Budigs establish second teaching award in social welfare at KU

LAWRENCE -- Former University of Kansas Chancellor Gene A. Budig and Gretchen Budig have established a second teaching award for the KU School of Social Welfare, Dean Ann Weick announced today.

Like a similar award the Budigs established in 1998, the latest Gene A. and Gretchen Budig Award in Social Welfare will be given annually to a social welfare faculty member who demonstrates excellent teaching skills. Both awards were established through a combination of gifts to the Kansas University Endowment Association from the Budigs and previous gifts made in honor of Budig when he left KU in 1994.

Associate Professor K. Jean Peterson, who directs the school's practicum program, and Professor Charlie Rapp, director of the school's Office of Mental Health and Research Training, have been named this year's award recipients.

"Jean and Charlie are exemplary teachers, both in the classroom and as graduate student mentors," Weick said. "One of the most important ways to promote excellent teaching is to reward it through awards and professorships. We are grateful to have this additional financial support from Gene and Gretchen Budig to honor our outstanding faculty members."

Dale Seuferling, president of KU Endowment, also thanked the Budigs.

"Through the teaching awards and professorships they have established for both social welfare and education at KU, Gene and Gretchen Budig have created an important legacy for faculty support," Seuferling said.

Gene said he and Gretchen hoped the award would draw attention to the importance of quality faculty members.

"We believe in the school and its importance to the state of Kansas and the nation," he said. "We have total confidence in the leadership of the KU School of Social Welfare."

He added that he hoped other donors recognized the need to support KU.

"It is an ideal time to step forward and offer special assistance to the academic programs," he said. "Faculty and students need to be encouraged during these difficult economic times."

Gene Budig was named KU's 14th chancellor in 1981. During his 13-year tenure, more than 180 faculty positions were established. He was an active fund-raiser during Campaign Kansas, the 1987-1992 campaign that raised $265 million from private donors. He left the university to become the president of baseball's American League, and is now senior adviser to Major League Baseball. He and Gretchen live in Princeton, N.J.

Peterson holds a master's degree in social welfare from Smith College in Northampton, Mass., and a doctorate in social welfare from Columbia University in New York City. Her areas of interest include the history and philosophy of social welfare, social work practice, health care and diversity. Rapp earned his master's degree and doctoral degree in social welfare from the University of Illinois. He is a co-developer of the "strengths" model of case management and the "client-centered performance" model of social administration.

KU Endowment is an independent, nonprofit organization serving as the official fund-raising and fund-management organization for the University of Kansas. Founded in 1891, KU Endowment is the first foundation of its kind at a U.S. public university and one of the largest.