HISTORIC CAMPAIGN WILL PROPEL KU TOWARD INFINITE POSSIBILITY

BY VALERIE GIELER

Have you ever wondered where the awakening of an idea comes from? And how it grows into something more? To name this historic campaign, the University of Kansas once again turned to a well-known refrain with the power to stir hearts, excite spirits and inspire friends and friends-yet-to-be to clasp arms, sway to the music and sing together: Crimson and the Blue.

FAR ABOVE THE GOLDEN VALLEY, GLORIOUS TO VIEW, STANDS OUR NOBLE ALMA MATER, TOWERING TOWARD THE BLUE.

LIFT THE CHORUS EVER ONWARD, CRIMSON AND THE BLUE. HAIL TO THEE OUR ALMA MATER, HAIL TO OLD KU.

Inspired beginning

Launched with a Rock Chalk celebration of KU spirit, Ever Onward is the largest capital campaign in the history of the University of Kansas, The University of Kansas Health System and Kansas Athletics. With a goal of raising $2.5 billion in support by 2028, the campaign matches passion with purpose, forging the path toward a better tomorrow. University leaders are united in their vision, and KU is poised for a trajectory with boundless limits — our momentum has never been greater.

KU alumni and friends are championing the cause and rallying support. Campaign co-chairs Howard and Debbie Cohen, Greg and Deanna Graves, and Dave and Dee Dillon see this as an opportunity to pay forward what the university did for them.

“I urge each and every one of you to embrace this campaign with an open heart and an unwavering spirit,” Cohen said. “Be the spark that ignites change. Be the voice of future students and patients and be the beacon of hope that KU represents. Your contribution, whether it’s time, resources or passion, is invaluable.”

ALL ACCESS: Event guests participate in the campaign presentations across the Jayhawk Welcome Center — even outside.

Campaign priorities

Our world faces urgent, complex challenges. We know that no single discipline, no one campus, no individual discovery can alone transform our society. But together — across our health system, medical center and all the schools on the Hill — we work relentlessly to imagine a better Kansas and create a better world.

Our priorities focus on three areas: student access & success, healthy & vibrant communities, and research & discovery. Our broad and bold priorities will create meaningful change for our campuses, classrooms, centers of discovery, clinics, cities, country and — most importantly — our people.

Student access & success

From scholarships that make college accessible to hands-on experiences that make new graduates marketable, investments in this priority will help students create a bright future — for themselves and for us all.

Students are the heart of the university and our greatest hope for progress and for furthering the KU legacy in the centuries to come. The mark of KU has had a positive influence on so many generations of people, and when students become Jayhawks, it becomes an indelible part of their lives too. At KU, students’ worlds expand exponentially and there are no limits to what they can dream, achieve and become.

On our campuses today, students are learning how to navigate an increasingly complex global society, challenging the ways things have always been and preparing to solve problems that don’t even exist yet. Investments in scholarships, mentorship and internships will help more students attend, graduate and succeed.

“You’re already an integral part of KU’s story,” said Dan Martin, KU Endowment president. “You’ve co-created our present and now, collectively, we have the capacity to empower KU’s future, to cement its impact.”

Healthy & vibrant communities

KU builds strong communities here and around the world. From The University of Kansas Cancer Center that will save the life of someone you love, to a social worker who will provide hope to a questioning teenager, to artwork in a rural town square that inspires creativity, investments in our communities will build a society buoyed by connection and uplift.

Healthy communities begin with access to quality education, services, employment opportunities, cultural activities and, of course, health care. The University of Kansas Health System has dedicated the past 25 years to ensuring people across our region receive the most innovative treatments provided with care and compassion.

Looking ahead, in collaboration with researchers at KU Medical Center, KU Cancer Center will be the leader in cellular therapy — the future of cancer treatment. The health system and the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center will be the destination for the most advanced research and treatments in brain health. Progress in these areas will save thousands of lives.

“To achieve this future vision, we must continue to attract and retain the very best people and support them in the best and right ways because our patients and their families deserve this,” said Bob Page, CEO of The University of Kansas Health System.

Ever Onward Anthem Video Student Vignettes

Generating excitement, the campaign video features students across KU campuses

DE’MOND GLYNN

Third-year medical student De’Mond Glynn is passionate about equity in all areas of medicine — in outcomes for patients, in access to health care, and in how people are treated. Serving others is a big part of who he is. Glynn donated bone marrow to a woman with cancer last year, volunteers at the JayDoc Free Clinic and mentors students through a variety of campus leadership roles. “I learn from mentorship as much as those I have mentored! The perspective I gain from talking to people who are not exactly like me lets me evolve my way of thinking,” he said.

Astha Thapa

Astha Thapa, an international student from Nepal majoring in computer science, sought out KU for a world-class education. She is an advocate for access and representation, in terms of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging as well as technology, because her homeland is behind in the digital revolution. As an admissions and a multicultural recruitment ambassador, Thapa connects with prospective students and families. “I work to make students feel seen and to show them what the Jayhawk community looks like,” she said. Thapa aspires to become a cultural ambassador to the U.S. and work in government to bring policy-level changes in education back home.

Drew Keller

Growing up in Topeka, Kan., Drew Keller had an early love for the Jayhawks. An opportunity to play college baseball took Keller to Texas, but life events brought him back to Kansas and KU in 2020. Keller’s degree in sports management is one way he plans to impact the community, by recreating his positive experiences for others. “My earliest memories are intertwined with live sporting events,” he said. “I remember being 4 years old and attending Allen Fieldhouse for the first time, sitting in a top corner eating popcorn with my dad. I can close my eyes and still experience the joy of that night.”

Kaleena Montellano

Being a Jayhawk is a family affair for interior architecture student Kaleena Montellano. She and her family decided career changes were the best path forward, so they moved from California. Montellano, her husband and oldest son all attend KU. She is motivated to create inspiring settings for healing and education, informed by being a caretaker for her father when she was in high school and working in her younger son’s school. “My passion comes from understanding the needs of the users and creating environments that promote safety, confidence and well-being,” she said. Montellano looks forward to continuing her design journey and contributing to community spaces.

Avery Smith

KU student-athlete Avery Smith has enjoyed fitness and sports since childhood. She is proud to wear crimson and blue as a member of the soccer team. A double major in exercise science and psychology, Smith is passionate about leadership, team interactions and sport atmosphere. She is a two-year team captain and appreciates learning how to lead with clarity, efficiency and connection. She believes a team’s interactions significantly impact their performance and well-being. “A key component to any skilled leader is to remember to incorporate fun, too,” she said. Smith graduates in December 2024 and plans to pursue an advanced degree in psychology.

Research & discovery

We are excited about what’s to come — and we know the future holds urgent, complex challenges that no one discipline can solve alone. Investments in revolutionary science, extraordinary teaching and undergraduate research will ignite the curiosity and action needed to brighten our future.

As a major research institution and member of the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU), KU proudly claims a distinguished record of innovation. Jayhawks are here to question, investigate and solve, with research and scholarship woven into the university’s identity. World-class talent leads this effort through strong mentorship — the key to effective inquiry. Students and emerging researchers work closely with experts who lead their fields and are eager to help them navigate new areas of study.

The aim is for all Jayhawks to be prepared to contribute to society. They are working relentlessly to imagine and create potential — forging new ideas, technologies, treatments and cures.

Innovation and discovery are the driving force behind KU’s vision of an even stronger and more prosperous future for all.

“Ever Onward is a historic campaign that will fund our brilliant tomorrow,” Chancellor Douglas A. Girod said. “In 2028, we intend to celebrate having raised $2.5 billion to save lives, to change lives, to improve lives and to make our world better. We invite you to march Ever Onward with us. Let’s create that future together.”

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