KU News Release

Graduation stories: KU gave graduating senior her first real sense of community

Sarah Stacy

LAWRENCE — Until she came to the University of Kansas in fall 2003, Sarah Stacy lacked a place to call home. KU gave her one.

“I’ve lived in Lawrence longer than any place,” said the 24-year-old who describes herself as “self-raised.” “It’s the first time I’ve known a sense of community. My life has been transformed here, and I feel like I’ve been allowed to shine.”

On May 20, she will graduate with bachelor’s degrees in political science, Spanish and international studies plus a minor in history. Her international studies emphases are Latin American studies and peace and conflict studies. An honor-roll student who’s an intern at the Dole Institute of Politics, Stacy has twice been vice president of Young Democrats and active in Latin American Solidarity and Model United Nations.

“Sarah has done an outstanding job at the Dole Institute,” said Bill Lacy, executive director. “Our students don’t just answer phones, they are an integral part of our programming and promotion, and Sarah has played a key role. With her linguistic ability and commitment to political and civic involvement, she will have a very positive impact in the world.”

When she came to Kansas in 2000 from the Washington, D.C., area, her life couldn’t have looked much bleaker. Her parents were often unemployed and incapable of supporting themselves and their children. Stacy had been on her own most of her life. Much of that time she was responsible for her brother who is six years younger. She had been working since she was 14, usually as a waitress or in food service.

She estimated that she had attended 15 to 20 schools across the United States, including at least four high schools in three different states. At best, schooling was hit-and-miss; some years just struggling to earn enough to live kept her out of school activities and social life. Still, she didn’t consider herself among the truly homeless. Sometimes she lived with friends, and on rare occasions slept in public buildings.

At 17, burned out from coping with it all, she came to stay with relatives in Olathe and Overland Park. Finally in a more stable environment, she completed high school diploma requirements through Blue Valley High School and took classes at Johnson County Community College. She had never been in school long enough to have a teacher-mentor who could suggest planning ahead for college. Through a summer job, she met Laura Francoviglia of Overland Park, who attended KU. Francoviglia received a bachelor’s degree in journalism in spring 2006 and now is an undergraduate in chemical engineering.

“She’s been my best friend since day one,” Stacy said of her friend. “Laura integrated me to Lawrence and KU, showing me around campus and showing me the ropes. My life had been too turbulent before. I found out I could be really good at school, that I loved reading and the humanities, that I had latent potential.

“Before, I felt like my life was constantly upstream. I’m now surrounded and supported by inspiring people who want to help others and excel in school and leadership. I have friends from all over the world. There’s so much here, and I don’t take anything KU offers for granted.”

Throughout her time at KU she has held part-time jobs, but she’s also studied abroad in Spain and Costa Rica and completed KU’s Global Awareness Program in international studies. With Francoviglia’s encouragement, Stacy wrote a guest opinion column for the University Daily Kansan in spring 2004. She hopes to attend graduate school, become fluent in several more languages and complete foreign service exam requirements, all with the ultimate goal of pursuing a career in international relations and foreign policy work in Washington, D.C.

Stacy cited an unforgettable and special KU memory. She was a Dole Institute intern this past September when the first female U.S. secretary of state came to KU.

“I got to sit next to Madeleine Albright and pass books to her to sign. She’s sort of my role model, a woman in a traditionally male-dominated field doing a very competent job in the field of international relations.”

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The University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university. University Relations is the central public relations office for KU's Lawrence campus.