KU News Release

LAWRENCE — At the top of her game, University of Kansas senior Danielle McCray sports a gold medal for helping lead her basketball team to victory in the USA Women’s World University Games in Belgrade, Serbia.

Rhonda LeValdo, a KU graduate student in journalism, was one of 10 college students chosen to produce a Pulitzer Center video on someone the world should know. She profiled her Acoma Pueblo grandmother in New Mexico.

Kala Stroup, KU alumna, is president of American Humanics, the only national organization that prepares undergraduate college students for professional careers in the nonprofit sector.

All are among the 23 students, faculty and alumnae whose stellar achievements are featured on the 2009-10 Women of Distinction poster-calendar that is now available.

The remarkable women are featured in seven portraits and five group photos for the calendar, which is issued by the Emily Taylor Women’s Resource Center. Groups for the seventh annual edition focus on women who work as administrative professionals or in athletics, social justice, with the environment or with resources for aging.

All have earned accolades from the campus to the national level for their outstanding contributions, innovations and performances in their respective fields.

“As we welcome KU’s first female chancellor, we are reminded of women’s essential role in bringing about significant positive change in the world,” said Kathy Rose-Mockry, program director for the Emily Taylor center. “The women featured this year are change makers who have applied their skills and talents to making a difference, looking for solutions to pressing issues and needs. We applaud them for their vision, determination and courage.”

Lori Reesor, associate vice provost for Student Success, and Mason Heilman, a senior from Lawrence and Student Senate president, will greet the women honored this year during a reception at 4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 27, at the Big 12 Room in the Kansas Union. The women were selected by a campuswide committee from nominations to the women’s resource center.

More details on each woman, including a video, will be available soon on the Emily Taylor center's Web site.

KU faculty and staff honored:

— Rosemary Kennedy Chapin, professor of social welfare and director of the Office of Aging and Long Term Care
— Alicia Clair, interim dean of the School of Music and professor of music therapy
— Nona Golledge, director of Dining Services at the Kansas Memorial Unions
— Andrea Hudy, assistant athletic director for sports performance
— Sabine B. Jones, Office of Multicultural Affairs
— Mary Klayder, University Honors Lecturer in English
— Rose Marino, associate general counsel
— Diana Robertson, director of the Department of Student Housing
— Terri Rockhold, American Studies Program

KU alumnae honored: England Porter, bachelor’s degree in environmental studies, spring 2009; and Kala M. Stroup of Lawrence, president of American Humanics, bachelor’s in speech and drama, master’s in educational psychology and doctorate in speech communication and human relations, all from KU.

Calendars are free, although donations are accepted. They are available at numerous locations, including the Kansas Union bookstores in Lawrence and the bookstores at the KU Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan., and the Edwards Campus in Overland Park. Other Lawrence campus locations include the Student Involvement and Leadership Center in the Kansas Union, on-campus housing facilities and various university departments.

Students featured on this year’s calendar are listed below by hometown, major and, when available, parents’ names and high schools.

DOUGLAS COUNTY
From Lawrence 66044 and Grants, N.M.
Rhonda LeValdo, master’s degree student in journalism; bachelor’s in journalism from KU, fall 2006; Alhambra High School, Phoenix, Ariz.

JACKSON COUNTY
From Hoyt 66440 and Topeka
Chelsea Mertz, senior in political science with minors in classics and Latin, daughter of Max Mertz; Topeka High School.

JOHNSON COUNTY
From Olathe 66061
Sylvia Dawn Niccum, master’s student in curriculum and instruction and teaching English to speakers of other languages, daughter of Seana Niccum; bachelor’s degree in foreign language education from KU, spring 2009; Olathe Northwest High School.

From Olathe 66062
Danielle McCray, senior in communication studies, daughter of Ellareese Murray; Olathe East High School.

From Overland Park 66213
Valerie Chapple, master’s degree student in curriculum and instruction, daughter of Larry and Sharon Chapple; bachelor’s degree in secondary education (physics) from KU, fall 2008; Olathe East High School.

From Shawnee 66216
Katie Martincich, senior in sports management and marketing, daughter of Eric and Mary Jo Martincich; Bishop Miege High School, Roeland Park.

RENO COUNTY
From Hutchinson 67501
Mary Duarte, senior in neurobiology, daughter of Joseph Duarte and Concha Duarte; Trinity Catholic High School.

From Hutchinson 67502
Lauren Bonds, senior in history and Spanish, daughter of Lisa Bonds; bachelor’s degrees in political science and international studies from KU, fall 2009; Hutchinson Senior High School.

SEDGWICK COUNTY
From Derby 67037
Margaret Tran, senior in economics and environmental studies, daughter of Chinh and Lan Tran; Derby High School.

SHAWNEE COUNTY
From Topeka 66609 and Hoyt
Chelsea Mertz. See JACKSON COUNTY

From Topeka 66610
Elise Higgins, senior in political science and women’s studies, daughter of Jonathan and Toni Farrell-Higgins; Washburn Rural High School.

NEW MEXICO
From Grants 87020 and Lawrence, Kan.
Rhonda LeValdo. See DOUGLAS COUNTY

TEXAS
From Denison 75020
Veronica Nieto, fifth-year pharmacy student, daughter of Javier and Magdalena Nieto; Denison Senior High School.

NIGERIA
From Aba, Abia State and Lagos
Mary Orieji Mba, doctoral student in French literature; master’s degree from Kansas State University.