Six Haskell graduates transferring to KU receive first Bowlus scholarships

LAWRENCE -- Six undergraduates who transferred from Haskell Indian Nations University to the University of Kansas this fall are being honored in a luncheon meeting at noon Wednesday, Dec. 5, as the first recipients of the Thomas M. and Elva Ottman Bowlus scholarships. The luncheon is in the Kansas Union Centennial Room.

The students are participants in the Haskell Mentor Program, which was established four years ago to help foster a positive transition for transferring Haskell students at KU. This spring, the KU Endowment Association announced the establishment of the Bowlus scholarships for Native American freshmen.

Gloria Flores, coordinator for the the mentor program and associate director of KU's Freshman-Sophomore Advising Center, said, "The Bowlus scholarships can provide up to $1,000 for the first year of study at KU."

Haskell students transferring with a grade-point average of 2.7 or higher on a 4.0 scale are eligible for a $500 scholarship in the first semester. Bowlus scholars must maintain a 2.5 GPA in their first semester at KU to be eligible for another $500 scholarship.

Haskell Indian Nations University offers 13 associate's degree programs and four bachelor's degree programs. This fall Haskell enrolled 1,028 students representing more than 130 tribes from more than 35 states. KU enrolled 25,782 students on the Lawrence campus, 230 of whom were Native American.

The mentoring program provides student, staff and faculty mentors to new KU students transferring from Haskell, at the request of each transfer student. Each student receives a $150 book grant and becomes eligible for a grant from the First Nations Student Association and KU's Office of Multicultural Affairs.

The new scholarship was established through a gift to KU from the estate of the late Thomas M. and Elva Ottman Bowlus. The KU Endowment Association manages the gift fund.

Thomas Bowlus was a 1936 Coffeyville Junior College graduate and a 1938 KU graduate in finance. After serving with the U.S. Air Force in World War II and receiving three bronze stars, he began a 38-year career with Smith Barney, then known as Harris Upham. He was vice president and manager of Smith Barney in Bartlesville, Okla., before retiring in 1986. He died in 1999. A native of Kansas City, Mo., Elva Bowlus received a bachelor's degree from KU in 1940. She worked as a dietician in St. Louis and in Kansas City before marrying Thomas Bowlus in 1949. She died in November 1999.

Students receiving the scholarships are:

BUTLER COUNTY
From Rose Hill
Tamara Lynn Thomas, sophomore in liberal arts and sciences, planning to major in nursing, daughter of Dennis and Jackie Thomas, 1645 N. Tanglewood; Rose Hill High School graduate.

DOUGLAS COUNTY
From Lawrence
Stanley Richard Holder, junior in liberal arts and sciences, majoring in evolutionary biology and biology, 1600 Haskell Ave. Apt. #14; Anadarko (Okla.) High School graduate.

NEBRASKA
From Bellevue
Charles Michael Woolery Jr., freshman in liberal arts and sciences, majoring in theatre and film and planning a second major in business administration, son of Charles and Cindy Woolery, 2001 Main St.; Bellevue East Senior High School graduate.

NEVADA
From Elko
Daniel One Feather, junior in liberal arts and sciences, major undeclared, son of Rosemary Decker, 1400 Newe Circle; Olympus High School graduate in Salt Lake City, Utah.

NEW MEXICO
From Crownpoint
Michael R. Begay, junior in liberal arts and sciences, major undeclared, son of Frank and Bettie Begay, P.O. Box 1555; Santa Fe Indian School graduate.

WISCONSIN
From Bayfield
Robbie Allen Goslin, sophomore in liberal arts and sciences; graduate of Bayfield High School.