KU News Release

Dole Institute announces 2008 public service scholarship recipients

LAWRENCE — The Dole Institute of Politics at the University of Kansas has announced 128 new Sen. Robert J. Dole Public Service Scholars for the 2008-09 academic year.

The program recognizes graduating Kansas high school students who have volunteered in their communities and maintained a 3.0 GPA. The 2008 recipients received a $1,000 scholarship, renewable up to three years with a commitment of completing 100 hours of civic activities annually.

“The Dole Institute of Politics provides diverse opportunities for Dole Scholars to become involved in civic engagement and stimulate interest in public service,” said Barbara Ballard, director of the scholarship program and associate director of the institute. “Public service is an honorable profession, and hopefully the scholarships will encourage students to pursue public service as a career.”

The new scholars will enroll this fall at one of the six Kansas Board of Regents universities or Washburn University in Topeka. Regents universities are KU, Emporia State University, Fort Hays State University, Kansas State University, Pittsburg State University and Wichita State University.

Aligned with the primary mission of the Dole Institute, the scholarship program encourages young Kansans to get involved in politics, government and community service.

“Part of the Dole Institute’s primary mission is to encourage young people to get involved in politics, government and community service,” said Bill Lacy, director of the institute. “Our goal is to improve the public service capacities of future public officials and help students understand the challenges, and rewards, of public life. We are encouraged that so many outstanding young people from across Kansas have chosen to make public service a part of their lives.”

The scholarship program began with a federal grant that funded 40 scholarships each in 2005 and in 2006. In 2007, a total of 128 scholarships were awarded. The 2008-09 class also consists of 128 scholars. Funded by NASA, the scholarships are distributed among the state’s four congressional districts to ensure the broadest statewide participation.

The Dole Public Service Scholarship is administered by Scholarship Management Services, a department of Scholarship America, a national nonprofit educational support and student aid service organization that seeks to involve and assist the private sector in expanding educational opportunities and encouraging educational achievement. Awards are granted without regard to race, color, creed, religion, gender, disability or national origin.

Ballard formally announced the new scholars during a luncheon program at the Dole Institute. The scholars and their guests received a surprise phone call from Dole, who offered his congratulatory remarks to the scholars. Greetings were offered by President of the Kansas Board of Regents Reggie Robinson, Vice Provost for Student Success Marlesa Roney, Lawrence City Commissioner Sue Hack and Lacy. The luncheon’s keynote speaker was Paul Buskirk, associate athletics director for Student Athlete Support Services. The scholars were individually recognized and presented with a Dole Scholars lapel pin.

The new scholars are listed below by hometown, Kansas Congressional District, university they will attend and intended major.

To see more student data, use the scroll bar at the end of the table or use left and right arrow keys.

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