Black faculty, staff council to honor KU students, faculty members April 5

LAWRENCE -- Seven University of Kansas African-American students will receive awards and two faculty and staff members will be honored during the 10th annual Black Faculty and Staff Council Student Awards Banquet at 6 p.m. Saturday, April 5, in the Kansas Union ballroom.

Approximately 150 guests, including undergraduate- and graduate-level African and African-American students, are expected to attend this year's event. Seven $500 awards will be made to honor students for their academic achievements and leadership roles at the university.

KU faculty, staff, administrators, students and their families, and invited community guests attend annually, according to Susan King, KU associate professor of health, sport and exercise sciences and president of the council.

Kathleen McCluskey-Fawcett, senior vice provost for academic affairs and professor of psychology, will speak following the dinner. The award presentations will be at 7 p.m., followed by a dance at 7:30.

Jacob Gordon, associate professor of African and African-American studies, and Marshall Jackson, associate director of the Student Development Center, will receive the Hobart Jackson Service Award, given to KU faculty or staff members who have provided outstanding service to African and African-American KU students.

Five students will receive the BFSC Student Achievement Award. It is given to undergraduate students with a grade-point average of more than 3.0, graduate students with a GPA of more than 3.5 and law students with a GPA of more than 2.5 who have excelled in academics and distinguished themselves as leaders in the campus and local communities. They receive a plaque and a $500 cash award.

Two students will receive the LaTina Sullivan Leadership Award, given by the National Panhellenic Council to an undergraduate who has played an active leadership role in African/African-American organizations at KU. They also will receive a plaque and a $500 cash award.

The award-winning students, their hometowns, parents' names, high school alma maters (when available) and their awards are:

DOUGLAS COUNTY
From Lawrence
Yana Delkhah, sophomore in pre-pharmacy, daughter of Azizallah Delkhah; Lawrence High School graduate; BFSC Student Achievement Award.
Misikir Tilahun, first-year law student; Lawrence High School graduate; BFSC Student Achievement Award.

FINNEY COUNTY
From Garden City
April Bradshaw, senior in biology, daughter of Roger and Caroline Bradshaw; Garden City High School graduate; LaTina Sullivan Leadership Award.

SHAWNEE COUNTY
From Topeka
Keena Tarrant, sophomore in painting, daughter of Marcella Tarrant; Washburn Rural High School graduate; LaTina Sullivan Leadership Award.

MISSOURI
From Columbia
Patrick McClelland, doctoral student in business, son of Karol Goodwin; BFSC Student Achievement Award.

From Lee's Summit
Eve McGee, master's degree student in social work, daughter of Lonell and Cleo McGee; BFSC Student Achievement Award.

From Liberty
LaTisha Merritt, senior in strategic communications, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Keller; Liberty Senior High School graduate; BFSC Student Achievement Award.