October 18, 2000

Contact: Mora Berberich, Student Union Activities, (785) 864-3477

2 KU students to receive Ex.C.E.L. awards Oct. 21

LAWRENCE--Two University of Kansas students are recipients of the tenth annual student-funded $500 Ex.C.E.L. Award for Excellence in Community, Education and Leadership, given by KU Student Union Activities and the Board of Class Officers.

Winners Kimberly Mia Fuchs, Merriam senior, and J. Curtis Sloan, Powhattan senior, will be formally recognized Saturday, Oct. 21, during pre-game ceremonies at KU's homecoming football game against the University of Colorado-Boulder in Memorial Stadium. Game time is 11:30 a.m.

KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway; Mora Berberich, SUA vice president for university relations from Wildwood, Mo.; and Trisha Harma, Board of Class Officers president from Parker, Colo., will present the awards.

Ex.C.E.L. awards are given to a male student and a female student who demonstrate outstanding leadership and communications skills, involvement in the KU community, scholarship and the ability to work with a variety of students and student organizations.

To be eligible for the Ex.C.E.L. Award, applicants must be full-time undergraduates with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or higher and submit two recommendations from the university community or a community service agency.

Ex.C.E.L. winners and finalists, their majors and hometowns are:

BROWN COUNTY
From Powhattan
J. Curtis Sloan, senior majoring in communications studies and in political science, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Steven Sloan, 1768 Hazelnut Road.

At KU, Sloan has worked as a KU Ambassador for three years, including developing a training program for the ambassadors who provide tours to campus visitors. He has worked as an orientation assistant for two years in the New Student Orientation office and as orientation leader for international students in the Office of International Student Services. Sloan's interest in working with international students new to KU led him to propose a mentor program to match domestic and international students at KU. Last year, Sloan was an undergraduate representative for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Assembly. He has also served as a legislative intern for the spring 2000 Kansas Legislature and volunteered for DebateWatch 2000. Sloan is a pianist for High Prairie Gospel Tabernacle in Leavenworth.

COFFEY COUNTY
From Waverly
Michael Stephen Hevel, senior majoring in political science, son of Mr. and Mrs. Mike Hevel, 121 S. Pierson Ave.

JOHNSON COUNTY
From Lenexa
Erin Marie Simpson, senior majoring in political science and international studies, daughter of Robert Simpson, 8236 Park.

From Merriam
Kimberly Mia Fuchs. senior majoring in communications studies, is the daughter of Margo Fuchs, 8912 West 71st St.

At KU, Fuchs has served in the Student Senate since 1997 and chairs the Student Executive Committee. She has worked with student senators to establish Outreach Week, designed to encourage more students to participate in student government. This fall she worked as an orientation assistant. She is president of Mortar Board. Within the Lawrence community, Fuchs has contributed time and labor for a Habitat for Humanity project, called the House That Greeks Built, in which members of social sororities and fraternities constructed a home in two weeks. She has also volunteered with Wheat Meet, annual track fund-raiser in which Chi Omega sorority and Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity raise money for KU Cancer Research.

From Olathe
Christine Marie Garton, senior in the School of Business, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Garton, 14617 Chalet.

RENO COUNTY
From Hutchinson
Benjamin Robert Walker, junior majoring in political science, son of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Walker, 78 Eastwood Drive.

SEDGWICK COUNTY
From Wichita
Juliette Lorraine Ast, senior majoring in English with plans to study medicine, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clemens Ast, 445 N. Crestway
Kendra Leigh Seaman, senior majoring in biology and psychology, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ken Seaman, 1604 Murray.
Eric Alan Snider, junior majoring in English with plans to study law, son of Mr. and Mrs. Alan Snider, 2555 Welgate Circle.

MISSOURI
From St. Louis
Marlon Daron Marshall, junior majoring in communication studies, son of Esther Marshall, 7733 Arthur Ave.