Oct. 28, 1997

Story by David Harris, (785) 864-8860

Ex.C.E.L. AWARD WINNERS TO BE RECOGNIZED

LAWRENCE -- Two University of Kansas students have won the student-funded $500 Ex.C.E.L. award for leadership, sponsored by KU Student Union Activities and the KU Board of Class Officers.

Winners Sasha L. Flores, Hutchinson senior, and Aroop Kumar Pal, Lawrence senior, will be formally recognized Saturday, Nov. 1, at KU's homecoming football game against Iowa State University, Ames, in Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.

The Ex.C.E.L. Award for Excellence in Community, Education and Leadership is funded by the Board of Class Officers.

The awards are given to one male and one female student who demonstrate outstanding leadership and communication skills, involvement in the KU community, academic scholarship and the ability to work with a wide variety of students and student organizations.

Finalists were interviewed by a panel of faculty, staff and students before winners were selected.

Flores, a Spanish and psychology major, is the vice president of the Mortar Board Senior honor society. She has served as president of the KU chapter of the Hispanic American Leadership Organization and was a planning committee member for the Celebration of 25 years of Hispanic Student Involvement at KU in 1996.

She received the 1997 Outstanding Minority Woman of Achievement at KU, as well as the 1997 KU Outstanding Woman Student in Student Services. Off campus, Flores has volunteered for United Way, Salvation Army and Red Cross. She is a member of Kappa Alpha Theta social sorority, where she has headed several committees.

Pal is a biology major. He was president of Omicron Delta Kappa honors society in 1996-97. He is the historian for the Mortar Board senior honor society and is a member of the Chancellor's Club Honors Scholarship Committee. He has been active with the KU Ambassadors and the New Student Orientation Student Advisory Board. Pal has volunteered with KU Habitat for Humanity.

To be eligible for the Ex.C.E.L. award, applicants must have been full time undergraduate students with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or better. Students were nominated by individuals, organizations or living groups, or they nominated themselves.

All the Ex.C.E.L. finalists and hometowns are

DOUGLAS COUNTY
From Lawrence
Aroop Kumar Pal, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ajoy Pal, 333 Edinburgh

GEARY COUNTY
From Junction City
Robert "Grey" Montgomery, senior, son of Jolana Montgomery Matney, 1204 McFarland Road, and John Montgomery, 510 Redbud Drive

JOHNSON COUNTY
From Olathe
Jason Richard Fizell, senior, son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Fizell, 1313 E. Sheridan Bridge Lane
From Overland Park
Christine R. Lamble, senior, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John J. Lamble, 10599 Noland Road

RENO COUNTY
From Hutchinson
Sasha L. Flores, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gregory Flores, 214 W. B St.
Kevin W. Yoder, senior, son of Susan Alexander, 408 E. 16th St.

SEDGWICK COUNTY
From Wichita
Samantha E. Bowman, senior, daughter of Nancy Jo Bowman, 3032 S. Edwards St.
Jamie Leigh Najim, senior, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Najim, 7331 E. 24th Court
Erika Lynn Nutt, junior, daughter of Ellen and Ron Estes, 8514 Lakeland and Richard Nutt, 3637 Woodland Trail, Eagan, Minn.

MINNESOTA
From Eagan
Erika Lynn Nutt, junior, daughter of Richard Nutt, 3637 Woodland Trail, and Ellen and Ron Estes, 8514 Lakeland, Wichita, Kan.

MISSOURI
From Kansas City
Michael Joseph Schindler, junior, son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Schindler, 12530 Summit St.

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