TICKETS FOR TEACHERS

IT ALL STARTED WITH A BENCH.

Mollie Mitchell, a KU alumna with degrees in journalism and education, was born and raised in Hutchinson, Kan. Her father, William “Bill” Mitchell was also a Jayhawk. He served as Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives from 1960-1962 and was chairman of the Kansas Corporation Commission. Shortly after his death in 2006, two friends discovered a bench in Shimer Park in Topeka, Kan., commemorating Bill’s life. According to Mollie, these friends joked that their lives “would never warrant a bench.” The story became Mitchell family folklore.

Mollie and her husband, John Wilson, formed a relationship with the School of Education and Human Services not long after Bill’s bench was discovered. At the time, the school was offering donors the opportunity to purchase commemorative bricks or benches. When John asked Mollie if she’d like a brick, she recalled her family folklore and said, “No, I’d like a bench.”

That conversation led to a partnership with the school. While attending a KU men’s basketball game, Mollie saw a group of education students and noted that, once they enter the profession, they may not be able to afford tickets. A member of Mollie’s group suggested they do something about that, and Tickets for Teachers was born.

The annual program provides KU men’s basketball tickets to 15-20 clinical supervisors who oversee student teachers about to enter the profession. Student teachers nominate their supervisor, also known as their cooperating teacher. “Clinical supervisors are an incredibly important part of the student teaching process but are often not recognized in any way,” Mollie said.

It was easy to select clinical supervisors as the program’s recipients. KU graduate Allie Rosenberg nominated Chrissie Kohl of Nieman Elementary School in the Shawnee Mission School District as a spring 2023 Tickets for Teachers recipient. Rosenberg wanted to honor Kohl because she went “above and beyond all she was required to do as a clinical supervisor” and modeled daily how to be “patient, engaging and caring.”

Kimberley Hunter, a teacher at Jardine Elementary School in Topeka, Kan., was also a recipient. Hunter and her husband are lifelong KU fans, and she hopes the program can continue. “We rarely get to attend because it is difficult to get tickets, so we jumped at the chance to cheer on the Jayhawks,” she said.

Mollie and John are dynamic examples of what dedication in action looks like, and their commitment to each other and to KU is inspirational. If you’d like to see where it all started, venture over to the east side of Pearson Hall, and have a seat on Mollie’s bench.

EDUCATOR APPRECIATION:

John Wilson and Mollie Mitchell (pictured on a Flying Jayhawks trip) are honoring their love of KU and education with a program recognizing exceptional teachers with tickets to a men’s basketball game in Allen Fieldhouse. YOU CAN HELP

To support Tickets for Teachers, contact Laura Meyer at 785-832-7372 or lmeyer@ kuendowment.org.

Why I Give

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Good storytelling is good journalism, and that is what inspired us to support the KU Native American Journalism fund. This effort to marry the rich storytelling heritage of Native Americans with the best practices of modern journalism is in excellent hands at KU.”

Danforth Austin, bachelor’s in journalism 1968 and Gail Davenport Austin, bachelor’s in zoology 1968, bachelor’s in medical technology 1969, Scottsdale, Ariz.

Gift to the KU Native American Journalism fund

“A lot of our family has gone to this school — it’s where our family started. Our family’s roots are in Kansas, and despite moving on with our careers that took us to New York and eventually California, we wanted to do something that went beyond us — that was bigger than we were. My husband, John, always felt education was the best thing, and we were honored to sponsor both a medical and a nursing scholarship. We love reading the letters from the students who are thankful for the support and help. We love the campus and the friendly Kansas people. We know our scholarships will be used wisely.”

Jean Baldwin, Twain Harte, Calif.

Gift to Jean Baldwin Nursing Scholarship

“Patti and I give to KU because our children had foundational experiences there. We’ve endowed a scholarship in memory of our son Hart, but his older sister Larkin also benefited immeasurably from her time at KU. A music major in clarinet who went on to get advanced degrees, she now teaches and performs with Kansas City as her hub. Our son’s career in architecture lasted only eight years, but those years were packed with challenges and growth. As a rookie architect, Hart took a position with a Des Moines firm and designed two iconic bridges that span the city’s river today.

He spent his last four years with Olson Kundig Architects in Seattle immersed in designs most architects could only wish to tackle. We’re convinced Hart was able to do this because of the watchful guidance he found at the KU School of Architecture and Design. If we can help provide this springboard to other aspiring designers, we’ll have made a valuable contribution.”

Harlow

and Patricia Sanders, Branson, Mo.

to establish the Hart Sanders Memorial Scholarship

Gift

“College is a place where students engage with international experiences in multiple ways. Study abroad is an important way to broaden students’ international competencies. We hope our support will make it easier for students to actually take the leap to a lifechanging study abroad experience.”

Bradley Mazon, bachelor’s in French and political science 1986, and Thomas Coates, West Seneca, NY Gift to the International Student Services Emergency fund

“After completing my undergraduate program at the KU School of Business, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with my life. Business School Associate Dean Wiley Mitchell suggested a new program that combined an MBA with a J.D. from the KU Law School. I was one of the first enrollees and am convinced it was one of my best decisions. I have had a successful career as a CPA and businessman using the knowledge gained in the J.D./MBA program. Although I paid for my entire education by part-time work, today that is almost impossible given the increased costs facing students. I want to share my success to help deserving students with their staggering costs. The combined degree program is extremely important in today’s business world.”

J.R. Walters, bachelor’s in business 1971, MBA 1975, J.D. 1975, St. Louis, Mo. Gift to the James R. Walters Joint J.D./MBA Scholarship

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My life partner, Lydia Walker, and I dedicated our professional lives to educating children. We separately pursued several degrees from various institutions of higher learning. It was a treasure for us to witness the development of children physically, socially, emotionally and academically. We both experienced the loss of siblings, and in my case, their tragic deaths were due to medical neglect. Lydia was supportive of my legal and emotional interventions on their behalf.

Along our path together, we only grew stronger in our commitment to our profession and, in some ways, credit our education as personally lifesaving. When Lydia died, I continued our dedication to learning and well-being by contributing to research in Alzheimer’s disease and breast cancer. Research to find a cure based on sound scientific fact in two areas that adversely affect so many people is my way to honor Lydia’s memory and also to further contribute myself.”

Margaret McLaughlin, Kansas City, Mo. Gifts to the Margaret “Peg” McLaughlin and Lydia A. Walker Alzheimer’s Disease Research and Breast Cancer funds