KU News Release

KU announces banner carriers for 2008 commencement ceremony

LAWRENCE — University of Kansas students who have excelled academically have been selected to carry banners for KU’s 12 schools and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences during commencement next month.

As banner carriers, those 13 students, in addition to four senior class officers carrying the Class of 2008 banners, will lead their fellow graduates in the traditional march down Mount Oread into Memorial Stadium at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, May 18, for KU’s 136th commencement.

Banner carriers will join university officials on a platform in the stadium for the ceremonial conferring of degrees.

Banner carriers first became a part of KU commencement activities in spring 1908, according to the late Robert Taft, a KU chemistry professor from 1922 to 1955 and author of “Across the Years on Mount Oread,” published in 1941.

The students are listed below by hometown, major, parents’ names, previous schools attended and KU school they are representing or class office held.

DICKINSON COUNTY
From Solomon 67480
Jay Montgomery, doctor of medicine degree candidate, son of Kent and LaVeda Montgomery; bachelor’s degree in biology from KU, spring 2004; Solomon High School; School of Medicine.

DOUGLAS COUNTY
From Baldwin City 66006
Rachel Miles, bachelor’s degree candidate in accounting and business administration, daughter of David and Deanna Miles; Baldwin High School; School of Business.

From Lawrence 66046, Lake Quivira and New York, N.Y.
Adam Davis, juris doctor candidate, son of Jackie Davis of New York, N.Y., and Mike and Faye Davis of Lake Quivira; bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina; Lawrence High School; School of Law.

From Lawrence 66047
Kailey Mesler, bachelor’s degree candidate in nursing, daughter of Scott and Melinda Mesler; Lawrence High School; School of Nursing.

Sampson Bedru Yimer, bachelor’s degree candidate in sport science with a minor in business, son of Bedru and Nada Yimer; Lawrence High School; School of Education.

HARVEY COUNTY
From Newton 67114
Stephanie Gomez, senior in human biology and Spanish, daughter of Steve and Diana Gomez; Newton High School; senior class treasurer.

JOHNSON COUNTY
From Lake Quivira 66217, Lawrence and New York, N.Y.
Adam Davis. See DOUGLAS COUNTY

From Overland Park 66214
Shanxi Jennifer Upsdell, bachelor’s degree candidate in English and journalism and mass communications (news and information), daughter of David and Mel Upsdell; William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

From Prairie Village 66207
Ellen Stolle, bachelor’s degree candidate in biochemistry and biology preparing to study medicine, daughter of Calvin and Susan Stolle; Shawnee Mission East High School; senior class secretary.

LANE COUNTY
From Dighton 67839
Nick Weiser, bachelor’s degree candidate in piano, son of Richard and Linda Weiser; Dighton High School; School of Fine Arts.

SALINE COUNTY
From Assaria 67416
Amanda Sue Ziegler, bachelor’s degree candidate in architectural engineering, daughter of Randy and Julie Ziegler; Southeast of Saline High School, Gypsum; School of Engineering.

SHAWNEE COUNTY
From Topeka 66605
Brian Jones, bachelor’s degree candidate in social welfare, Topeka High School; School of Social Welfare.

THOMAS COUNTY
From Levant 67743
Robert Tubbs, doctor of pharmacy degree candidate, son of Ray and Julie Tubbs; Brewster High School; School of Pharmacy.

WYANDOTTE COUNTY
From Kansas City 66103
Hugo Arnulfo Cabrera, bachelor’s degree candidate in architecture, son of Javier and Carmelina Cabrera; J.C. Harmon High School; School of Architecture and Urban Planning.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
From Washington 20015
Christina Fernandez, bachelor’s degree candidate in economics and political science, daughter of Maria Fernandez; College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

MISSOURI
From Springfield 65809
Whitney Gallagher, senior in psychology, daughter of Rick and Gena Gallagher; Springfield Catholic High School; senior class vice president.

NEW YORK
From New York 10023 and Lake Quivira and Lawrence, Kan.
Adam Davis. See DOUGLAS COUNTY

OKLAHOMA
From Edmond 73013
Ryan Northup, bachelor’s degree candidate in human biology with concentration in psychology, son of John and Jean Northup; Edmond Memorial High School; senior class president.

SINGAPORE
Hui Lin Lam, bachelor’s degree candidate in respiratory care; daughter of Wooi Chin Lam; Singapore-Cambridge A-Level School; School of Allied Health.

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