KU News Release

KU seniors select six H.O.P.E. finalists, will name winner Nov. 18

Paul Hanson, professor of chemistry, accepts the H.O.P.E. Award from Murtaza Khan, senior class president, at the KU-Kansas State Football game Saturday, Nov. 18. The H.O.P.E. - Honoring an Outstanding Progressive Educator – Award recognizes faculty for teaching excellence and is voted on exclusively by students.

Nov. 20 update — Paul Hanson, professor of chemistry, was named the winner of the 2006 H.O.P.E. Award during Saturday's football game.

LAWRENCE — The winner of the 2006 H.O.P.E. Award — Honor for an Outstanding Progressive Educator — at the University of Kansas will be announced between the first and second quarters of the Nov. 18 KU vs. Kansas State football game in Memorial Stadium.

Game time is 2:30 p.m.

The H.O.P.E. Award is the only honor given exclusively by students for teaching excellence. Winners receive a monetary award and recognition on a permanent plaque displayed in the Kansas Union.

Nominations were solicited from the senior class by e-mail. Faculty receiving the most nominations were placed on a ballot that was e-mailed to seniors to narrow the field to six finalists. Representatives of the Board of Class Officers interview the finalists and select a winner. The finalists are:

— Kerry Benson, lecturer in journalism
— Paul Hanson, professor of chemistry
— Stephen Ilardi, associate professor of psychology
— Dennis Karpowitz, associate professor of psychology
— Mary Klayder, University Honors Lecturer in English
— Edward McBride, lecturer in civil, environmental and architectural engineering

Ilardi won the H.O.P.E. Award in 2004. Others among this year’s nominees also have been finalists in recent years: Benson in 2002 and 2005; Klayder in 1996; and McBride in 2004 and 2005. McBride’s father, also an engineer and also named Edward, won the award in 1974.

The Class of 1959 established the award to recognize outstanding teaching and concern for students. With one exception, only one award has been bestowed each year. In 1972, three professors tied and each received a H.O.P.E. Award: the late John Bremner in journalism, Arno Knapper in business and Elizabeth Schultz in English. Two professors have received the award more than once: the late Clark E. Bricker in chemistry received the award four times and the late Charles “Rick” Snyder in psychology won three times.

Chancellor Robert Hemenway will join representatives of the senior class and Board of Class Officers and their advisers, Danny Kaiser and Lori Reesor, in introducing the finalists and presenting the award at the football game.

Students joining the award presentation are listed below by hometown, level in school, major, parents’ names, high school and role with the H.O.P.E. Award presentation.

CRAWFORD COUNTY
From Scammon
Nicholas Jay Benedict, sophomore in liberal arts and sciences, son of John and Debbie Benedict; Columbus Unified High School; Board of Class Officers member.

JOHNSON COUNTY
From Leawood
Todd Crawford, sophomore in pre-business and pre-medicine, son of Jeff and Kim Crawford; Shawnee Mission East High School; Board of Class Officers member.

From Prairie Village
Ellen Stolle, junior in biochemistry, biology and Spanish, daughter of Calvin and Susan Stolle; Shawnee Mission East High School; Board of Class Officers member.

SEDGWICK COUNTY
From Wichita
Murtaza S. Khan, senior in biochemistry, son of Rahat Jan and Sardar Bahadur; Wichita High School East; senior class president.

MISSOURI
From Springfield
Whitney Leigh Gallagher, junior in chemistry, daughter of Rick and Gena Gallagher; Springfield Catholic High School; Board of Class Officers member.

OKLAHOMA
From Edmond
Ryan Michael Northup, junior in human biology, son of Jean and John Northup;
Edmond Memorial High School; Board of Class Officers member.

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