The club The Chancellors Club, established in 1977 by the KU Endowment Association, is KU's major-donor organization. The KU Endowment Association is an independent, non-profit organization serving as the official fund-raising and fund-management foundation for the University of Kansas. Founded in 1891, it is the oldest foundation of its type at a public university in the United States and one of the largest. Related articles Chancellors Club honors scientist KU math prof nets teaching award Subscribe now to receive KU News by email

Contact: John Scarffe, KU Endowment Association, (785) 832-7336.

Chancellors Club names 2000-01 scholars

LAWRENCE -- Ten University of Kansas freshmen are receiving top honors as Chancellors Club Scholars for 2000-2001 tonight at the 23rd annual meeting of the Chancellors Club at the Lawrence Holiday Inn Holidome.

The Chancellors Club, the major-donor organization at the Kansas University Endowment Association, finances the renewable scholarships, which recognize National Merit finalists who have outstanding high-school records. Five students from Kansas high schools and five from out of state have been added to the roster of Chancellors Club Scholars.

Kansas recipients for 2000-2001 are Kendra Rebecca Knight, Baldwin City; Asma Latif, Overland Park; Sean C. Murray, Topeka; Andrew Henry Ralls, Mission Woods; and Chase Richards, McPherson. Out-of-state recipients are Megan DesCamps, Aberdeen, S.D.; Cara Elizabeth Maple, Bartlesville, Okla.; Matthew James Pirotte, Joplin, Mo.; David Adam Putensen, Lincoln, Neb.; and Kaydee Smith, Omaha, Neb.

KANSAS
From Baldwin City
Kendra Rebecca Knight, daughter of Regina D. and Jon T. Strout, and Warren J. Knight, has not declared a major at KU but is interested in business communications, mathematics and fine arts.

She said she chose KU because of the quality of its journalism and business schools, as well as the options available in other departments. She also liked KU's larger size and appreciated the scholarship support she received.

Knight was valedictorian of her class at Baldwin High School, where she took a leadership role in forensics, choir, school plays, Scholars Bowl, student council and other activities. She was a Sunflower Girls' State Ambassador and was named a National Cheerleaders' Association All-American Cheerleader. She was a member of the National Honor Society and was a Kansas Governor's Scholar and a Kansas Honor Scholar. She also served as a page in the Kansas House of Representatives.

She received the Jacque Vaughan/Jerod Haase Scholarship, the W. Harold Otto Merit Scholarship, the Greater University Fund Scholarship, the Sam Walton Community Scholarship, the Elks "Most Valuable Student" Scholarship, the Robert C. Byrd Scholarship, the USD 348 Scholarship, and the Soroptimist International of Lawrence Youth Citizenship Award.

From Overland Park
Asma Latif, daughter of Muhammad and Shahwar Latif, is majoring in human biology and plans to fulfill pre-medicine requirements.

She chose to attend KU for several reasons. Her parents and her brother were KU graduates, and she said KU offered a variety of classes and activities that provided an excellent education. She also was attracted by the scholarship support KU offered.

Latif graduated from Blue Valley North High School, where she participated in academic competitions, debate, Spanish Club, Art Club and Kays Club. She was a member of the National Honor Society, the National Art Honors Society, the National Forensics League and the National Spanish Honor Society. She was a Kansas Honor Scholar and received the Blue Valley Educational Foundation Sunflower Award.

Her scholarships include the Rodrock Vision Scholarship, the Blue Valley Educational Foundation Scholarship, the Olathe Medical Center Scholarship, the American Royal Metropolitan Scholarship, the Greater University Fund Scholarship and the Clyde A. Babb Scholarship.

From Topeka
Sean C. Murray, son of Timothy Murray and Alisa Murray, is majoring in genetics. He said he was attracted to KU by the scholarships it offered and by the university's baseball team, of which he is a member.

He graduated from Washburn Rural High School, where he participated in baseball, soccer, football and Quiz Bowl. He was a Kansas State Scholar, a Kansas Board of Regents Scholar and a member of the National Honor Society. He is a recipient of the Greater University Fund Scholarship, the W. Harold Otto Merit Scholarship and the Clyde A. Babb Scholarship.

From Mission Woods
Andrew Henry Ralls, son of Richard Don Ralls and Anne Priest Henry, is majoring in business and also is interested in studying computers, economics and mathematics.

He said he chose to attend KU because he loved the Jayhawks, the University was close to home, and he was attracted by the scholarship offers.

Ralls graduated from Shawnee Mission East High School, where he lettered in tennis and participated in the SHARE Tennis program, teaching tennis to inner-city children. He was a member of the National Honor Society.

His scholarships include the Greater University Fund Scholarship, the Richard and Jerilyn Sandifer Scholarship and the J. Thomas and Cynthia Burcham/First National Bank & Trust of Great Bend Scholarship. He also is a Summerfield Scholar.

From McPherson
Chase Richards, son of Art and Lynne Richards, is majoring in English and plans to incorporate German and Latin into his studies.

He said he chose KU because of the helpful scholarship offers and because it was the right distance from home and offered a comfortable atmosphere.

Richards was co-valedictorian of his class at McPherson High School, where he participated in newspaper, yearbook, German Club, choir, Scholars Bowl and theater. His scholarships include the Robert C. Byrd Scholarship, the Johns-Manville Scholarship, the Home State Bank & Trust Scholarship, the VFW "Voice of Democracy" Scholarship, the Greater University Fund Scholarship and the Clyde A. Babb Scholarship.

MISSOURI
From Joplin
Matthew James Pirotte, son of Thomas P. Pirotte, M.D., and Colette A. Fleming, M.D., has not declared a major but plans to fulfill pre-medicine requirements at KU.

He chose to attend KU for several reasons. Members of his family have attended the university for four generations, and he said he had always loved the campus. He also was attracted by the scholarship offers.

He graduated from Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School, where he participated in soccer, yearbook and Academic Bowl. He also was a member of the National Honor Society. He is a recipient of the Greater University Fund Scholarship and the Clyde A. Babb Scholarship.

NEBRASKA
From Lincoln
David Adam Putensen, son of David K. and Katherine Putensen, is majoring in biology and plans to fulfill pre-medicine requirements.

He chose KU because of its academic reputation and the scholarships the university offered, and because it was "close to home without being home."

Putensen graduated from Lincoln Southeast High School, where he participated in football, Medical Club, Interact Club and Nature Club. He was a member of the National Honor Society and received an Academic All-State Honorable Mention from the Omaha World-Herald as well as the Omaha World-Herald Distinguished Scholar award.

His scholarships include the Greater University Fund Scholarship and the W. Harold Otto Merit Scholarship.

From Omaha
Kaydee Smith, daughter of Kem and Lori Matthews, and Charlie Smith, plans to major in journalism or business. She also plans to take courses in Spanish and is considering law school.

She chose to attend KU because of the good reputation of the School of Journalism and the newspaper and also was attracted by scholarship assistance. She said she liked the distance from home, as well.

Smith graduated from Harry A. Burke High School, where she was cheerleading captain, managing editor of the yearbook and a track team captain. She also participated in volleyball and DECA and was a member of the National Honor Society. She was a 1999 NCTE Writing Achievement Competitor and the Class of 2000 Commencement Speaker. She received an All-Academic Honorable Mention from the Omaha World-Herald, and she was named to the 2000 Metro Conference All-Academic Track and Field Team, and to the Lincoln Journal-Star All-State Academic Volleyball Team.

She received the Greater University Fund Scholarship and the W. Harold Otto Merit Scholarship.

OKLAHOMA
From Bartlesville
Cara Elizabeth Maple, daughter of Larry and Sue Maple, has not declared a major but is interested primarily in the sciences. She also plans to take courses in Spanish.

She chose to attend KU for several reasons. She said the university was recommended to her by several acquaintances and was not too from her home. She also appreciated the small classes in the Honors Program alongside the advantages of a larger university. She was attracted by scholarship offers and the opportunity to live in a scholarship hall, as well.

Maple graduated from Bartlesville High School, where she participated in soccer, concert band and marching band. She was a member of the National Honor Society and the Spanish Honor Society. She also participated in club soccer and church orchestra.

Her scholarships include the Greater University Fund Scholarship, the First Presbyterian Church music scholarship and the First Presbyterian Church senior recognition scholarship.

SOUTH DAKOTA
From Aberdeen
Megan DesCamps, daughter of Bill and Rose DesCamps, is considering majors in human biology, anthropology and journalism and plans to fulfill pre-medicine requirements.

She chose to attend KU because she felt at home on the campus and because of the scholarships the university offered.

DesCamps graduated from Roncalli High School, where she was senior class president and participated in basketball, volleyball, track, school plays and SADD. She also was a member of the National Honor Society.

She received the Greater University Fund Scholarship, the W. Harold Otto Merit Scholarship and the Hatterscheidt Foundation Scholarship.