KU News Release

KU announces banner carriers for 2009 commencement ceremony

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

As banner carriers, the 13 students will lead their fellow graduates in the traditional march down Mount Oread into Memorial Stadium at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, May 17, for KU’s 137th 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.

COFFEY COUNTY
From Lebo 66856
Eric Scott Gourley, doctor of pharmacy candidate, son of Doyle and Lori Gourley; Lebo High School; School of Pharmacy.

DOUGLAS COUNTY
From Lawrence 66047
Aric J. Naeger, master’s degree candidate in architecture; Sainte Genevieve High School; School of Architecture and Urban Planning.

JOHNSON COUNTY
From Lenexa 66215
JoAnn Stovall, master’s degree candidate in social welfare; bachelor’s degree from Ottawa University; School of Social Welfare.

From Olathe 66062
Matthew Dean Erickson, bachelor’s degree candidate in political science and journalism, son of Mark and Barbara Erickson; Olathe South High School; William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Kayla Marie Klein, bachelor's degree candidate in mechanical engineering, daughter of Ronald and Heike Klein; Olathe East High School; School of Engineering.

From Overland Park 66212
Bethany Constance Shelton, law degree candidate, daughter of Rob and Elaine Munyan; bachelor’s degree from John Brown University; School of Law.

From Overland Park 66213
Valerie A. Chapple, master’s degree candidate in education, daughter of Larry and Sharon Chapple; bachelor’s degree from KU; Olathe East High School; School of Education.

Abbey Leigh Saathoff, bachelor’s degree candidate in design and history of art, daughter of Ken and Barb Saathoff; Blue Valley Northwest High School; School of Fine Arts.

SEDGWICK COUNTY
From Wichita 67206
Joseph D. Isaac, bachelor’s degree candidate in accounting, son of Tony and Michele Isaac; Wichita Collegiate School; School of Business.

From Wichita 67208
Landon Michael Johnson, doctor of medicine candidate; bachelor’s from Fort Hays State University; School of Medicine.

From Wichita 67216
Sounithta Amanda Vilayvanh, bachelor’s degree candidate in nursing, daughter of Douang Keo Vilayvanh; Wichita High School East; School of Nursing.

NEBRASKA
From Omaha 68137
Robert J. Gordy, bachelor’s degree candidate in history, son of Jan Kennedy and Brent Gordy; Millard South High School; College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

SOUTH DAKOTA
From Arlington 57212
Carrie Elizabeth Hodges, bachelor’s degree candidate in clinical laboratory sciences, daughter of Carol Olesen; bachelor’s from South Dakota State University; Arlington Public High School 38-1; School of Allied Health.

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