KU honors new class of Kansas/Asia scholars in $2M travel study program

LAWRENCE -- The new class of 25 Kansas/Asia scholars, sponsored through a $2 million grant to the University of Kansas to broaden understanding of East Asia in Kansas, will be recognized during ceremonies at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5, in the Spencer Museum of Art courtyard.

Ann Weick, dean of social welfare, and Diana Carlin, dean of the graduate school and international programs, will join David Dunfield, mayor of Lawrence, and faculty from KU's Center for East Asian Studies to honor the students selected for the Kansas/Asia Scholars Program.

Now in its second year, the Kansas/Asia Scholars Program (KAS) was funded for four years beginning last year with a grant from the Freeman Foundation of New York City and Stowe, Vt. The grant helps connect KU students and Kansans with the people and businesses of Asia.

The 25 Kansas/Asia scholars will travel in late May and early June to three countries -- nine students to China, nine to Japan and seven to South Korea. On their return, they will commit 20 hours of community service to teach others in Kansas about what they have learned in Asia.

In addition to sending KU students to Asia, the Freeman grant established the Kansas/Asia Community Connection (KACC), a KU program that strengthens ties between Kansans in agriculture and business with their counterparts in Asia and has provided four new faculty positions at KU.

Nancy Hope, KU associate director of both programs, noted that $2 billion worth of trade takes place between Kansas and Asia. "The KAS and KACC programs will help Kansans to develop a great knowledge of and deeper appreciation for a part of the world that is economically important to them right now," she said.

Kansas/Asia scholars see aspects of the country that few tourists do. For example, in China, business students study emerging capitalism and work with people involved in trade policy and American businesses. In South Korea, social welfare students work side by side with Korean social workers. The scholars receive academic credit for their study tours and pay KU tuition to do so. Their travel expenses, including airfare and two meals a day, are covered by the Kansas/Asia Scholars Program.

There is no language requirement, but the scholars must enroll in two Asian studies classes before going abroad. KU's Center for East Asian Studies provides survival language training before the students travel. Scholars were selected based on an essay describing the impact a trip to China, Japan or Korea would have on their lives.

For more information on the Kansas/Asia Scholars Program, please visit www.kas.ku.edu. More information about the Kansas/Asia Community Connection is available at www.asiakan.org/.

The names of the Kansas/Asia scholars, their hometown, year in school and major, parents' names, high school alma mater (when available) and the country they will visit are listed below.

ANDERSON COUNTY
From Garnett
Tara Fritz, junior in English, daughter of Christine Fritz; Anderson County High School graduate; China
Emily Howard, junior in psychology and journalism, daughter of Dana Howard; Dodge City High School graduate; China

CRAWFORD COUNTY
From Girard
Boyce Richardson, junior in political science and English, son of Mark and Karla Richardson; Girard High School graduate; Japan

DOUGLAS COUNTY
From Lawrence
Liz Morel, junior in chemical engineering, daughter of James and Renee Morel; Free State High School graduate; Japan
Lauren Sullivan, graduate student in social welfare; Korea

HARVEY COUNTY
From Newton
Penny Dorado, graduate student in social welfare; Korea

JOHNSON COUNTY
From Lenexa
Lindsay Paulette, graduate student in social welfare, daughter of Robert and Sonja Paulette; Shawnee Mission West High School; Korea

From Olathe
Julie Miles, junior in English, daughter of Charles and Kim Miles; Olathe East High School graduate; China
Jeremy Rooney, sophomore in English, son of William and Maria Rooney; Olathe East High School graduate; China

From Overland Park
Rae Anderson, senior majoring in political science, journalism and women's studies, daughter of Robert and Cindy Clark; Blue Valley Northwest High School graduate; Japan
Cindy Chang, senior in business administration and economics, daughter of Frank and Helen Lam; Blue Valley Northwest High School graduate; China

From Shawnee Mission
Rachael Opdyke, junior in English, daughter of Stephen Opdyke; Shawnee Mission Northwest High School graduate; Korea

From Spring Hill
Victoria Wigle, junior in civil engineering, daughter of Stephen Wigle; Spring Hill High School graduate; Japan

RILEY COUNTY
From Manhattan
Travis Warner, sophomore in political science, son of James and Stacey Warner; Manhattan High School graduate; China
Cecilia Compton, senior in biology and psychology, daughter of Daria Compton; Manhattan High School graduate; Japan

WYANDOTTE COUNTY
From Kansas City
Stephanie Pittaway, senior in social work, daughter of Carol Godsil; Sumner Academy of Arts and Sciences graduate; Korea
Sherrie Watkins-Alvey, graduate student in social welfare; Korea

COLORADO
From Englewood
Mark Lyda, junior in English and music, son of Paige and Donna Lyda; Cherry Creek High School graduate; Japan

GEORGIA
From Valdosta
Courtney Kasun, sophomore in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, daughter of Ann Kasun; Valdosta High School graduate; China

IOWA
From Cedar Falls
Madeleine Baker, senior in political science and international studies, daughter of Gary and Kathleen Baker; Cedar Falls High School gradate; China

MISSOURI
From Liberty
Rebecca Hurd, junior in English, daughter of Jeff and Deb Hurd; Liberty Senior High School graduate; Korea

OKLAHOMA
From Okmulgee
Greyson Twist, junior in English, son of Sherry Omara; Chaparral High School; Japan

SOUTH DAKOTA
From Yankton
Megan Storm, sophomore in psychology, human biology and music therapy, daughter of Monta Storm; Yankton High School Graduate; Japan

TEXAS
From La Grange
Beau Hancock, senior in American studies and dance, son of Steven and Jennifer Hancock; Hugoton High School graduate; Japan

AFRICA
From Harare
Vimbayi Kajese, sophomore in women's studies and English, daughter of Sam and Rose Kajese; China