience. And spending time with the hall’s namesake in person? Unforgettable. “I remember how honored I was to meet the woman behind making this type of college experience possible for students with strong academic merit, a desire to support their community and incredible financial need,” Amanda said. “She was so inspiring. I remember thinking, ‘If I can ever be like her, I want to be like her.’” Growing up in a single-parent household, Amanda said graduating with as little debt as possible was important. “I had a fire inside me to work my tail off to get as much financial support as I could,” she said. Amanda received multiple scholarships and awards, worked as a resident assistant her junior year, and still found time to achieve academic merit and serve the community. After graduating with a degree in journalism in 2003, Amanda worked in public relations and met her husband, Bryce, a KU alumnus with a bachelor’s in creative writing. Amanda later earned her master’s in public health and has spent her professional life working to improve health care. Bryce has focused on helping run his family’s business, which provides online technical education nationwide. “The two of us have been working really hard in our careers the last 20 years with this being one of our dreams — to give back and pay it forward,” Amanda said. Earlier this year, the couple established the Amanda and Bryce Holt Scholarship fund for scholarship hall residents with academic merit and significant financial need, but who are not eligible to receive a Pell Grant — just like Amanda.
FULL CIRCLE: Amanda and Bryce Holt meet Gracie Wheeler (L), the first recipient of their scholarship, at the scholarship hall Amanda lived in as a student. “Being able to do this now means we get to enjoy watching this gift mature alongside the students who will be impacted,” Amanda said.
“It’s been an emotional journey to be able to do this because it truly is a dream come true,” she said. “It’s made me realize how grateful I am for the support I received as a student.” The scholarship’s first recipient, Gracie Wheeler, hopes to one day run a family clinic in a rural community. “The Amanda and Bryce Holt Scholarship has helped me achieve my dreams financially and also has given me a new look at what it means to give back and boost others in my community.” Bryce hopes this scholarship will inspire others to give. “If one person can look at their situation and say, ‘I can do that too,’ that’s enough for me,” he said. “Seventy students applied for this. That’s 70 students who need help to be able to go to school. We’d love to see what it becomes, particularly if we can grow our own — to help the second, or the fifth or the 28th person in line to have the same opportunity.” KATHERINE CORLISS
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GIVING SNAPSHOTS
Dr. Jeff Burns and Dr. Russ Swerdlow
WHY I GIVE “I am so appreciative and grateful. They
know their gift is going to help people they’ll never get to know,” Patty Garney said of a donation to the KU Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center from Dave and Jamie Cummings of Parkville, Mo. Dave and Jamie Cummings made the gift in honor of Patty’s husband, Charles Garney, founder of Garney Construction Co. and Briarcliff Development Co. in Kansas City, Mo. Dave Cummings came to know Charles Garney through Briarcliff and considered him an important business mentor.
“I felt very fortunate to have been given
a full scholarship to the University of Kansas to play volleyball. I likely would not have been able to attend without this financial assistance. We created the Quest Scholarship to help other out-ofstate student-athletes become part of the Jayhawk family.” Jennifer Jernstedt, bachelor’s in sports science 1997, and Derek Jernstedt, Danville, Calif. Gift to the Quest Volleyball Scholarship
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“As a retired teacher, I love providing
scholarships to future teachers at KU. These students will influence the future. Contributing to their educational opportunities is exciting, fun and one way to make a difference.”
Sarah (Sally) Clark, bachelor’s in language arts 1966, master’s in educational curriculum and instruction 1977, and William Clark, Prairie Village, Kan. Gift to the Sarah J. and Dr. William R. Clark Scholarship
“Traveling to origins of design seemed
unattainable. For me, acquiring a scholarship turned this dream into a reality, expanding my creativity and cultural knowledge. Every creative person needs inspiration, and EVERY person deserves a chance to get immersed in a foreign culture to fully appreciate its soul.”
Beverly McMurray, bachelor’s in interior design 1999, and Scott McMurray, bachelor’s in theatre 1998, Lawrence, Kan. Gift to the Fernweh Study Abroad Scholarship
Rebekah Mani
“The family wants to honor the legacy of
Rebekah as the first dietitian in India. She did her share to teach and implement her knowledge in several countries. It is our hope that well-educated and trained dietitians will carry on this legacy in the U.S. and many other regions of the world.”
Mani Mani, M.D., certificate of residency 1971, emeritus professor of plastic surgery, Lenexa, Kan. Gift to establish the Rebekah Mani Clinical Scholar fund
“I was inspired by nurses on both sides of
my extended family. And those nurses, all of whom have passed on, would be so proud today and so amazed at the role of nurses and the kind of change agents that nurses have been able to become. A professorship appealed to me because it allowed those whom KU selects to advance their practice in research and make a big impact in technology.”
Don Green
“A professorship appealed
to me because it allowed those whom KU selects to advance their practice in research and make a big impact in technology.” —Christine Hartley
“That my career path started because there
happened to be scholarships available says a lot about the power of scholarships and how they can change the trajectory of the choices in your life. Professor Don Green was an energetic and engaging teacher, so this professorship is a fitting way to honor him.”
Zack Holland, bachelor’s in engineering 1996, and Melissa Holland, Englewood, Colo. Gift to establish the Don W. Green Professorship
Christine Hartley, bachelor’s in nursing 1973, master’s in nursing 1986, and Ross Hartley, J.D. 1974, Teton Village, Wyo. Gifts to the Christine A. Hartley Professorship and to establish the Hartley Rural Nursing Professorship
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BUILDING A UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
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Advancing diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging takes many hands
FOR ALL BY VALERIE GIELER
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T
o sustain excellence, institutions of higher learning cannot rest on the ideas, practices and successes of yesterday. The
University of Kansas is no exception. KU reaffirmed its commitment to continual progress with the recently launched Jayhawks Rising strategic plan. The plan’s vision is “to be an exceptional learning community that lifts each other and advances society.”
In order to be an exceptional learning environment, the university believes it must lead among peers as a learning and workplace environment that is representative of our society, accepts and values everyone, appreciates our common humanity and recognizes our differences are the cornerstone of academic preparation and professional distinction. This purpose is at the core of KU’s Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging, led by Interim Vice Provost D.A. Graham. Leading with purpose “KU is the flagship when it comes to educating Kansans and exporting this experience into the world,” Graham said. “That’s why leadership in diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) is so important, so we can stand in front of these issues rather than running behind them.” The work related to DEIB never ends, but it can evolve. “Improving DEIB at the University of Kansas is one of 13 objectives of Jayhawks Rising,” Graham said. “The goal for the future is to not have DEIB as an objective, but for it to be infused in every area going forward — regardless if the objective involves research, retention and recruitment, student success or building healthy communities.” KU has developed an organizational structure to align DEIB work across the university. There are now three assistant vice provost positions, one each for faculty, staff and students. Equity advisors (assistant/associate deans and vice chancellors) named by the university are part of academic and administrative leadership teams at the school and divisional levels. They will serve as advisors and develop programs and initiatives regarding DEIB for the schools and administrative units. “The plan is to cascade the work to allow more hands to do this labor,” Graham said.
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Together, we can do great things.
KU Student Portraits
Helping people is in their DNA Twin brothers Andrew and Benjamin Jones are among the first eight recipients of the Barbara Sheffield Medical Scholarship in the University of Kansas School of Medicine, established by a subsidiary of GEHA in 2021. Both earned their undergraduate degrees at the University of Missouri and are excited to be in medical school this fall. Andrew has always enjoyed taking care of others in many environments. An item that represents this passion is a bracelet he got on a mission trip to Nogales, a town on the border of the U.S. and Mexico. “It reminds me to be thankful for the many blessings I have and that I love to help and serve other people as much as I can.” Andrew also spent time with other service organizations and volunteered at an urgent care clinic, where he learned to value critical thinking skills and, more importantly, teamwork. He hopes to practice in pathology or radiology and is grateful to be a Sheffield Medical Scholar. “As a Black man, I want to be an example people can see and be part of a doctoral group that is more reflective of its patients,” he said. “This opportunity has changed my life.” Benjamin has wanted to be a physician since he was a child. “My father was the first physician who inspired me to pursue medicine,” he said. “Seeing the compassion and dedication he has for his patients has always been a standard I want to set for myself as a physician.” This inspiration, coupled with Benjamin’s evergrowing love of science, is represented by the first undergraduate research poster he completed. “The poster reminds me how far I’ve come in science and the passion it instilled in me to continue doing research and working toward becoming a physician,” he said. Practicing gastroenterology in an urban environment is Benjamin’s plan for the future. “I will use this scholarship to not only learn science and train in medicine, but to work to improve this amazing Kansas City community,” he said.
FUTURE DOCTORS: Benjamin (L) and Andrew Jones are following their dad’s example by pursuing careers in medicine.
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Everyone can be involved in the effort by educating themselves about the important issues of what it means to be anti-oppressive, inclusive and equitable. The university and many campus organizations host regular activities, learning opportunities and professional development sessions on campus. Considerations for health care All KU campuses strive to align DEIB goals, strategies and educational programming. KU Medical Center Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Jerrihlyn McGee, DNP, RN, CNE, also is a nurse and clinical associate professor in the KU School of Nursing. This experience contributes to her understanding of the need for DEIB in education and health care. McGee is leading the effort to create an environment that is equitable where students, faculty and staff feel included. A primary goal is increasing the diversity of graduating classes and faculty with more representation of historically excluded groups, which could include people of color, individuals identifying as LGBTQIA+ and people with disabilities. According to McGee, diversity in health care is more important now than ever before because of the changing landscape of the U.S. The country is becoming more diverse racially and ethnically, and the population is getting older. “It’s important for us to attract and graduate students who can respond to the needs of a diverse and aging demographic,” she said. “We also need to ensure all graduates are able to provide culturally responsive care and influence policy decisions.” No one would argue that recent times have been challenging, and health-related concerns have been front and center. “COVID-19 revealed health disparities and inequities for people of color and our elderly populations that many of us knew always existed,” McGee said. “This is an opportunity for us to address disparities, become better as a nation and become more united.” Role of philanthropy Support for students from underrepresented backgrounds and funding for DEIB programs and initiatives are priorities for the university.
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DONORS MAKING A DIFFERENCE Donors have already begun to show their support for underrepresented students at the University of Kansas and KU Medical Center. Barbara Sheffield Medical Scholarship — GEHA, via its subsidiary GEHA Solutions, established this scholarship in 2021 with a $1.5 million grant to address the lack of diversity in the physician workforce. This year’s cohort of scholars includes eight Black medical students, putting this year’s class on pace to be the most diverse in the KU School of Medicine’s history. “Research has shown that racism, discrimination and unconscious bias continue to plague the U.S. health care system and cause unequal treatment for racial and ethnic minorities,” said GEHA President & CEO Arthur A. Nizza, DSW. Chad A. Leat Student Scholarship — KU alumnus Chad Leat, of New York, N.Y., established this scholarship in 2006 and added a $1 million gift commitment in 2018 in support of LGBT students at KU. “Being able to provide opportunities to diverse students, and LGBT students
We respect each other.
in particular, means so much to me,” Leat said. “This gift will establish this scholarship as a much larger and more meaningful investment in the LGBT community here at KU for a long time.” Stueve Siegel Hanson Law Scholarship — Stueve Siegel Hanson, a law firm based in Kansas City, Mo., has given a $1 million gift to establish a scholarship for Black students at the KU School of Law. “Our firm’s core values include the pursuit of justice and active investment in our profession and our community,” said Patrick Stueve, a partner in the firm and KU Law alumnus. “We are committed to being agents of positive change, and we are committed to real action.” E. Eugene Carter Foundation Opportunity Award — This annual award benefits female Hispanic students in the KU School of Engineering. The award provides up to $20,000 per student annually to pay off subsidized federal loans upon graduation. Gene Carter, of Arlington, Mass., hopes the award encourages students to complete their degree. “My wife’s experience as a young refugee and my childhood ties to Kansas greatly inspired me,” he said.
“Providing more scholarships for students is important for increasing diversity,” McGee said. “Financial issues are a big reason why students either don’t go to college or don’t finish.” Among the university’s “dream items” is to have dedicated centers for the most vulnerable students and faculty and staff — a place they can go and feel safe, supported and nurtured. Graham adds, “If it wasn’t for donors with a passion for creating a more equitable environment, a lot of our students, faculty and staff would not have opportunities to study, work and research the way they are. We hope people will continue to give and allow us to offer opportunities to those who have been on the margins in the past.” Graham and McGee expressed that working toward a more diverse and inclusive university is a community effort and extremely rewarding. “I am a three-time graduate of the University of Kansas, and I’m inspired by the hard work we do every day and by the people who work here,” McGee said. “I am proud to serve this institution in the capacity I do and to be on this road to greater.”
KU’S DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION AND BELONGING PRIORITIES 1. Access and success — attracting, retaining and supporting diversity among faculty, staff and the student body. 2. Institutional climate and intergroup relations — fostering a positive and welcoming climate where all are valued, included and supported. 3. Education and scholarship — engaging students, faculty and staff in learning a variety of perspectives of domestic and international DEIB and social justice. 4. Institutional infrastructure — creating opportunities to develop greater impact around purchasing, procurement and vendor selection. 5. Community engagement — providing more opportunities for civic engagement and service especially with marginalized communities. They want to develop a “communiversity.”
We all belong.
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SCHOOL OF ROCKS ON THE COLORADO RIVER GRAND CANYON TRIP IS A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME BY VALERIE GIELER
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eading about rock layers and geologic formations is interesting. Seeing
them in person is life-changing. This past summer, KU Geology students and faculty spent seven days rafting the Colorado River through blistering heat and pouring rain, eating around the campfire and sleeping under the stars — all to unravel the mysteries of the Grand Canyon and experience its glory firsthand. “It was absolutely magical,” said Olivia Jones, a 2021 geology graduate who works at the Kansas Geological Survey. “I think about the trip every day. Being able to see and then discuss all those geologic processes with peers and professors was truly a one-of-a-kind experience.” For geologists, studying on-site is imperative. “A lot of the things we’re talking about are so large, you have to see them in person to understand their scale,” said Andrew Hoxey, a geology doctoral candidate. “Students who graduate from KU leave with invaluable field experience and a higher quality education.” Part of what makes this trip so memorable is the controversy about when the Colorado River carved out the Grand Canyon landscape we see today. One family of geologists think the Grand Canyon is 60 million years old, and the other believes it is closer to 6 or 7 million years old. Professor Mike Taylor, Ph.D., has been leading KU field experiences for 16 years. “I am amazed by the opportunities I have to run some of the best field trips on
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the planet,” Taylor said. “Funding our trips wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of our Jayhawk alumni and donors.” Jayhawk Faithful donors Bob and Jan FitzSimmons were inspired to fund the 2019 and 2021 Grand Canyon rafting trips in honor of their son Clark, who earned a bachelor’s in geology in 1991. “Clark says fieldwork gave him one of the best experiences of his time at KU, and we wanted to provide that same opportunity for students today,” said Bob, a 1962 KU alumnus with a bachelor’s in business administration.
OUTDOOR LEARNING: Field experiences are a KU Geology hallmark. Recent graduate Olivia Jones (previous page) said, “As a beginning geologist, reflecting back on this Grand Canyon trip could be quite monumental going into my future.” As part of the weeklong rafting journey, students take a class beforehand and present research posters printed on fabric while on-site (at right).
EXPERIENCED EYES: An adage states the best geologist is the one who has seen the most rocks. Geology doctoral candidate Andrew Hoxey (above), couldn’t agree more. He said, “I’d like to share a huge thank you to the donors who made this possible. It’s so essential to see geologic features in person.”
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WELCOME HOME NEW JAYHAWK WELCOME CENTER WILL GREET STUDENTS PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE WITH INCOMPARABLE VIEWS AND COUNTLESS STORIES BY MICHELLE STRICKLAND
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T
he ever-changing yet nostalgic story of the University of
Kansas will have a new first paragraph with the opening of the Jayhawk Welcome Center on the Lawrence campus in fall 2022.
The $21 million Jayhawk Welcome Center, funded entirely with private gifts, will provide prospective students and their families with an introduction to KU worthy of the institution’s 156-year history of excellence. Construction of the 30,000-square-foot structure is underway on the north side of the K.S. “Boots” Adams Alumni Center at 1266 Oread Ave. The project includes the renovation of the Adams Alumni Center, which opened in 1983. The two buildings will be www.kuendowment.org 15
seamlessly connected with the help of physical renovation and digital storytelling technology. When it is completed in 2022, the Welcome Center will be the starting point for all campus visits by prospective students and their families. It also will house approximately 20 members of the KU Admissions staff.
Atrium Lobby
Student Lounge
The Pub
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The new center will have space to highlight campus life; stories of Jayhawk career successes, research and innovation; history and traditions; and KU’s global reach through virtual exhibits and interactive displays. A two-story lobby display will feature personalized greetings, videos, slideshows and social media feeds. Since 1999, campus visits have begun at the KU Visitor Center, the remodeled first floor of Templin Hall on Daisy Hill. Dale Seuferling, president of KU Endowment, said donors recognized the need to have a new starting place for visitors and prospective students in order to recruit the next generation of Jayhawks. “KU is ready to make this move,” Seuferling said. “As alumni reflect on their first impressions of KU, they immediately embrace the concept of a welcome center on Jayhawk Boulevard.” That prime spot, right at the entrance to campus, lighted a fire of enthusiasm for many donors. Don and Kay Brada of Lawrence have been involved with the project since the beginning. They were part of early discussions about how to provide more space in the Adams Alumni Center to the Student Alumni Network, which has grown into the largest student group on campus with several thousand members. Eventually the idea grew into the Welcome Center, which had the needed space and, more importantly, the location. “The Welcome Center should be in the heart of campus,” Kay Brada said. “That’s the most exciting part. When students come here to be welcomed, they’re right on Jayhawk Boulevard. They have the beautiful view. If that doesn’t sell you, nothing will.” The project checked a lot of boxes for Mike Berkley of Salina, who gathered siblings, their children and nieces and nephews to make a group gift in the Berkley family name. The gift honored Mike’s parents, Jack and Pauline Berkley, as well as his late sister Arliene Matthews;
DONOR SUPPORT The generosity and vision of many have made what started as a casual conversation into the reality of the Jayhawk Welcome Center. The project is being made possible with support from dedicated donors and continues with significant renovations to the existing Adams Alumni Center. Atrium Lobby
late brothers Jack, Robert and Jerry; and remaining brothers Paul, Hal and Don. Berkley estimates more than 50 family members are KU alumni, and they studied everything from business and accounting to education, law and medicine. “All those factions made it hard to come to an agreement on how to make a gift as a group,” he said. Burke Matthews, Arliene’s son, said the Welcome Center was something on which all family members agreed. “The building will be a center point for every student coming to KU; they will all be going through it,”
CONSTRUCTION VIEWS The Jayhawk Welcome Center is scheduled to open in fall 2022. Construction will take place throughout 2021 and 2022, and the Adams Alumni Center will remain closed during that time. Visit www.jayhawkwelcomecenter.org for updates and a live construction cam!
KU Alumni and KU Endowment seek donors to fund the remaining $3 million in renovation and technology costs. To learn more about opportunities to support the project, contact Keon Stowers at 785-832-7483 or kstowers@ kuendowment.org.
Matthews said. “That was the common denominator needed for everyone to want to be a part of it.” Student recruitment and increasing enrollment were driving factors behind the Welcome Center. As competition for academically talented students continues to grow, the campus visit is among the most important aspects in choosing a college. Matt Melvin, KU’s vice provost for enrollment management, said that while quality and affordability are rational drivers of college choice, the campus visit captures the emotional drivers of “fit and feel.” “We want students to come to campus and say, ‘This is a place where I can see myself changing the trajectory of my life,’” Melvin said. The Bradas liked the inclusion of the Office of Admissions at the Welcome Center, knowing it would attract future students. They also thought it was important to stay connected to the Alumni Association as a way to capitalize on KU’s past. And the center gives current students a place to meet, study and reflect. “We could see a flow all the way through,” Don Brada said. “We could pretty easily see future students and current students in the building, and how the space would create a bridge with the Adams Alumni Center. It brings the past, present and future together.”
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CHALLENGE GRANT FOR CHAMPIONS SEEKING SUPPORT FOR KU’S OUTSTANDING DEBATERS BY VICTORIA SICKINGER
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ix national championships, 18 Final Four appearances, 41 first-seed
picks and 54 consecutive years of qualifying for the tournament. And we aren’t talking about KU basketball.
The University of Kansas is rated in the top 5 schools for debate — ranked among universities such as Harvard, Dartmouth and Northwestern. KU Debate has a tradition of excellence. During the 2020–2021 season, KU Debate was ranked No. 2 in the National Debate Tournament (NDT). Other accolades included winning three tournaments, earning awards as the NDT top two speakers and team president Azja Butler being named National Debater of the Year. Butler is the first Black woman to be named top speaker at the NDT and the third KU student to win the national debater award. Fierce competition KU Debate has an impressive history of winning, and recruiting talented students is key to continuing that success. KU competes against top-ranked schools that can provide full-tuition scholarships. In the last three years, KU has lost top recruits to schools such as the University of Kentucky, Baylor University and University of Nevada, Las Vegas. In order for KU Debate to continue winning championships, it will need additional scholarships. Alumnus David Pittaway was a member of the KU Debate squad in 1970 when the team won a national championship, and he continues to maintain an interest in debate. Pittaway introduced a challenge grant this year to meet the urgent need for the program to recruit 18 KU
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top talent. He is matching donations made to the KU National Debate Championship Scholarship Fund up to $500,000 during the next five years, in hopes of reaching the debate program’s goal of $1 million. “Several years ago, I endowed the David B. Pittaway Professorship of Debate,” he said. “Recently, Chancellor Girod approached me and said KU Debate really needs more scholarships to remain competitive. When the chancellor twists your arm, it’s hard to say no.” Challenge accepted The Debate Alumni Advisory Council has launched a campaign to meet Pittaway’s challenge grant. Council members and donors have made pledges to kick off the fundraising effort. The campaign is seeking the support of additional alumni and friends to help KU Debate continue its tradition of excellence. “When I’m long gone, I want to make sure KU is a top five school in the United States in debate,” said Mark Gidley, Debate Alumni Advisory Council chair. Gidley is familiar with what it takes to be successful at debate. When he joined the KU Debate team in 1979, coach Donn Parson already had two national championships under his belt. Gidley was hopeful for a chance at winning a trophy. In 1982, he was top ranked with his colleague, but did not secure the championship. In 1983, the debate budget was cut by half, which was devastating to the program. Gidley recalls having to scrape by to get to the national championship. The KU Debate team packed a cooler with sandwiches and headed for Colorado to compete in the NDT. Although Gidley and partner Rodger Payne were not top ranked that year, they claimed the U.S. championship title.
FIRST IN THE U.S.: National Debate Tournament top speaker Azja Butler, the first Black woman to receive this honor, is grateful for the support of (L to R) KU Debate Director Scott Harris, Assistant Coach Ned Gidley and Assistant Director Brett Bricker.
Gidley said the team’s championship title wouldn’t have been possible without his teammates. The strength of a debater is in the quality of the research; the bigger the squad, the more resources you have. Giving back Gidley began supporting KU Debate soon after graduating. Having experienced what it was like to have resources slashed during his time in debate, he was highly motivated to give back. In the early 2000s, when Gidley learned resources for debate had declined and the members were dwindling, he stepped in and created the Mark and Bridget Gidley Debate Scholarship. The KU Debate connection continues with Ned Gidley, Mark and Bridget’s son, who is now an assistant coach working closely with student debaters. Gidley’s involvement with the advisory council made giving to the KU National Debate Championship Scholarship Fund and Pittaway’s challenge grant a natural fit. Thanks to the generosity of all the donors so far, the campaign is off to a great start and is nearly 1/3 of the way to meet the $500,000 challenge. Road to excellence Azja Butler considers debate and her community of
people as the pillars of her KU experience so far. Last year, the debate team competed in 16 tournaments, totaling 460 debates. Three teams qualified for the NDT, two made it to the Elite Eight and one team — Butler and partner Ross Fitzpatrick — made it to the Final Four. When the senior learned she won National Debater of the Year, Butler was in shock. She admitted it was harder debating online than in person. “It was nice to feel like the debate community came together and appreciated the work I was doing,” Butler said. “A lot of my arguments were about community and maintaining relationships over distance, so it was really full circle for me to receive that award.” Butler always wanted to attend KU because several friends, mentors and her high school debate coach are alumni. However, coming from a family with four children, Butler wasn’t sure that dream was attainable. A student loan helped her make it through freshman year. After joining KU Debate, Butler gained assistance from the Mark and Bridget Gidley Debate Scholarship and other existing funds. She will graduate next year with a degree in secondary education and a minor in African American studies. “KU changed my life, and YOU CAN HELP it wouldn’t have been possible If you want to support this challenge, contact without the help of generous Brandon Woodard at 785donors and people who believe 832-7397 or make a gift at www.kuendowment.org/ in making academia accessible debatechampionship to everyone,” Butler said. www.kuendowment.org 19
ACROSS KU
CAMPUS HAPPENINGS
KU Boot Camp scholarships An anonymous donor has provided $50,000 to support scholarships for low-income individuals interested in technology careers to participate in two popular KU programs. Coding Boot Camp and Digital Marketing Boot Camp, offered through KU Lifelong & Professional Education, cover coding, data analytics, cybersecurity, digital marketing and tech project management. The programs give participants the essential skills needed to be successful in today’s digital world. New endowed scholarship for KU School of Medicine-Wichita A group of business and community leaders originally formed to help the KU School of Medicine-Wichita transition to a four-year campus a decade ago is continuing to support the school in other meaningful ways. Their latest contribution of more than $100,000 endowed a new scholarship for two incoming medical students. The 4-Wichita Advancement Board was created in 2011, the same year the school began teaching first- and second-year students. The board hopes to raise more donations from the community. To learn how to get involved, contact Brad Rukes at 316-293-2641 or brukes@kuendowment.org. KU Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center recognized The National Institute on Aging (NIA) renewed the University of Kansas Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center’s (KU ADRC) national designation. One of just 33 centers in the U.S., the KU ADRC received its first designation in 2011. The renewal comes with a five-year grant that will provide more than $15 million in funding through 2026. Nearly six million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s, including approximately 180,000 people in Kansas and Missouri. Since its first renewal in 2016, the KU ADRC has supported more than 190 studies and enrolled nearly 3,400 participants in clinical trials. 20 KU
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Top 25 U.S. News & World Report named KU as the No. 24 Best Value School.
Long-term investing pays off A scholarship fund invested in KU Endowment’s Long-term Investment Program in 1973 is a powerful example of how an endowed fund impacts the university. The Glenn and Elizabeth Adams fund was established in 1964 by KU alumni Paul and Maurine Adams in honor of his parents. Dr. Dwight Adams, another son of the couple and also a KU alumnus and donor, recently reached out to acknowledge the success of the fund. “The original gift made for scholarships in the name of my parents years ago has more than doubled,” Adams said. “At the same time, the amount of scholarship support provided has exceeded the original gift.” Adams hopes highlighting the fund growth will inspire other donors to support KU.
The quest to conquer all cancers The University of Kansas Cancer Center reached a significant milestone by achieving National Cancer Institute (NCI) designation in 2012 and being renewed in 2017. In September, the center applied for the exclusive status of NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center designation — to be one of only 52 elite cancer centers in the U.S. Comprehensive centers are those recognized for their trailblazing research and leadership in developing leading-edge treatments. More than 50 professionals spent a total of 1,700-plus hours writing and editing the application, which ended up exceeding 1,700 pages. Site visits will take place in early 2022.
ACROSS KU
You said it
“I’m giving to support nurse
New KU Endowment trustees elected The KU Endowment Board of Trustees elected Kannon Shanmugam, Petra Tasheff, Elizabeth Boldridge Tovar and Frank Tsuru as new trustees at their annual meeting in October. Shanmugam attended KU in 1989, received his undergraduate and law degrees at Harvard and was a Marshall Scholar at the University of Oxford. He is managing partner and chair of the Supreme Court litigation practice at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP in Washington, D.C. Tasheff graduated from KU in 1978 with a bachelor’s in English. She received her law degree from Northwestern in 1981 and is retired from the National Center for Law and Economic Justice. Boldridge Tovar received her bachelor’s in psychology in 2002, her master’s in psychology in 2009 and her doctorate in higher education administration in 2011, all from KU. She is executive officer and associate vice president, Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and associate athletics director for Student-Athlete Academic Services at the University of Iowa. Tsuru graduated from the University of Kansas with a bachelor’s in petroleum engineering in 1983. He co-founded Momentum Midstream in 2004 and currently serves as its CEO. He also is president and CEO of Indigo Natural Resources. New Chancellors Club professors Four KU professors are recipients of the prestigious Chancellors Club Teaching Professorship, which recognizes outstanding educators for their dedication to excellence. The honorees are Scott Moser, M.D.; Cynthia Teel, Ph.D., RN, FAAN; Mikhail Barybin, Ph.D.; and George Tsoflias, Ph.D. Moser was appointed associate dean for curriculum at KU School of Medicine-Wichita in 2015. He has earned numerous teaching awards and was the founding faculty advisor for Wichita’s JayDoc Community Clinic. Teel serves as associate dean, academic affairs for the KU School of Nursing. She has been honored frequently during her 28 years at KU and has secured more than $1.7 million in grants. Barybin is a professor of chemistry and is principal investigator for the Barybin Research Group. His 20-year KU career includes serving as a University Honors faculty fellow. Tsoflias, a professor of geology, came to KU in 2003 after roles in industry and with the government. He has excelled in innovating experiential learning and mentoring undergraduate and graduate research. Each professor will receive an annual $10,000 honorarium for the next five years.
anesthesia students because I am a 1994 alumna of KU’s graduate Nurse Anesthesiology Program. My grandfather, Gustave A. Roy, was a 1930s alumnus of KU’s undergraduate program and medical school.” CYNTHIA EPPLIN, MASTER’S IN NURSING ANESTHESIA 1994, PINCKNEYVILLE, ILL.
“KU Mini College is awesome. It’s the reason I reconnected with campus, have come back to campus nearly every year for the last 12, became a lifetime Alumni member and plan to move to Lawrence.” MARGARET BUCKLEY, BACHELOR’S IN LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES AND SPANISH 1997, PORTLAND, ORE.
“I’m giving because I love KU. I treasure my memories there, especially my time as a resident assistant with Student Housing and my experiences with the history and political science departments.” JESSE BURBANK, BACHELOR’S IN HISTORY AND POLITICAL SCIENCE 2017, CHICAGO, ILL.
“Giving back during COVID times is so important. As someone who didn’t get a lot of scholarships, I want this to go back to scholarships through the Greater KU Fund.” DOMINIC PITTS, BACHELOR’S IN COMPUTER SCIENCE 2017, LENEXA, KAN. www.kuendowment.org 21
ACROSS KU
ARTISTIC TRIBUTE: The bronze Water Carrier sculpture by Craig Dan Goseyum was a gift from Clarence and Hazel Beck to the University of Kansas to commemorate the 1994 centennial of Spooner Hall.
COUPLE’S GENEROSITY LIVES ON CLARENCE AND HAZEL BECK RECOGNIZED THE VALUE OF EDUCATION and the power of
philanthropy. The couple’s generous, decadeslong support has enriched the University of Kansas and will continue to touch the lives of Jayhawks for generations. Clarence was born in 1920 in Pratt, Kan. He spent summers working on the family farm in the Oklahoma Panhandle as drought and dust devastated the region. “God, what do I have to do to have money, not be a farmer, and I’ll do it,” he said in the 2012 Ken Burns documentary The Dust Bowl. “And that’s been my driving force.” After graduating high school, he earned a bachelor’s in metallurgical engineering from KU in 1943. It was during this time he met his future wife, Hazel, who was superintendent of a hospital in Pratt. The couple had been married for 63 years when Hazel died in 2007. After serving two years in the U.S. Army, Clarence began a distinguished 30-year career with General Electric Company. He was a pioneer in the nuclear power industry, receiving several 22 KU
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awards and patents. KU honored him with the Distinguished Engineering Service Award in 1992. Clarence died in 2011. The Becks were consistent supporters of the university and members of the Chancellors Club and the Elizabeth Watkins Society. The couple formalized their estate plans in 1995 including four charitable remainder trusts with KU as the beneficiary. Their much-needed, unrestricted support helps sustain the university’s highest priorities and realize goals that otherwise wouldn’t be possible. Because of their flexibility, unrestricted gifts can be directed to unexpected opportunities and initiatives that meet KU’s everevolving needs. “Clarence and Hazel were a delight to work with as they had a sincere commitment to KU’s role in changing people’s lives for the better,” said Dale Seuferling, president of KU Endowment. “That was their experience, and they wanted to make the same possible for others.” JODI BOUYACK
KU ENDOWMENT 101
VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIP TWELVE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS FRIENDS ESTABLISHED KU ENDOWMENT IN 1891 to receive
and manage gifts apart from the state of Kansas treasury. This group of Jayhawks developed into the KU Endowment Board of Trustees. The board now comprises up to 75 volunteer leaders and recently held their 130th annual meeting. The full board elects an executive committee to govern the organization and ensure we provide significant support for KU now and in the future. The executive committee of up to 15 members includes four, ex officio, non-voting members: KU’s chancellor and KU Endowment’s president, secretary and treasurer. The chair of the Board of Trustees also is the chair of the executive committee, a position elected annually. In addition to the executive committee, six standing committees and one subcommittee oversee specific areas of operation. An ad hoc budget committee also is named every year. Membership is appointed annually by the chair. Board members receive no compensation for their service. At the conclusion of active service, trustees are eligible for election to life trustee. Each board member brings a unique perspective and skill set to advance our mission in the following ways: • Financial support of KU to the extent of individual ability as an example for others to follow. • A willingness to lead and encourage alumni, friends, corporations and foundations to invest in the future of the University of Kansas. • An active interest in the operations of KU Endowment. • A willingness to share any special expertise for the benefit of KU Endowment. • Regular attendance at meetings of the Board of Trustees and active participation in KU Endowment functions in the local area. • Representation and support of KU Endowment among friends, fellow alumni and donors in the community.
TRUSTEES BY THE NUMBERS Up to 75 trustees • Serve 8-year renewable terms • Eligible to become life trustee at age 75
36 current life trustees Up to 15 members on the Executive Committee
6 committees of 5–8 trustees • Audit • Compensation • Development • Governance • Investment • Property Management
1 subcommittee — Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Trustees come from 11 states (+ District of Columbia)
1,808 miles — farthest distance a trustee travels to KU Trustees hold 88 KU degrees from 13 areas Trustees serve at 23 total meetings per year
1,346 total volunteer hours each year
www.kuendowment.org 23
THE FAITHFUL
A JAYHAWK THROUGH AND THROUGH VIRGINIA WULFKUHLE’S TIES TO THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS GO BACK TO THE VERY BEGINNING. Her great-grandmother, Flora
Richardson Colman, was the first graduate of KU and received the university’s first diploma in 1873. The faded parchment was found in a cousin’s attic and eventually entrusted to Wulfkuhle, a KU alumna herself who earned a degree in anthropology in 1969. She donated the historic document on behalf of the Richardson family to the Kenneth Spencer Research Library as soon as she could. “My basement is pretty safe, even from a tornado, but having it made me nervous,” Wulfkuhle said. “Besides, a document like that should be in public ownership.” The diploma was just one gift among many in Wulfkuhle’s long history of generosity to the University of Kansas. She made her first gift in 1979 to support the Greater KU Fund and has given to a variety of areas since then. Her support has grown more consistent over time; this year marks her 20-year giving streak as a Jayhawk Faithful donor. Although choosing a favorite area of support is difficult, Wulfkuhle is pleased to have been part of the Grotesque Renewal Project through the Historic Mount Oread Friends. The project recreated the limestone creatures that graced the exterior of the Natural History Museum and Dyche Hall. She and her sister, Linda Wulfkuhle Cecchini, sponsored a study carrel in Watson Library. The plaque includes their names and also honors their grandmother, Nellie, and Nellie’s sister, Wilimina; and their mother, Margaret and Margaret’s sister, Virginia, after whom Wulfkuhle is named — three generations of sisters.
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SISTER ACT: Virginia Wulfkuhle (L) and her sister, Linda Wulfkuhle Cecchini, made philanthropy a family affair with a gift to the KU Libraries.
Wulfkuhle lives on a remnant of the family farm owned by her great-grandparents, O.A. and Flora Colman. The 40-acre property sits in full view of Mount Oread, just west of Lawrence. She plans to donate the property, her “little piece of the prairie,” to KU for use by the Kansas Biological Survey. Many members of her family were teachers, and the importance of education was impressed on her from a young age. She is thrilled to know the land will educate future Jayhawks. “My mother used to look around and say, ‘Isn’t it wonderful that we live in the most beautiful place in the world?’” Wulfkuhle said. “That others will experience it is a great joy.” MICHELLE STRICKLAND
TIME & PLACE
David Buffum Tombstone text as carved DAVID C. BUFFUM Born at Salem, Mass. Nov. 11, 1822, Died near Lawrence Kansas Sept. 17, 1856. His death, although a great loss to his friends and the community, has been a great gain to the cause of Freedom. He was devoted to the cause for which he suffered; his last words being “I am willing to die for the cause of Freedom in Kansas.”
MONUMENT TO FREEDOM RESTORED JUST ACROSS THE IOWA STREET
turned this dying statement into a rallying
BRIDGE IN KU’S WEST DISTRICT,
cry in Kansas and across the country.
Pioneer Cemetery’s natural hedge border
The tombstone is believed to have been
and green lawn provide a peaceful final
stolen from the cemetery in the early 1900s.
resting place for more than 1,000 members
Later recovered and deemed of historical
of the KU community. The cemetery also
significance, it was entrusted to the Kansas
is home to some of the state’s earliest
State Historical Society. The tombstone is
residents. Once lost in overgrown prairie
now on display at the Kansas Museum of
and nearly forgotten, Pioneer Cemetery was
History in Topeka. In spring 2021, KU alumnus
rediscovered in the mid-19th century. KU
and local sculptor Karl Ramberg created a
Endowment acquired the historic property in
replica of the Buffum tombstone based on
1953 and reopened it for interments in 1968.
photos and measurements of the original.
One notable free-state supporter, David
Back home on the Pioneer Cemetery
Buffum, was buried here in 1856. Originally
grounds, the white tombstone stands as
from Salem, Mass., Buffum was a member
a reminder of those who pushed against
of the New England Emigrant Aid Company.
proslavery boundaries, transformed free-
He was in the second wave of antislavery
state supporters’ rally cries and fought
supporters who settled in the territory in
for abolishing slavery in the territory now
hopes of preventing slavery from spreading.
known as Kansas. Buffum, whose last words
Buffum died after being shot by a member of
proclaimed his willingness to die for freedom,
the proslavery Kickapoo Rangers. His epitaph
displayed the true Jayhawk spirit.
reads, “I am willing to die for the cause of
SHELLY TRIPLETT
Freedom in Kansas.” Free-state supporters
www.kuendowment.org 25
P.O. Box 928 Lawrence, KS 66044-0928
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Lawrence, Kansas Permit No. 72
CRIMSON HUES Leaves the shade of Mount Oread’s signature red roofs frame the Dyche Hall tower and provide a glimpse of fall’s beauty.