KU News Release

Scholarship established for women student-athletes who study journalism

LAWRENCE — A new University of Kansas scholarship will provide academic scholarships to women student-athletes enrolled in the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Kansas Sen. David Wysong and his wife, Kathy, of Mission Hills have established a $100,000 endowed scholarship with KU Endowment through their Wysong Family Foundation. The first scholarship will be awarded in fall 2008.

Wysong earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism at KU in 1972. The couple have longstanding and close ties with KU’s athletics department.

“We have two daughters who have done extremely well since graduating from their respective universities,” David Wysong said. “As a graduate of KU’s J-School and a big supporter of the university’s athletic department, I wanted to give something back to both factions, in hopes that the women who receive the scholarships will excel in life after their competitive athletic careers are over.”

Ann Brill, dean of the journalism school, expressed appreciation for the Wysongs’ gift.

“We’re grateful to the Wysongs for establishing this scholarship,” Brill said. “It creates a wonderful partnership between the school and the athletic department. Having taught KU women athletes in my classes, I know they are incredibly bright and hardworking young women.”

KU Athletics Director Lew Perkins also praised the Wysongs for their support of the university.

“We very much appreciate David and Kathy’s generosity,” Perkins said. “We are grateful for their continued commitment to our student-athletes’ academic success. The Wysongs are longtime friends of KU and Kansas Athletics, and have contributed to both in many ways. This is another tremendous example of that commitment.”

The Wysongs previously had established two similar scholarship funds, one through the Advertising Club of Kansas City Foundation and the other through the I.A. O’Shaughnessy Foundation. Both scholarships benefit journalism students at KU. David Wysong is a member of the KU Endowment Board of Trustees.

The David and Kathy Wysong Scholarship in Journalism for Student Athletes fund is managed by KU Endowment, the independent, nonprofit organization serving as the official fundraising and fund-management organization for KU. Founded in 1891, KU Endowment is the first foundation of its kind at a U.S. public university.

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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.