KU Giving Fall 2022, Issue 35

CHEERS FOR FOOTBALL AND PHILANTHROPY!

It’s always a good day when KU alumni and friends gather on Mount Oread. It’s even better when we can enjoy beautiful fall weather, celebrate a Jayhawk win and recognize generous donors!

KU Endowment Watkins Society members, those who have provided for the University of Kansas in their estate plan, recently cheered the Jayhawks to victory against Oklahoma State. We also welcomed Jayhawk Faithful and other friends to a pregame tailgate on the Hill. We are proud of the KU football team and their winning season as well as all KU leaders on and off the field. Recent accomplishments in academics, research and discovery, teaching and medicine make this an exciting time to be a Jayhawk. Rock Chalk!

BUILDING ON A LEGACY

IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO PEN THIS NOTE AS I ENTER THE ROLE OF PRESIDENT and join KU Endowment’s tremendous legacy of impact — of partners and those who have stewarded our mission since 1891.

As I review the history of the University of Kansas, it is clear KU Endowment has been one of the most instrumental drivers in the university’s development. And, thanks to exemplary leadership and wise stewardship, KU Endowment continues to be in a position of strength and a remarkable resource to KU. Truly, the effort that began on October 31, 1891, has built a “greater University of Kansas.”

I am honored to follow Dale Seuferling and am in awe that he served KU Endowment for nearly one-third of its existence. Wow … one-third. 41 years. Serving at a single organization for that many years is a rarity in today’s world of work. Dale’s contributions have been significant, and his leadership imprint will always remain a part of who we are.

I happened to walk into a moment on Dale’s last day in the office as he was talking to some KU Endowment colleagues. He was telling them the office he had been using since I arrived was clear of all his personal items and it was so empty that you could hear an echo. I thought to myself, “How fitting.” May Dale’s life and legacy continue to echo, reverberate and shape these halls as we give thanks for all he has done to establish KU Endowment as an organization that is recognized as one of the best in the nation.

For me, this role represents the apex, the high point, of my career. Although no one could ever replace Dale and the impact he has made, I will certainly do all I can to serve and empower the KU Endowment team so that, together, we can strive to meet the level of excellence and productivity established under Dale’s leadership.

The efforts and donor partnerships represented in the stories on the following pages are the result of a tremendous team serving to advance KU Endowment’s mission. Even though I am just a couple of months into my role, what I initially believed has been confirmed: KU Endowment staff is comprised of talented and passionate professionals. It is their efforts that are reflected in these stories, and I am grateful for the opportunity to serve alongside them.

Sincerely, Dan Martin

SCHOLARSHIP HONORS VIKING CONNECTION

IT SURPRISED AND

CONCERNED

STEVE DILLMAN when he recently learned that nearly 50% of students at his alma mater of Shawnee Mission West (SMW) High School in Overland Park, Kan., qualify for free or reducedprice lunch and have limited collegiate prospects due to financial constraints.

“The demographics have shifted since I was a student there, and obviously, the cost of a college education has skyrocketed nationwide,” said Dillman, a KU graduate.

“I talked with my wife, Kelly, and we decided we had to do something to help,” he said. “We were already working with KU Endowment as part of our estate planning, so establishing a scholarship to help SWM students attend KU seemed like a natural fit.”

He began with a pitch to his brother Chris Dillman, and Chris recruited two other friends with SMW and KU connections, Daphne Hearn and Scott Rehorn, to join in the endeavor. Establishing the Shawnee Mission West Vikings Scholarship manifested quickly. The four friends gave $10,000 each and offered to match donations from others. In just over two years, more than 60 others have donated, bringing the fund to about $120,000. The first four-year scholarships of $5,000 annually were awarded in spring 2022.

Now in his ninth year as SMW principal, Steven Loe said the scholarship creates opportunities for Vikings who are academically ready for college but lack the resources to pursue their dreams. “We know KU is an amazing and challenging place that can be life-changing,” said Loe, who is also a KU alumnus.

The first two recipients, KU freshmen Riley Hargrove and Joyce Kioko, both come from single-mother homes.

“Words cannot describe how grateful

my family and I are,” said Kioko, who wants to work with children and is studying psychology with a minor in sociology. “I was at work when I received the call, and I was overjoyed. There were tears in my eyes. I want to thank all the donors from the bottom of my heart for being so generous, humble and gracious.”

Hargrove, who is studying exercise science and aspires to become a physical therapist, believes the scholarship will open paths for her beyond attaining her bachelor’s degree. “It will help me pursue my career dreams and lessen the debt I will incur for school, allowing me to focus solely on my education,” she said.

“There’s no better way to give back to West and KU,” Rehorn said. “We want to help more students each year go to Kansas, and we hope to have the chance to give them more money.”

Hearn joined the scholarship effort in part because she values the lasting friendships from high school. “I have traveled back to my old neighborhood near SMW and was surprised by the changes,” she said. “It is nice to give back to a community that was so good to us and to those who both need support and deserve it.”

BILL WOODARD

SCHOOL TIES:

KU freshmen Riley Hargrove (L) and Joyce Kioko are the first recipients of the Shawnee Mission West Vikings Scholarship, created by high school friends. Classmates and friends themselves, Hargrove and Kioko enjoy sharing their Jayhawk experience.

YOU CAN HELP

To support the college dreams of more SMW Vikings, visit www.kuendowment.org/ SMWScholarship. To learn more about scholarships in general, contact Abbey Ambrose at 785-8327355 or aambrose@ kuendowment.org.

WHY I GIVE

“Living in Liberia, Saudi Arabia and elsewhere convinced us that having extended experiences outside the U.S. should be a vital part of everyone’s education. We have been overjoyed to help finance such experiences for KU students, and even happier with the letters from students who have benefited in this way.”

Arlo Schurle, bachelor’s 1964, master’s 1965, and doctorate in 1967, all in mathematics; and Dixie Schurle, 1966 alumna, Austin, Texas

Gift to the Schurle Family Study Abroad Fund

“In my early years as a hospital pharmacist, I met a nurse, Sue Welch, who graduated from the KU School of Nursing. Sue had received a scholarship and otherwise probably would not have been able to attend. That meeting turned into marriage five months later. Through the years, we were able to make contributions to the KU School of Nursing in appreciation of Sue’s training. When she passed after nearly 60 years of marriage, I established a scholarship for KU student nurses in her honor. Sue would be so proud to know we are helping deserving students achieve their dreams. Perhaps KU will change these students’ lives, just as it did Sue’s … and mine.”

Walter T. Miller Jr., Springfield, Mo.

Gift to establish the Walter and Sue (Welch) Miller Nursing Student Scholarship Fund

“

I felt like it was time for me to give back to the school where I did my training and the community where I grew up. In the past few years, we have come to understand that equality does not necessarily mean equity. This scholarship recognizes that people of color often come from a place of inequity.”

Deborah VanderVeen, M.D. 1993, residency 1995, Wellesley Hills, Mass.

Gift to the Schaefer-VanderVeen Medical Diversity Scholarship

“Perhaps KU will change these students’ lives, just as it did Sue’s … and mine.”

—Walter T. Miller Jr.

“I am very interested in helping fund the development of the total person.”

—J. Kermit Campbell

“I am very interested in helping fund the development of the total person. Successful leadership requires such development, but I am convinced that a focus on communication skills and the art of storytelling can lead to a more fulfilling life for every person, regardless of their role in any setting and at any age. Go KU!”

J. Kermit Campbell, bachelor’s in engineering 1960, Traverse City, Mich.

Gift to the J. Kermit Campbell Undergraduate Research Fellows

Gifts at work

“

I am grateful to the donors who make scholarships possible. My education has been enhanced by ensuring I can make my legal degree my first priority. My scholarship has allowed me to engage in extracurricular activities and law school programs, enriching my professional development outside of the classroom.”

—ALEXANDRA

SPEAKAR

“The opportunity to receive my education at KU and pursue my dreams is something I’m incredibly grateful for.”

—OM

WATSON

“ I want my donor to know how deeply grateful I am for the opportunity to study at a top-tier research university at a reduced cost. I am perpetually amazed by the boundless opportunities and resources available at KU and am honored to call myself a Jayhawk. I know the skills and knowledge I will acquire at KU will help me reach my potential as a driver of positive change in the state of Kansas and the world.”

—ALEXA

MAGSTADT

“As I dive into my studies and work hard toward my degree, I’ll always be thankful for the fact that financing my education does not have to be a worry for me or my family. I cannot express how grateful I am to receive this honor. I’ll work my hardest in college to prove that I’m deserving of it.”

—HUNTER LONG

CLOSER TO THE GOAL OF CONQUERING CANCER

KU CANCER CENTER EARNS NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE’S

MOST PRESTIGIOUS STATUS — COMPREHENSIVE

BY MICHELLE STRICKLAND

Nothing unites people like a common enemy, and there’s no common enemy quite like cancer.

In July 2022, The University of Kansas Cancer Center achieved “Comprehensive” cancer center designation from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the highest level of recognition. Reaching comprehensive status has been years in the making and required the dedication and commitment of the entire KU Cancer Center team, community leaders and supporters throughout the region.

“Comprehensive designation is a crucial milestone in our journey to conquer all cancers,” said Roy Jensen, M.D., director of KU Cancer Center. “For people with cancer, Comprehensive designation means patients will be cared for by the world’s leading cancer experts who have access to a robust portfolio of clinical trials. It also means we now have increased access to more federal funding and research dollars, which helps us grow and retain our team of internationally renowned researchers and physician-scientists.”

Pillars of excellence

Comprehensive Cancer Centers are recognized for their leadership and resources; demonstrating an added depth and breadth of research; and substantial transdisciplinary research that bridges these scientific areas. Specifically, the four pillars of a comprehensive center are:

• Scientific depth and breadth

• Transdisciplinary research

• Community outreach and engagement

• Education and training

A WORTHY PURSUIT: U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran (L) congratulates KU Cancer Center director Dr. Roy Jensen on achieving NCI Comprehensive Designation. Moran said Jensen was “relentless” in his visits to Washington, D.C., to achieve this goal.

KU Cancer Center was able to make strides in these areas with the help of philanthropy, which provided the seed funds to do quality research that in turn secured grants. Jensen said it is difficult to get grant funding for projects in which data is lacking.

“Philanthropy plays a critical role in many cases by giving us the seed capital to get things started,” Jensen said. “With those funds, we can generate data to test hypotheses to such an extent that we can get a good sense whether an idea is going to work.”

And many of those ideas are working. In addition to comprehensive status, KU Cancer Center was awarded a five-year, $13.8 million grant to support the center’s research programs and shared equipment and resources. It also received an “outstanding” rating by NCI reviewers.

The prestigious comprehensive designation places KU Cancer Center among only 53 such centers in the United States. It puts it in the company of other well-known institutions such as Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center in Boston, the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York.

In recognition of KU Cancer Center’s designation, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly proclaimed September “Comprehensive Cancer Centers Awareness Month.”

“Thanks to the incredible leadership at the University of Kansas, we are saving thousands of lives and conquering cancer starting right here in Kansas,” Kelly said.

Cancer advocates

KU alumnus Drue Jennings, retired CEO of Kansas City Power & Light, longtime champion for KU Cancer Center and KU Endowment Life Trustee, said without generous support, the designation would have been elusive.

“KU Cancer Center has earned the trust of donors, and it has made all the difference,” Jennings said. “Some people who have never given before gave to this effort, and gifts ranged from single digits to eight digits. The troops truly rallied to fight for this cause.”

Jennings was instrumental in the creation of the Cancer Funding Partners, which focuses on fundraising and advocacy for KU Cancer Center. He served as chair from 2009 to 2012, and his participation has never wavered. Advocating for the

cause, he said, has been the most rewarding experience in his long history of fundraising.

“The human impact, the economic development impact, the positive impact on other health care systems throughout the area — all contributed tremendously to collective well-being, making Kansas City a better place to live,” Jennings said.

Floriene Lieberman was another advocate involved in the early days of the Cancer Funding Partners. Lieberman, of Overland Park, Kan., was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1976 and traveled to The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston for care because there was not an NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in the Kansas City region.

It was hard for Lieberman to be away from home and her family for the two rounds of treatment she needed a few years apart, but she felt it was important to have the best care available. “Because I chose to go to a comprehensive cancer center and participate in clinical trials, they were able to save my life,” Lieberman said.

Lieberman has been rallying friends and raising funds for KU Cancer Center for decades because she feels strongly about receiving care close to home. “When you are sick and hurting, you should not have to travel hundreds of miles to get the best treatment,” Lieberman said. “I wanted more than that for my community.”

FRIENDS IN THE FIGHT: Cancer advocate Floriene Lieberman is someone Roy Jensen can always count on for support. Here, she is congratulating him for being named Kansas Citian of the Year in 2017.

Roy Jensen is like another son to Lieberman, so when he asked for funding help, it was an easy “yes.” She and her late husband started the Floriene and George Lieberman Family Professorship in 2008 to support the NCI designation effort. “We have advanced continuously in the cancer field,” Lieberman said. “I know we will continue to do more until we have a cure. Of course, the research must be funded.”

Community leader Bill Hall served as president of the Hall Family Foundation in Kansas City for 37 years, and the foundation was a major supporter of KU Cancer Center’s efforts to earn comprehensive designation. He sees the accomplishments so far as a case of all the right pieces of a puzzle coming together.

An integral piece of the puzzle was when Jensen came on board as director in 2004. Hall was impressed with Jensen’s vision and ability to articulate that vision in a straightforward way, and why it was important to Kansas City, the university and the medical center.

“The greatest influence on me when it came to Roy Jensen was his emotion and his passion for the patient,” Hall said. “When he talks about patients and the disease, it is personal to him. We had confidence that not only did he have the ability to make this happen, he had the passion for it.”

TEAM EFFORT: Many physicians, researchers, staff and community members contributed to the NCI Comprehensive Designation effort, including Dr. Andrew Godwin and Dr. Priyanka Sharma.

STATE RECOGNITION: Governor Laura Kelly joined leaders at The University of Kansas Cancer Center to proclaim September “Comprehensive Cancer Centers Awareness Month.”

“Philanthropy plays a critical role in many cases by giving us the seed capital to get things started.”

ROY JENSEN, M.D.

Building a home-court advantage

KU Cancer Center is a destination for treatment in the region: 7,158 new patients visited the center in 2022. But the ultimate goal — finding a cure for cancer — is still a work in progress.

One of the ways Jensen and the Cancer Funding Partners are working toward creating an even more effective institution is by consolidating it into one location. Currently, cancer center operations are scattered throughout several buildings and locations.

“When someone walking on the KU Medical Center campus asks for directions to KU Cancer Center, you kind of have to scratch your head because it’s nowhere and it’s everywhere,” Jensen said. “There is no one place you can point to and say, ‘That’s where the cancer center is’.”

Jensen, a sports fan, makes an analogy that resonates with KU fans everywhere: KU Cancer Center is looking to create its own home-court advantage. A central location would allow for the most cohesive work among researchers, clinicians, educators and physicians, and ultimately result in the best possible outcomes for patients.

In his analogy, Jensen highlights the 1952 KU men’s basketball team. They won the NCAA championship, and their home court was Hoch Auditorium, a less-thanoptimal facility.

SPIRITED CELEBRATION: Roy Jensen (L) cheers KU Cancer Center’s progress with Robert Simari, executive vice chancellor for KU Medical Center.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT: Charlie Sunderland (L), Bill Hall (C) and Drue Jennings (R) have rallied the region behind the effort for NCI Comprehensive Designation through the Cancer Funding Partners.

“They accomplished something great despite that situation,” Jensen said. “And we were able to get comprehensive designation despite our circumstances.”

In 1955, KU built Allen Fieldhouse, an iconic home court that launched the program into a new tier of excellence.

“We want to build our own Allen Fieldhouse,” Jensen said. “It moves our program from one that is capable of accomplishing great things to being one of the best cancer centers in the country, unequivocally. That is our goal.”

Jennings and other advocates know the race to cure cancer has not reached the finish line. The comprehensive designation was more of a beginning than an end, and fundraising continues as the center forges ahead with its mission to end the disease.

“The growing needs of our center suggest continuing development of resources, from diverse sources, not the least of which will be the philanthropy of those who believe we can make a difference,” Jennings said.

Jensen expressed his gratitude for the generosity that got him and his team where they are today.

“We are incredibly grateful for all the support we have received over the years, and we would be nowhere without it,” he said. “I just want to say how thankful I am on behalf of everyone at KU Cancer Center for what all of those incredible folks have done for us.”

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

Philanthropic support gave KU Cancer Center the foundation to create an environment that demonstrates scientific depth and breadth, transdisciplinary research, community outreach and ongoing education and training.

In 2012, the center achieved NCI-Designated Cancer Center status. During the next five years, KU Cancer Center received $68 million in private funding. The center has received $110 million in private support since 2017, when it started working toward NCI Comprehensive Designation. That sum would not have been attainable without the generosity of many who gave gifts of all sizes.

CANCER TEAM T-SHIRT: In celebration of achieving NCI Comprehensive Designation, KU Cancer Center partnered with Charlie Hustle Clothing Co. to create a themed t-shirt for their staff.

LIFELONG JAYHAWK EMBRACES SERVANT LEADERSHIP

KU ENDOWMENT PRESIDENT IS EXCITED TO GIVE BACK

BY VALERIE GIELER

KU

Endowment President Dan Martin has enjoyed an eventful fall meeting team members and campus partners to further university initiatives and working with Jayhawks from around the country. Martin is a fifth-generation Kansan from Overland Park with three KU degrees — an MBA, J.D. and Ed.D. in Higher Education Policy and Leadership — and an Ed.D. in Higher Education Management from the University of Pennsylvania. His passion for the University of Kansas is complemented by experience as the chief philanthropy officer at a health system and a university president, with a total of three decades in higher education. Martin and his wife, Pam, an educator, have two sons. Jacob is in his first year of law school at the University of Denver, and their youngest son Josh is recently married and completing a master’s in finance at the University of Oklahoma. Of course, the Martin family isn’t complete without Bazely, their Saint Bernard.

Q. What brought you back to KU?

A. KU has been the primary shaper and influencer in my career. My story is a story that has been told hundreds of thousands of times as we look at the legacy of the University of Kansas and its

impact. Serving as KU Endowment president is my way of giving back and contributing to the university’s future and the vision that has been outlined in Jayhawks Rising, the university’s strategic plan. Coming back and seeing the expansion of our campuses and what those facilities will do to enhance the delivery of education and the creation of knowledge communicates to me that KU remains a place that is thriving. I envision KU Endowment continuing to be an effective partner, and I’m excited about the potential.

Q. How did your KU experience and education prepare you for your career?

A. My motivation for attending KU in those specific programs was to prepare for a career in higher education. My legal education helped train the way I think through issues and address challenges through critical analysis. My MBA program developed my understanding about the business principles and practices that inform highly effective and functional organizations. The educational policy and leadership degree provided a historical knowledge and understanding of higher education philosophy. Learning how the university’s mission is carried out and the role of philanthropy also was key. It requires resources to move ideas and thoughts and plans and actions forward.

Q. When you think about your time on campus, what comes to mind? Do you have a favorite place or KU tradition?

A. My relationship with faculty is what I remember most — not only the conversations we had in the classroom and the particular work we engaged in, but also the conversations around life perspectives and how to contribute to organizations and higher education specifically. It has been great to come back to campus years later and reengage with some of the same faculty members. I also think about walking down Jayhawk Boulevard, which immediately elicits an emotional response and a feeling of inspiration. I love the sense of history and connections to our founding and how our university mission and vision is furthered

through those campus facilities. I think about the generations of students and families who have walked those same sidewalks and about the hopes these spaces fostered for them.

Q. What would you like donors to know about you and your approach to fundraising?

A. I am a Kansan and a Jayhawk. I am all about relationships with people. And that is how I think about philanthropy and higher education. It is about developing relationships and having that place of trust and understanding, meeting people where they are and building a sense of shared mission and vision. I see it as my role to facilitate how we can contribute to each other’s lives and to the university we love and hold dear. It is part of our responsibility as stewards of this time and this place to see how we can partner in unique ways, with new approaches to think about what the university may need to continue the level of excellence, pursue innovative ideas and prepare for the future. I fully appreciate and lean into the role that KU Endowment has played in support of KU since 1891 as the nation’s first private foundation for a public university.

Q. What has been your most memorable experience since arriving at KU Endowment?

A. I have attended a lot of meetings and events, but I think the most memorable is the Jayhawk football game against Tennessee Tech — and not necessarily for the game itself, although it was fabulous. Seeing the stadium and feeling the energy, spirit and support of the fans spoke to me that there is a level of support and belief in the university and what we are trying to accomplish. There are faithful Jayhawk supporters and community members encouraging students, faculty and researchers with no less energy and enthusiasm. I’m excited to familiarize myself with the breadth of university programs and opportunities for our students and our faculty so I can be clear about how the mission is fulfilled and how best KU Endowment can serve as a resource.

CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF STUDENT SUCCESS

MULTICULTURAL SCHOLARS PROGRAM IS A PATHWAY TO GRADUATION AND BEYOND

BY MICKI CHESTNUT

Mya Peterson has big plans for her future. A KU junior double majoring in business marketing and journalism, Peterson exudes confidence as she talks about career plans after graduation. A self-described sports enthusiast, she wants to start out doing video production for USA Basketball, then launch her own media production company. Peterson is already well on her way to gaining the experience, confidence and connections she’ll need to realize those dreams, thanks in part to the KU Multicultural Scholars Program.

An Impressive Track Record

Observing its 30th anniversary this year, the Multicultural Scholars Program (MSP) supports undergraduate students from diverse populations so they can achieve academic success, engage in extracurricular activities, receive mentorship, pursue leadership opportunities and create a supportive community of fellow students and alumni.

The MSP was launched in 1992 in the School of Business by Professor Emeritus

Renate Mai-Dalton and was considered revolutionary for its day. Mai-Dalton was deeply invested in students’ success. Erica LeBlanc, an MSP alumna who graduated from KU in 2002 with a bachelor’s in business administration, participated in regular meetings and events led by Mai-Dalton. She recalls Mai-Dalton encouraging MSP students to sit in the front row in class, check in every few weeks and stay healthy. The professor expanded students’ worldview by taking

them to the symphony and art shows. And she introduced them to successful alumni who advised them on their college and career goals.

“For most of us, she felt like a second parent,” LeBlanc said. “I remember seeing her as another person who was going to care about me and think about me holistically.”

The MSP was so successful that KU eventually expanded it to all 12 academic and professional schools. During the 2021-2022 academic year, 279 Jayhawks were multicultural scholars. According to Susan Klusmeier, MSP executive director and vice provost of academic success, the power of the program lies in creating pathways that support students from admission to graduation.

The approach is working. Students in the MSP outpace KU students as a whole, earning higher grades and graduating at higher rates. They compete for prestigious fellowships, participate in study abroad, engage in service learning and do undergraduate research — all experiential

learning activities they might not know about without the program.

Faculty mentorship makes all the difference. “It takes the intentionality of a mentor to say, ‘Hey, based on what I know about you, I’m going to help you get connected with that activity or source,’” Klusmeier said. “Sometimes just having a mentor encourage a student who otherwise might be a little nervous or reluctant to get involved take that action and participate, sets up a whole new trajectory for the student they didn’t even realize was possible.”

Connections that Change Lives Consistently, scholars point to the connections forged with fellow students, faculty and alumni as one of the most powerful aspects of the program. Peterson has seen a significant difference in her KU

PROFESSIONAL CONNECTIONS: Multicultural Scholar Mya Peterson credits the program’s networking opportunities with helping her develop relationships with athletes and industry professionals in sports media.

experience since becoming a multicultural scholar in her junior year.

“My freshman year, being a pandemic freshman on campus, it was hard to connect with people,” Peterson said. “My junior experience has been 10 times better than my first two years. Now that we have the MSP, all of us can connect with each other.”

Peterson is now an enthusiastic spokesperson for KU. “My favorite events are talking with prospective students of color, to let them know we are building a safe space here; your voice will be heard,” she said.

She lists off the alumni she has gotten to meet through the program, including collegiate athletes she admires. “When I graduate, I still have those connections,” she said. “I’ve met a lot of strong, independent Black women who are balancing work and life and chasing after their careers. Having them say, ‘Hey, go this way or that way’ has been great.”

A WORTHY INVESTMENT

After Bill and Marilyn Taylor’s daughter Megan was tragically killed in a bicycle accident while on a high school band trip to Germany, the couple knew they wanted to do something special in her memory.

Not long after, when Bill Taylor heard students involved in the MSP speak at a KU meeting, he knew he had found the program to invest in to honor Megan. “They were three impressive young people,” Taylor said. “That’s when I thought, ‘that’s it’.”

Taylor, who holds a both a bachelor’s in business administration and accounting and a master’s in accounting from the School of Business, has been an enthusiastic supporter of the MSP ever since. He retired from Ernst & Young, is a KU Endowment life trustee and has served KU in numerous leadership positions through the years. The Taylors enjoy spending time with the MSP scholars as mentors and friends and keep in touch with program alumni to this day.

“We have people in their 40s now who have had significant accomplishments and come back and assert leadership at KU,” Taylor said. “After 30 years, it’s a heck of an asset for the university to have.”

A Strong Foundation

Multicultural scholar Jason Varghese also appreciates the connections gained through the MSP. “It reminds us that we are not alone and there are other people who face a similar situation and are doing their best to shine because of their skills and experience, not because of anything outside of their control,” he said.

A junior studying finance and accounting, Varghese is already seeing how the MSP will benefit him when he starts his career in private equity. “This program has enhanced my KU experience by giving me a greater understanding of my peers and future coworkers in the business world,” he said. “Although we all come from different backgrounds and approach problems differently, this program has shown me that building a diverse community in any organization will give us the ability to collectively rise.”

LeBlanc, executive director of New Ventures at S.C. Johnson and CEO of Oars + Alps, has applied what she learned from the MSP to her career. “Being a part of the MSP was the defining aspect of my core identity at KU,” she said. “It also was my feeling of safety and security within this big university. My time in the MSP completely shaped even my management philosophy: Whatever you choose to do, do it with excellence and show up at your best.”

LeBlanc is a member of the School of Business Dean’s Advisory Board and Marketing Advisory Board, a KU Endowment trustee and a donor to the MSP. She is excited about what it can achieve in the next 30 years. “Unfortunately, not everyone has the same advantages coming into the world,” she said. “The program helps give students access to resources that are going to help level the playing field and help them build that sense of community and confidence. You have a support group to make sure you will be able to fulfill your potential.”

MULTICULTURAL SCHOLARS

PROGRAM: BY THE NUMBERS

Higher Graduation Rates

For the 2017–2018 cohort, 65.6% of MSP students graduated in four years, compared with 53.7% for the university as a whole.

Higher Retention Rates

For first-time, full-time freshmen in the 2021–2022 MSP cohort, 97.1% returned after their first semester freshmen year, compared with 93.2% for the university as a whole.

Financial Support

CAREER BUILDING: Multicultural Scholar Jason Varghese said the program is helping strengthen his abilities to problem-solve and collaborate with peers who have different backgrounds and viewpoints, skills that will be valuable in his future career in private equity.

“MY STATUE OF MICHELANGELO FROM ITALY,” said Ethan Christ, a senior in the KU Honors program from Overland Park, Kan. studying biochemistry and anthropology. “It’s inspiring to me, because I’m a very curious person. I want to be learning for the rest of my life too.”

Christ focuses his time on finding ways to better the Lawrence community. As the executive director of the Center for Community Outreach, Christ is driven to form connections with other KU students and local residents. “I love helping Lawrence and the community. You’re just going to work much harder when you’re working toward your passions.”

As the recipient of multiple scholarships and awards, Christ can focus his time on the community and his studies. “It’s very fulfilling. Being recognized with awards and scholarships means a lot when you’re working hard to do something.”

Because of his passion for people, Christ has found ways to explore the intersections between anthropology and biochemistry. “I get to read about different cultures and social interactions, how and why people do things the way they do. I also think as a physician, you need to have good cultural competency and an understanding of people and different backgrounds.”

Christ plans to continue homing in on his goals and pursuing research that feeds his interest in helping people. He plans to attend medical school and is grateful for the financial support and mentoring he has received at KU. “It motivates you, and I want to say thank you to the donors for the scholarships. The money is very important, but it goes beyond the money.”

WHAT’S IN YOUR BRIEFCASE?

“THANK YOU NOTES FROM MY PATIENTS,” said Priyanka Sharma M.D., a professor of medicine at KU Medical Center and assistant director of clinical research, co-program leader for the Drug Discovery, Delivery and Experimental Therapeutics program at The University of Kansas Cancer Center. She holds national and institutional leadership roles while being actively involved in clinical and translational breast cancer research. “There is nothing more satisfying than to see that what you intended to do in the laboratory pans out in the clinic and helps somebody be cured from a disease or have a better outcome.”

Sharma is inspired to find better treatment options and new therapies for triple negative breast cancer. Advances for this type of cancer have lagged, it has a lower survival rate than many forms of breast cancer, and it affects younger and African American patients at a higher rate.

Dear Dr. Sharma and All staff, Today is number 18 of 18 chemo treatments. As I look back on these last 14 months, I must tell you how grateful and thankful I am that I’ve been in your care. You’ve given me the comfort of having your medical expertise along with your caring for me as if I were your only patient.

You and your staff are top-notch professionals who truly care about your patients. You made me feel safe and assured you would get me through this cancer treatment. I thank you from all that is in me. You’re the best, keep up the wonderful work you’re doing. Much love and respect to each of you.

—A grateful patient

Sharma is paving the way for more personalized treatment strategies and greater survival rates while deepening the research into triple negative breast cancer.

Ongoing partnerships have made a difference in Sharma’s research. “Philanthropic support is vital for the success of many cancer research projects that otherwise wouldn’t have started or grown, and having support from the community is a morale booster. It motivates us to work even harder toward our collective goals of improving the lives of those with cancer.”

KU Cancer Center earning National Cancer Institute (NCI) Comprehensive Designation earlier this year provides new opportunities. “This designation brings us resources and access to platforms we may not have had before. It will allow us to be even more innovative in what we design for our patients.”

PAMELA URLACHER

CAMPUS HAPPENINGS

New KU Endowment trustees elected

The KU Endowment Board of Trustees elected Gene Camarena, Laura M. Pinkston Koenigs, Erica E. LeBlanc, Lisa Murray and David B. Pittaway as new trustees at their annual meeting. Camarena received his bachelor’s in accounting and business administration from KU in 1979 and an MBA from Harvard University in 1987. He is president/CEO of La Raza Pizza, Inc. Koenigs graduated from KU in 1978 with bachelor’s degrees in English and chemistry and received an M.D. in 1982. She recently retired from the Baystate Children’s Hospital where she was director for the pediatric residency program and an adolescent medicine physician. LeBlanc earned a bachelor’s in business administration from KU in 2002 and an MBA from the University of Michigan in 2007. She is executive director, New Ventures at SC Johnson. Murray earned a bachelor’s from Princeton University in 2004 and an MBA from Harvard in 2009. She is chief investment officer for the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. Pittaway received a bachelor’s in American studies, history and political science from KU in 1972 and a J.D. in 1975 and MBA in 1982, both from Harvard University. He is vice chairman, senior managing director and chief compliance officer of Castle Harlan and is also vice chairman and chief compliance officer of Branford Castle.

Support for students impacted by violence

The Interpersonal Violence Fund provides financial assistance to KU students who have been impacted by sexual assault, violence and harassment, stalking and intimate partner/dating violence. Covered expenses include safety-related needs (changing locks, housing relocation, etc.), acute and post assault medical care, mental health treatment and bedding and clothing replacement. The fund met 26 requests in 2021, distributing more than $8,500 to students in need. One recipient said, “Due to the Interpersonal Violence Fund, I was able to maintain my housing and not become homeless. A huge component that kept me from walking away from abuse was financial. This fund helped ease this burden.” To support KU students through the fund, visit www.kuendowment.org/IPV.

Honoring a father’s legacy

The University of Kansas is special to Jeff Lindenbaum, a physician in Billings, Mont. The KU alumnus met his wife, Joan Sorenson, M.D., while they were undergraduates on Mount Oread. His late father, Siegfried Lindenbaum, was a faculty member in the School of Pharmacy for more than two decades. To honor his father, the couple has made a $1 million gift commitment to expand the Siegfried Lindenbaum Memorial Scholarship, which supports graduate students in the KU Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry. Lindenbaum named KU Endowment a beneficiary of an individual retirement account (IRA), which allows the couple to leave a legacy while preserving their own resources during their lifetimes. His father was an orphan and war refugee who never felt like he belonged anywhere. He did feel a personal connection to Kansas, however. Lindenbaum said it’s meaningful the gift might help students who faced adversity, much like his father.

Gene Camarena

Laura M. Pinkston Koenigs

Erica E. LeBlanc

Lisa Murray David B. Pittaway

Jeff Lindenbaum (R), Joan Sorenson and their son, David.

KU alumnus receives medal of honor Gregs Thomopulos, a 1965 KU engineering graduate and KU Endowment Life Trustee, was awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor at a ceremony held in May. The Ellis Island Honors Society recognizes the importance of immigration to America’s prosperity and celebrates the contributions immigrants and their progeny have made to our nation. Since the medal was founded in 1986, the award has honored distinguished and diverse Americans including seven U.S. presidents, several Nobel Laureates and countless leaders of industry, education, the arts, sports and government. Thomopulos, who came to KU from Nigeria in 1962, was recognized for his support of higher education and individuals with disabilities and his efforts to advance sustainable infrastructure.

“I lived in Sellards Scholarship Hall my junior and senior years at KU. Fellow residents became dear friends. Together we learned life skills, management skills and selfgovernance while mutually supporting each other through happy and sad times. I received scholarship funding while living there and still remember writing personal thank you notes to donors. My small, annual donation is a way of giving back and saying thank you to those who supported me.”

ROBERTA CAVITT, BACHELOR’S IN EDUCATION 1986, MASTER’S IN LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES 1991 BURKE, VA.

Expanding access to Black authors

Established in 1983, the History of Black Writing (HBW) is a research unit at KU committed to recovering and sharing Black literature. Project HBW aims to elevate previously unheard voices and encourage research through enhanced access to collections and cultural materials. HBW founder Maryemma Graham, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor of English, served as director for nearly 40 years before handing over the reins to Ayesha Hardison earlier this year. A 2021 National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) grant of $350,000 provided support for HBW to grow its digital archive. The corpus now has more than 4,000 works of fiction and is the largest digital archive of African American fiction currently in existence. The NEH grant has a matching component to qualify for the total grant amount. To date, the remaining balance of the required match is $50,000. To give, please visit www.kuendowment.org/HBW.

Collaboration encourages healthy habits

The KU School of Medicine-Wichita is a presenting sponsor of a new, permanent exhibit at Exploration Place in Wichita. “Health Inside Out” is a 3,500-square-foot, $1.5 million addition that includes fun, interactive, science-based activities inspiring a healthy lifestyle. Kansas has experienced the largest decline in national health rankings of any state in the last 30 years, according to America’s Health Rankings. It was the eighth healthiest state in 1991 but fell to 29th in 2021. The goal of the exhibit is to reverse this trend by promoting healthy habits and helping prepare the future health care workforce. The project was made possible with the generous support of more than 50 donors.

FUNDED BY FUNDRAISERS

ONE FALL AFTERNOON IN 2016, a group of co-workers at KU Endowment’s office in Kansas City were inspired by a discussion on a daily walk to make a meaningful difference in a new way. In the spirit of our mission — to build a greater University of Kansas — Matt Rhea, Krista Allen and former employee Ted Kimble came up with the idea of creating a scholarship to support the education of our future health care workers. The group believed fellow teammates would get behind contributing to a common fund to provide extra impact.

They presented the concept to their colleagues, and the KU Endowment Outstanding Health Care Scholarship was born. The decision was made to make the scholarship available to students with academic merit from all three schools — medicine, nursing and health professions. “When I learned what my colleagues were proposing, of course, I wanted to participate,” said longtime staff member Mary Jo Williams. “Scholarships are of the utmost importance, and I really liked the idea of supporting all KU Medical Center students.”

The team followed the example of another colleague, who along with a friend from college, established a scholarship to support undergraduate KU students. She was taking advantage of KU Endowment’s Matching Gift Program to help grow the fund. Employee donations are eligible for a one-to-one matching contribution up to $5,000 per year.

Employees and family members have made gifts to the fund through the years, and the staff always makes a point to invite new hires to participate. So far, there have been 26 donors to the KU Endowment Outstanding Health Care Scholarship. The scholarship became fully endowed in May 2022 and will support health care students in perpetuity. “We were so excited to do this and elated when it became endowed,” Allen said. “Philanthropy is not only what we do, but a big part of who we are. Practice what you preach after all!”

JODI BOUYACK

SUPPORTING STUDENTS: KU Endowment employees celebrate the Outstanding Health Care Scholarship becoming endowed.

Pictured from left to right: Front row: Lydia Allen, Susan Randolph and Hilary Wheat; Middle row: Lindsay Hummer, Minda Mason, Emily Darling, Abbey Ambrose, Krista Allen, Matt Rhea, Becci Blaesing, Lorie Worner and Liz Greer; Back row: Gretchen Hess, Robin Atchity, Andy Morrison, Ryan Butts and Peggy Person.

PLANNING YOUR LEGACY

HOW WILL I

BE REMEMBERED? What will I leave behind? How will I make a difference or impact the next generations? We all ask ourselves these questions as we contemplate our future legacy, and thoughtful charitable gift planning through your estate plan can help answer them.

It is a good feeling when you have your affairs in order and include the organizations and institutions you care deeply about in your plan. At KU Endowment, we are grateful to have KU alumni and friends who have provided for the university in their estates. This special group of donors are recognized as Watkins Society members, named for one of KU’s most impactful benefactors, Elizabeth M. Watkins. Members’ gifts touch every facet of KU: scholarships for deserving students; professorships that enhance teaching and research; and opportunity funds that provide unrestricted support for the university’s greatest needs or resources for a specific school, department, initiative or program. These funds are often named in memory or honor of loved ones, a favorite professor or after the donors themselves.

There are myriad ways to leave a gift through your estate. Will bequests, living revocable trusts and life insurance beneficiary designations are still heavily used, but with the estate tax exemption currently at $12.06 million per person, fewer people have taxable estates. As a result, planners are focusing on strategies designed to reduce income taxation.

One such strategy becoming increasingly popular is to make charitable gifts from qualified retirement plans upon death. It is simple to do, and qualified retirement plans

left to a charity are not subject to income tax; they are taxable when left to individuals. KU Endowment also issues charitable gift annuities (CGAs) and will serve as trustee of charitable remainder trusts. These gifts produce multiple benefits to the donor and the university. The donor can receive lifetime income and is eligible to take a charitable income tax deduction at the time the annuity or trust is funded. A gift of the remainder will be sent to KU Endowment upon the lifetime beneficiary’s death. We receive on average $25-$30 million annually in estate distributions. No matter the size or the purpose, these gifts weave together to form a tapestry of support that significantly enhances the KU experience for students, faculty and visitors.

ELIZABETH WATKINS SOCIETY

For more information on planning for your future, visit kuendowment.org/ giftplanning or contact Andy Morrison at 785-832-7327.

KU IS FAMILY FOR LONGEST SUPPORTERS

JOHN T. STEWART III has been a KU fan his whole life. As a child, he attended football and basketball games with his dad, John T. Stewart II, a 1911 KU alumnus. Long trips from their home in Wellington, Kan., to Lawrence are cherished memories. Stewart was raised by his grandparents because his mother died soon after he was born, and his dad died when he was 13.

At that young age, Stewart began giving to support athletics in honor of his dad through the trust set up for him. He has given to KU every year since and is the university’s longest consecutive donor at 73 years. The dedication does not end there — Stewart and his wife, Linda, have an extensive history of volunteer service.

“It has been so easy to be a Jayhawk,” John said. “My father started an incredible legacy.”

Naturally, John attended KU. The Stewarts married in 1956, and Linda joined him on campus. KU was an extended family and remained so, especially members of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity. John graduated in 1958 with a business degree. “The people at KU were so friendly and got us involved with everything,” Linda said. “Jayhawks are always willing to help each other.”

The Stewarts returned to Wellington for the family business but were in Lawrence so often the hotel manager bought them their own pillows. In addition to leading Stewart Companies, John was chairman and CEO of Plessey Aero Precision Corp., now known as GEC Precision, until his retirement.

John held many positions as a KU Endowment trustee including chair of the board while he also was president of the KU Alumni Association board. He served as a member of the Kansas Athletics board and the School of Business advisory board. Additionally, he led the Wesley Foundation board in Wichita and helped establish the Kansas Health Foundation.

John said Linda was instrumental in managing these commitments and the family, while serving organizations herself. She was a member of the

President Dale Seuferling (L) and Chancellor Douglas Girod (R) celebrate John T. Stewart’s 73 years of consecutive giving. “Be givers, not takers” is a Stewart family motto.

Fine Arts advisory board for 25 years and still serves on the Spencer Museum of Art board. Linda is a founding member of the boards for Futures Unlimited and Botanica, The Wichita Gardens as well as the Wellington Humane Society. The couple supported the society’s new facility.

John received KU’s Distinguished Service Citation in 1990, and both John and Linda are recipients of the Fred Ellsworth Medallion.

“Kansas is like a small town,” Linda said. “If you are involved on a board, you know people across the state.”

The Stewarts have given to areas across KU, with special interests in athletics, business, fine arts, KU Alumni Association and KU Medical Center. The John T. Stewart Children’s Center, Luella F. Stewart Music Scholarship, established in memory of John’s grandmother, and Danforth Chapel hold significance. John’s dad was involved with the original Danforth Chapel fund. They give to keep it updated, and you can often find Linda tending the chapel garden.

The Jayhawk spirit runs through the Stewart family; their four children and nearly 80 extended family members are alumni.

“When you are around so many friends and family who love KU, it’s natural to continue our support,” John said.

VALERIE GIELER

GENEROUS JAYHAWK: Retired KU Endowment

A MILESTONE FOR MONARCHS

MONARCH WATCH RECENTLY CELEBRATED ITS 30TH YEAR with a flutter of wings and activities, all dedicated to the beloved and at-risk monarch butterfly. Events included an evening in the garden, symposium, banquet and monarch tagging at Baker Wetlands Discovery Center.

Founded in 1992 by KU faculty member Chip Taylor, Ph.D., Monarch Watch provides research, education and public outreach. Through distributing free milkweed (the host plants for monarch caterpillars) and leading the Monarch Waystation program and tagging research, Monarch Watch promotes habitat restoration and helps sustain monarchs’ annual migration.

Monarch Waystation No. 1 was established in 2005 at the home of Monarch Watch on KU’s Lawrence campus. Today, there are more than 41,500 certified Monarch Waystations in home gardens, schoolyards and public spaces across the U.S. and in nine countries. By creating a waystation or adding milkweed to an existing garden, you can support monarch conservation. More than 1 million milkweed plants have been distributed through Monarch Watch campaigns since 2010.

Monarch migration happens in the fall when monarch butterflies migrate from the

U.S. and Canada to mountains in central Mexico. They make the return flight in the spring. When tagged, researchers are better able to understand the timing and pace of the migration, survival rates and probability of monarchs reaching Mexico.

Raising support for research and habitat restoration is an ongoing Monarch Watch effort. They also are seeking to fully fund the Chip and Toni Taylor Professorship in Support of Monarch Watch that was started with a $1.4 million gift from Taylor and his wife, Toni. Additional gifts have brought the total to $2 million, with the target of at least $3 million to fully fund the position in perpetuity. Taylor recently announced he would step down as director, and the search has begun for his successor.

YOU CAN HELP

To support monarch butterflies, visit kuendowment.org/ monarchwatch or contact Conor Taft at 785-832-7386 or ctaft@ kuendowment.org.

“In 1992, I had no idea how this small project would change my life, nor did I envision Monarch Watch as it is today,” Taylor said. “It’s fair to say that Monarch Watch continues to lead me into new areas of public education and lines of research I hadn’t anticipated. Each year brings new adventures and connections.”

SHELLY TRIPLETT