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Print PageContact: Rueben Perez, Student Involvement and Leadership Center, (785) 864-4861.
KU announces Freshman Leadership Council
LAWRENCE — Twenty-one University of Kansas students chosen for the Freshman Leadership Council were recognized last month after completing an eight-week series of leadership enhancement training sessions that began Jan. 24. Marlesa Roney, vice provost for Student Success, spoke to council members and coordinators at the March 28 event in the Kansas Union.
Rueben Perez, director of the Student Involvement and Leadership Center and Freshman Leadership Council adviser, began the program at KU in fall 2003 to offer incoming KU students exposure to organizations and leaders and to encourage greater involvement in activities on campus and in the Lawrence community. Programs were held from fall 2003 to fall 2005 and resumed in spring 2007.
“I felt compelled to return the FLC for two main reasons,” said Perez. “First, a commitment to the students of KU that we provide them with significant opportunities to help them maximize their leadership potential and also a belief that connecting students to campus leaders and administrators early in their college career plays a major role in leading to success at the university.”
Among the opportunities for council members this year were dinners and discussions with Chancellor Robert Hemenway and Provost Richard Lariviere. In other meetings, Freshman Leadership Council participants heard KU seniors in campus leadership roles share their experiences and participated in group discussions and leadership scenarios.
Mike Harrity, coordinator of student-athlete development, spoke to the group during a visit to the Naismith Room at Allen Fieldhouse. Speakers during another meeting included a Student Success panel with Lisa Pinamonti Kress, director of the Office of Admissions and Scholarships; Mary Chappell, director of Recreation Services, and Diana Robertson, interim director of the Department of Student Housing.
The Freshman Leadership Council is limited to 20 to 25 students. KU freshmen interested in the program submitted applications in November and were selected based on their high school grade-point averages, involvement in high school activities, interest in leadership, participation in activities since coming to KU and answers to written essay questions.
Perez and the four program coordinators chose the council members. Coordinators were Andrea Brown, master’s student in higher education administration from Shawnee, Fraternity and Sorority Life graduate assistant; André Fortune, assistant director of admissions; Lance Mall, senior in accounting from Clay Center, student coordinator for leadership programs; and Lindsay Schaefer, master’s student in higher education administration from Lakewood, Colo., graduate assistant adviser in the Freshman-Sophomore Advising Center.
The council participants are listed below by hometown, level in school, major, parents’ names and high school.
CLAY COUNTY
From Clay Center
Sylvia Davis, freshman in philosophy, daughter of Duncan and Kim Davis; Clay Center Community High School.
ELLIS COUNTY
From Hays
Heather Dietz, sophomore planning to major in pharmacy, daughter of Mark and Vivian Dietz; Hays High School.
FINNEY COUNTY
From Garden City
Adam Price, freshman planning to major in health, sport and exercise sciences, son of Jud and Ann Price; Garden City Senior High School.
JOHNSON COUNTY
From Leawood
Spencer Duvall. SEE MISSOURI
Clark Stinson, freshman planning to major in business, son of Michael and Carilyn Stinson; Blue Valley High School.
From Mission Hills
Graham Stark, freshman planning to major in law and political science, son of Benjamin and Rita Stark; Shawnee Mission East High School.
From Overland Park
Adam Diskin, freshman in atmospheric science, son of Frank and Mary Diskin; Bishop Miege High School.
Ashley Katz, freshman planning to major in business, daughter of Rick Katz; Blue Valley Northwest High School.
From Shawnee
Lindsey Warren. SEE NEW MEXICO
From Stilwell
April Smithson, freshman in design, daughter of David and Mollie Smithson; Blue Valley High School.
LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
From Leavenworth
Alison Elizabeth Pendley, freshmen in psychology, daughter of Esther Smith; Leavenworth High School.
PAWNEE COUNTY
From Larned
Emily Schuster, freshman planning to major in business, daughter of Paul and Sue Schuster; Larned High School.
SEDGWICK COUNTY
From Wichita
Leslie Schulte, sophomore in mechanical engineering, daughter of David Schulte and Patricia Peace; Wichita North High School.
Carnez Williams, freshman planning to major in journalism, son of Kevass and Teketa Harding; Northeast Magnet School.
SHAWNEE COUNTY
From Tecumseh
Kellie Rissky, freshman planning to major in physical therapy and health, sport and exercise sciences, daughter of Roy and Lorraine Rissky; Shawnee Heights Senior High School.
From Topeka
Matthew Enriquez, freshman planning to major in health, sport and exercise sciences, son of Joselito and Diana Enriquez; Washburn Rural High School.
Ashley Moser, freshman planning to major in business, daughter of Jeffrey and Lori Moser; Washburn Rural High School.
Andrew Schreiner, freshman planning to major in business, son of Scott and Jill Schreiner; Seaman High School.
MISSOURI
From Glendale
Maureen Gehbauer, sophomore in planning to major in business and psychology, daughter of Daryl and Teresa Gehbauer; Kirkwood High School.
From Kansas City
Spencer Duvall, sophomore in political science, son of Richard Duvall of Kansas City, Mo., and Lisa Duvall of Leawood, Kan.; Rockhurst High School.
From St. Louis
Maria Beg, sophomore in international studies and political science, daughter of Zarin and Yusaf Beg; Mehlville Senior High School.
NEW MEXICO
From Albuquerque
Lindsey Warren, freshman planning to major in nursing, daughter of Andy Warren of Albuquerque, N.M., and Rachel Brewer of Shawnee, Kan.; Mill Valley High School.
OKLAHOMA
From Tulsa
Grace Kachigian, freshman in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, daughter of Lou and Mark Kachigian; Booker T. Washington High School.
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