KU News Release

Oct. 29, 2007
Contact: Jennifer Alderdice, KU Alumni Association, (785) 864-9778.

10 finalists for ExCEL Awards to be recognized during homecoming events

LAWRENCE — Ten finalists have been selected for the 16th annual Excellence in Community, Education and Leadership Awards at the University of Kansas.

The finalists will be recognized during a private reception Friday, Nov. 2, at the Adams Alumni Center and will participate in the homecoming parade at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, along Jayhawk Boulevard.

Two winners, one male and one female, will be announced during halftime of the KU-Nebraska homecoming football game Nov. 3 at Memorial Stadium. Kick-off time is 11:30 a.m.

The ExCEL Award provides an annual $500 scholarship to two students. The winners will plan a leadership conference during the spring semester in conjunction with KU’s Student Involvement and Leadership Center.

A selection committee with representatives from Student Union Activities, the Board of Class Officers, the Student Involvement and Leadership Center and the homecoming steering committee chose finalists on the basis of leadership, effective communication skills, involvement at KU and in the Lawrence community, academic scholarship and ability to work with a variety of students and organizations. The award was established in 1991.

To be eligible, applicants must be full-time undergraduate students with an overall grade-point average of 3.0 or higher. Each finalist completed an application and participated in an interview. The finalists are listed below by their hometowns, levels in school, majors, parents’ names and high schools (when available).

CLAY COUNTY
From Clay Center 67432
Lance Howard Mall, senior majoring in accounting and a master’s degree student in accounting and information systems, is the son of Durwin and Shirley Mall and is a Clay Center Community High School graduate. Mall is part of KU Student Ambassadors, a volunteer service for prospective students administered by the Office of Admissions and Scholarships. He is vice president of administrative affairs for the Interfraternity Council and has served in Student Senate. He is a member of Delta Chi fraternity; Beta Alpha Psi, a honor society for accounting, finance and information systems majors; and Order of Omega, a greek leadership honor society. He is preparing for a public accounting career.

JOHNSON COUNTY
From Leawood 66209
Sarah E. Edwards, senior majoring in English and environmental studies, is the daughter of Rob and Elizabeth Edwards and is a Blue Valley North High School graduate. She is president of From the Inside Out, a peer education program on body image; community service chair for Mortar Board honor society; and a member of Chi Omega sorority. Edwards has served on the advisory board of Rock Chalk Revue, a student philanthropic event; KU Student Ambassadors, a volunteer service for prospective students administered by Office of Admissions and Scholarships; and the Marching Jayhawks band. Following graduation, she plans to work for Teach for America for two years and then attend law school to focus on environmental policy.

Maggie Kelly, senior majoring in social welfare, is the daughter of Pat Kelly and is a graduate of St. Thomas Aquinas High School. In her sorority, Delta Delta Delta, she is an executive standards board member and social chair. Kelly is a Student Senate member and works with the Best Buddies, a KU service program, and Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Douglas County. She plans to attend graduate school.

RENO COUNTY
From Hutchinson 67502
Ashley E. Bloom, senior majoring in Spanish, is the daughter of James and Susan Bloom and is a Buhler High School graduate. Bloom co-directs Alternative Breaks, a service learning program at KU, and volunteers with JayDoc Free Clinic, managed by KU medical students in Kansas City, Kan. She is a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and of the Douglas County United Way board. Bloom plans to attend medical school to earn a master’s degree in public health and a medical degree. Her long-range goals include providing health care to indigent populations.

ARIZONA
From Phoenix 85020
Peter Curzon, senior majoring in finance and history, is the son of Tom and Anne Curzon. As a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity, Curzon has participated in Rock Chalk Revue, a student philanthropic event, and served on the Interfraternity Council. He has volunteered for the Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence and participated in Jayhawks on Wall Street, a networking program for business students. Curzon hopes to become an investment banking analyst upon graduation in May.

IOWA
From Sioux City 51108
Rula Andriessen, senior majoring in English, is the daughter of Roel and Deborah Andriessen and a graduate of Heelan High School. Andriessen is president of Alpha Gamma Delta sorority and has worked with Rock Chalk Revue and with Douglas County United Way in Lawrence. She is a member of Mortar Board honor society and Order of Omega, a greek leadership honor society. After graduation, she would like to work in literacy and education.

From West Des Moines 50266
Antonia “Toni” Bolger, senior majoring in marketing, is the daughter of Philip and Mary Ann Bolger and is a graduate of Valley High School. Bolger is president of Gamma Sigma Alpha, an academic honor society. She is a member of the University Dance Company, Undergraduate Business Council Marketing Club and Chi Omega sorority. Bolger has volunteered with the GaDuGi SafeCenter, a Lawrence community group working to end sexual violence through victim-survivor advocacy and support, community awareness and prevention education. She plans a career in marketing or event management.

MISSOURI
From Kansas City 64113
John Frederick Cross, senior majoring in English and French, is the son of Dennis and Peggy Cross and is a graduate of Pembroke Hill School. Cross is assistant public relations director and a substitute DJ at KJHK. He is a Student Senate member and a guest coordinator of KU for Uganda. Cross plans to work for Teach for America for two years and hopes to attend law school or graduate school focusing on public policy.

From Kansas City 64133
Ryan Cedric Rowan, senior majoring in political science and African and African-American studies with an international studies co-major, is the son of Dorri and Cedric Rowan and is a Raytown High School graduate. Rowan is president of the Big XII Council on Black Student Government and a University Advising Center peer adviser. He is a member of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity and Student Senate. He is a member-at-large for the Rock Chalk Revue advisory board. Rowan plans to earn a law degree and focus on constitutional law.

PERU
From Lima
Oswaldo “Ozzy” Bravo de los Rios, senior majoring in civil engineering, is the son of Oswaldo Bravo and Isabel de los Rios. Bravo de los Rios is marshal/editor of Chi Epsilon civil engineering honor society. He has been historian and executive vice president for the American Society of Civil Engineers and an international student ambassador for the School of Engineering. He has worked as a resident assistant and is a member of the National Residence Hall Honorary. Bravo de los Rios hopes to establish himself as a professional engineer focused on developing higher standards in design and construction for civil engineering in the United States and Peru.

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