November 5, 1999
Contact: Todd Cohen, University Relations, (785) 864-8858 or tcohen@ukans.edu.
LAWRENCE -- Among the National Merit Scholars the University of Kansas will honor during Saturday's football game will be the Jayhawk itself.
The student inside the Big Jayhawk mascot costume, Jerry Pauly, a sophomore from Denton, is one of 301 National Merit Scholars now enrolled at KU.
"KU has a great educational system," said Pauly, who is studying computer engineering when he's not raising school spirit at football and basketball games. "I love the place. It's home."
KU, which enrolled a record 101 National Merit Scholars in this year's freshman class, will honor the scholars and their families with a brunch and halftime ceremony during Saturday's KU-Baylor game at Memorial Stadium.
The brunch is set for 11 a.m. in the Kansas Union ballroom. Chancellor Robert Hemenway will address the gathering at noon and join them at halftime when the scholars walk onto the field to be recognized. A special film will be shown on KU's video board.
KU expects to be one of the top 10 public universities this year in enrollment of National Merit Scholars. KU enrollment of National Merit Scholars, who represent the top one percent of graduating high school seniors, has grown from 38 in 1995 to 101 this fall.