May 2, 2002

Contact: Richard Johnson, Office of Dean of Students, (785) 864-4060

Nine KU graduating seniors win Chancellor's Student Awards

LAWRENCE -- As part of the 130th commencement at the University of Kansas, nine graduating seniors who are receiving Chancellor's Student Awards for their academic and leadership skills will be honored during a reception from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Saturday, May 18, in the Kansas Room of the Kansas Union.

The Chancellor's Student Awards Committee selected the winners from nominations submitted by KU students, faculty and staff. The committee includes students, faculty and staff. The winners are:

 • Anneliese Stoever, Overland Park, Donald K. Alderson Memorial Award
 • Karrigan Shepherd Bork, Lawrence, Class of 1913 Award
 • Holly Michelle Worthen, McPherson, Class of 1913 Award
 • Kendra Leigh Seaman, Wichita, Alexis F. Dillard Student Involvement Award
 • Jessica Anne Bankston, San Angelo, Texas, Rusty Leffel Concerned Student Award
 • Kyle Gregory Browning, Overland Park, Rusty Leffel Concerned Student Award
 • Robert Gordon McKenney, Clinton, Mo., Caryl K. Smith Student Leader Award
 • Jennifer Ann Bacani, Fredonia, Agnes Wright Strickland Award
 • Eric Alan Snider, Wichita, Agnes Wright Strickland Award

The Donald K. Alderson Memorial Award goes to a graduating senior who has demonstrated loyalty to the university and interest in it and who has been active in student activities and services that benefit other students. The award was established in memory of Alderson, former dean of men at KU and dean of student services.

The Alexis F. Dillard Student Involvement Award goes to a graduating student who has unselfishly contributed to the university through campus involvement. The award was established in 1993 by Dillard's family and friends to remember and honor him.

The Class of 1913 Award annually goes to a graduating senior who shows evidence of intelligence, devotion to studies and personal character and who shows promise of usefulness to society.

The Rusty Leffel Concerned Student Award annually goes to students who demonstrate a concern for furthering the ideals of the university and higher education. The award was established by a group of graduating seniors in 1973 to honor their friend and fellow student Rusty Leffel.

The Caryl K. Smith Student Leader Award goes to a graduating senior who is a member of a fraternity or sorority and who has demonstrated commitment to the local chapter, the KU Greek community, the university and the Lawrence community. The award was established in 1993 in honor of Smith's dedication and support of the KU Greek community during her tenure as dean of student life.

The Agnes Wright Strickland Award was established in 1953 in memory of Strickland, a member of the class of 1887. The award annually goes to a graduating senior in recognition of his or her academic record, demonstrated leadership in matters of university concern, respect among fellow students and indications of future dedication to service to the university.

Brief biographies of the winners follow.

DOUGLAS COUNTY
From Lawrence
Karrigan Shepherd Bork, Class of 1913 Award recipient, will receive bachelor's degrees in biodiversity, ecology and evolutionary biology and in environmental studies. He is the son of John Bork and Jean Shepherd and a Lawrence High School graduate. His many academic honors include winning a National Merit scholarship and a national Harry S Truman scholarship. At KU, Bork co-founded Students Against Drunk Driving and worked as a teaching assistant in chemistry. He also conducted an independent research project in Golfito, Costa Rica, and taught English as a second language for a group of Costa Rican high school students at El Colegio de Golfito. A wrestler and a fisherman, Bork has worked as an assistant wrestling coach for Central Junior High School, as a fishing area director for a children's camp in Montana and as an environmental law intern for Trout Unlimited in Arlington, Va. He is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Gamma Sigma Alpha, the Golden Key and the Order of Omega honor societies. He and Laura Denny were married in August 2001.

JOHNSON COUNTY
From Overland Park
Kyle Gregory Browning, Rusty Leffel Concerned Student Award recipient, is graduating with degrees in political science and in history. He is the son of Regina and Robert Browning and is a Blue Valley North High School graduate. Browning has served as KU student body vice president and chaired two Student Senate boards this spring. On campus, he also served as president of Amnesty International and vice president of Students for a Free Tibet. He is active in the student leadership team at Ecumenical Christian Ministries; the Lawrence Alliance, an anti-discrimination organization; and KU Greens. Browning has worked as an announcer and program technician for Audio-Reader, a service for the blind, and as a development assistant for KANU-FM, KU's public radio station. He is a member of Phi Alpha Theta, a national honor society for historians. He was a Mount Oread scholar and a freshman honor scholar.

Anneliese Stoever, Donald K. Alderson Memorial Award recipient, will receive a bachelor's degree in social work. She is the daughter of Jane and Henry Stoever and a Bishop Miege High School graduate. Last fall Stoever received a 2001 Excellence in Community, Education and Leadership (ExCEL) award at KU. She has served as president of KU's Commission on the Status of Women and of WAVE (Working Against Violence Everywhere); as co-coordinator of the Jubilee Cafe, a nonprofit service in Lawrence to provide breakfast to the homeless and residents in need; and as co-director of KU's Center for Community Outreach. Stoever has volunteered for alternative spring break assignments and has worked on the staff of a soup kitchen and shelter in Kansas City, Mo. She is a member of Owl Society and Lambda Sigma, both honor societies. She was a Mount Oread scholar.

MCPHERSON COUNTY
From McPherson
Holly Michelle Worthen, Class of 1913 Award recipient, will receive a bachelor's degree in English and international studies. She is the daughter of David and Joanie Worthen and is a McPherson High School graduate. Worthen is a Morris K. Udall scholar and has received a Fulbright grant for study in Mexico. She co-founded both the Alternative Weekend Breaks program, which provides service learning experiences for student volunteers, and GROW, a community gardening organization for KU and Lawrence. She has volunteered with the Migrant Farmworkers Project in Kansas City, Mo., and with numerous assignments through the Alternative Breaks program at KU. She has worked as a conversation leader for the Applied English Center and as co-director of the KU Student Senate's service-learning office.

SEDGWICK COUNTY
From Wichita
Kendra Leigh Seaman, Alexis F. Dillard Student Involvement Award recipient, is receiving bachelor's degrees in biology and in psychology. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ken Seaman and a Wichita High School Northwest graduate. At KU she has been active in student government and serves on the board of senior class officers. Seaman co-directs KU's Alternative Breaks program, which places students as volunteers. She has volunteered for alternative break assignments in spring and winter; for a health mentoring program at Lawrence Memorial Hospital and as a counselor for Headquarters, a local counseling service. She has also served in offices in Sellards Scholarship Hall and as concertmaster for the KU Symphonic Band. She is a member of several honor societies, including Phi Beta Kappa, Mortar Board, Golden Key and the National Residence Hall honorary.

Eric Alan Snider, Agnes Wright Strickland Award recipient, will graduate with degrees in English and in sociology. He is the son of Alan and Rita Snider and a Kapaun-Mt. Carmel High School graduate. Following graduation from KU, Snider plans to work as a corps member with Teach for America in rural North Carolina. He has been director of KU's Alternative Breaks program and worked as an orientation assistant for KU's Office of New Student Orientation. Active in student government, he has been chair of senate committees. Snider has worked as a writing consultant and assistant to the director of KU's Writing Center and served as a conversation leader in KU's Applied English Center. He is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Mortar Board and Owl Society honor societies.

WILSON COUNTY
From Fredonia
Jennifer Ann Bacani, Agnes Wright Strickland award recipient, is receiving a bachelor's degree in chemistry. She is the daughter of Oswaldo and Andrea Bacani and a Fredonia High School graduate. Last fall, Bacani was a finalist for KU's 2001 Excellence in Community, Education and Leadership (ExCEL) award. In Lawrence and at KU, Bacani has served as a co-coordinator of "Into the Streets" week and a co-coordinator of the Jubilee Cafe. She has participated in KU's Alternative Winter Break program and in the St. Lawrence Catholic Center Hunger Awareness Team. She is a member of several honor societies, including Mortar Board, Owl Society, Lambda Sigma and Golden Key.

MISSOURI
From Clinton
Robert Gordon McKenney, Caryl K. Smith Student Leader Award recipient, has earned a degree in chemistry. He is the son of Thomas and Jan McKenney and a Clinton Senior High School graduate. McKenney received a 2001 Excellence in Community, Education and Leadership (ExCEL) award at KU. He was co-chair of the Blueprints Leadership Conference at KU. He has served in several offices, including president of Alpha Tau Omega, a social fraternity. He directed the Mentors in the Lives of Kids program at a local Boys and Girls Club and was a site coordinator for KU's Alternative Winter Breaks program. He is a member of several honor societies, including Phi Beta Kappa, Mortar Board, Order of Omega, Owl Society and Golden Key.

NEW MEXICO
From Albuquerque
Jessica Anne Bankston, a graduate of the Albuquerque Academy; see San Angelo, Texas.

TEXAS
From San Angelo
Jessica Anne Bankston, Rusty Leffel Concerned Student Award recipient, will receive bachelor's degrees in Spanish and in communication studies. She is the daughter of David and Kathleen Bankston and a graduate of the Albuquerque Academy in New Mexico. Since her freshman year, Bankston has participated and served in KU's Student Senate. She served as legislative director for the senate in 2000-2001, increasing KU student voter participation by 200 percent in national and local elections and lobbying the Kansas Legislature for restoration of matching technology funds for Kansas regents universities. In 2000, she founded a campus political party, VOICE Coalition. She serves on the KU Athletic Corporation board of directors and is a charter member of the Student Endowment Committee. She is a member of the Order of Omega and Golden Key national honor societies and of Alphi Chi Omega, social sorority. Within the community, Bankston was a volunteer Spanish teacher in a Lawrence elementary school.