KU News Release

Jan. 14, 2009
Contact: Mary Jane Dunlap, University Relations, (785) 864-8853.

KU faculty, students plan to join historic inauguration and Day of Service events

LAWRENCE — Several faculty, staff and students from the University of Kansas are planning to participate in the presidential inauguration next week either by attending events in Washington, D.C., or working in Kansas for this year’s Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service.

KU faculty planning to attend events in Washington, D.C., include

— Barbara Ballard, associate director of the Dole Institute of Politics and a Democratic state representative from Lawrence’s 44th district
— Maryemma Graham, professor of English
— Jonathan Earle, associate director of the Dole Institute of Politics and an associate professor of history
— Teresa Leslie-Canty, lecturer in African and African-American studies
— Andrew Torrance, associate professor of law
— Bud Stallworth, business manager for Design and Construction Management and KU alumnus
— Frances Gorman, communications coordinator for the School of Business and KU alumna
— Leslie Tuttle, assistant professor of history
— Marianne Berry, professor of social welfare and president of  University Senate

KU students planning to attend inaugural events in Washington are listed below by their hometown.

Not all the action will be in Washington, D.C.

President-elect Barack Obama has called on Americans nationwide to join in the inaugural events by serving in their communities on Jan. 19, the Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service.

Obama and vice president-elect Joe Biden are planning to participate in community service, along with thousands of others across the country, according to two KU students working on the Kansas committee for the Presidential Inaugural Committee.

Sara Shannon, a senior from Ottawa, is Kansas director for the Presidential Inaugural Committee. She is coordinating hosts for service events in Kansas. Cities with projects include Andover, Burlington, Emporia, Fort Scott, Greensburg, Hutchinson, Lawrence, Manhattan, Minneapolis, Ottawa, Paola, Salina, Strong City and Wichita, as well as in the greater Kansas City area. Many cities will host more than one project. More information is available online at www.usaservice.org.

“You can volunteer any time, but the president-elect is making community service part of his inauguration,” Shannon said. “Our biggest event will be in Greensburg. Housing is available on a first-come first-serve basis, and volunteers will help with construction projects all across the city from Jan. 17 through 19.”

Amanda Pierce, a junior from Lawrence, is college director for the national event in Kansas. She is contacting student leaders at universities and colleges throughout the state to coordinate service opportunities.

At KU, a citywide clothing and food drive is being co-sponsored by Chelsea Mertz, the Center for Community Outreach and Delta Force, a student organization. Volunteers will work in shifts at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Kansas Union to take donations.

Shannon and Pierce are members of a state committee for the Presidential Inaugural Committee, which includes KU students Lauren Patti, Roeland Park junior, and John Arthur “Jack” Conner, Overland Park senior. Mertz and John F. Cross, a spring 2008 KU graduate, are regional leaders for the committee.

“This is a wonderful opportunity reach out to your neighbors and work toward the common goal of helping Kansas communities,” Shannon said. “I hope this is just the beginning of an ongoing commitment to making Kansas the best it can be.”

In 1994, Congress transformed Martin Luther King Jr. Day into a day of service. This year, with the presidential inauguration taking place the following day, Obama is encouraging Americans to make an ongoing commitment to their communities. The call to commitment is in the spirit of coming together to tackle the common challenges faced by all Americans.

More information about the National Day of Service is available online www.usaservice.org/content/home/. The Web site uses ZIP codes to locate events in each state.

The names of some students planning to attend presidential inauguration events or who are working with the Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service are listed below by their hometowns. The list may grow as students return to campus on Thursday, Jan. 15, when the spring term begins.

BUTLER COUNTY
From Andover 67002
Briana Saunders, junior in African and African-American studies, daughter of Floyd and Jane Saunders; Maxwell International Baha'i School, British Columbia, Canada. She is a former intern for Obama for America. She is attending the inauguration ceremonies in Washington, D.C. and will represent Kansas as a campaign volunteer at the "We the People" Gala.

DOUGLAS COUNTY
From Lawrence 66049
Mason Heilman, senior in secondary education (history and government), son of Steve and Sally Heilman; Lawrence Free State High School; Student Executive Committee chair. He is attending inauguration ceremonies in Washington, D.C.

Andrew J. “Drew” Rosdahl, senior in liberal arts and sciences; son of Laurence and Shelly Rosdahl and Margaret and Dennis McNiel; Jefferson County North High School, Winchester. Rosdahl earned a bachelor’s degree in art history from KU in spring 2004 and works as an information specialist at KU’s Life Span Institute. He will be working with high school students attending the Presidential Inaugural Conference. He has created a blog for the inaugural events: Drewbot.wordpress.com.

Amanda Ashley Pierce, junior in human biology, daughter of Kerry and Mary Lou Pierce; Lawrence Free State High School. She is the Kansas coordinator for university and college leaders for Martin Luther King Jr. Day of National Service.

ELLIS COUNTY
From Hays 67601
Kyle Christopher Werth, sophomore in human biology, son of Tim and Marilyn Werth; Thomas More Prep High School. He is a delegate to the University Presidential Inaugural Conference. He is attending inauguration ceremonies in Washington, D.C.

FRANKLIN COUNTY
From Ottawa 66067
Sara Shannon, senior in political science, daughter of Daniel and Patricia Shannon; Ottawa High School. She is Kansas director for the Presidential Inaugural Committee.

JACKSON COUNTY
From Hoyt 66440 and Topeka
Chelsea J. Mertz, junior in political science, daughter of Lila Mertz of Hoyt and Max Mertz of Topeka; Topeka High School. At KU, Mertz is co-chair of Concerned Active and Aware Students. She is one of the organizers of the clothing drive in Lawrence, is a regional leader for the Kansas Presidential Inauguration committee and will be attending inauguration ceremonies in Washington, D.C.

JOHNSON COUNTY
From Mission 66202
Melissa Anne Footlick, senior in communications studies, daughter of Brian and Connie Footlick; Shawnee Mission East High School graduate; is attending  inaugural events in  Washington, D.C.

From Overland Park 66213
John Arthur “Jack” Connor, senior in journalism (strategic communications), son of John and Cynthia Connor of Overland Park; Rockhurst High School. He serves on the state committee for the Presidential Inaugural Committee to plan Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service events in Kansas.

From Roeland Park 66205
Lauren Patti, junior in sociology and philosophy, daughter of Kevin and Laura Patti; Bishop Miege High School. She serves on the state committee for the Presidential Inaugural Committee to plan Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service events in Kansas.

RENO COUNTY
From Buhler 67522
Michael Gray, junior in biochemistry, son of Doug Gray and Doris Coats-Gray; Buhler High School; Student Senate legislative director. He is attending inauguration ceremonies in Washington, D.C.

RILEY COUNTY
From Manhattan 66503
Andrea Peterson, junior in political science and East Asian languages and cultures, daughter of Dallas and Susan Peterson; Manhattan High School. She is the constituent services staff assistant in U.S. Rep. Dennis Moore's Lawrence district office and a former Obama for America intern. She will be attending inauguration ceremonies in Washington, D.C.

SEDGWICK COUNTY
From Wichita 67204
Adam McGonigle, junior in journalism (strategic communication), son of Eric and Robin McGonigle; Wichita High School North; student body president. He is attending inauguration ceremonies in Washington, D.C.

SHAWNEE COUNTY
From Topeka 66609 and Hoyt
Chelsea J. Mertz. SEE JACKSON COUNTY

SHERMAN COUNTY
From Goodland 67735
Michael Wade Smith, junior in liberal arts and sciences, son of Reggie and Celia Smith; Goodland High School; Student Senate deputy communications director. He is attending inauguration ceremonies in Washington, D.C.

COLORADO
From Golden
Meagan Sioban Kiser, junior in education, daughter of Randal and Paula Kiser; Monarch High School, Louisville, Colo. She is a delegate to the University Presidential Inaugural Conference.

PHILIPPINES
From Manila
Alison “Ali” Rose Spencer Zeigler, junior in economics, daughter of Robert and Crissan Zeigler; Brent International School. She is a co-director of KU’s Center for Community Outreach.

-30-

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.

kunews@ku.edu | (785) 864-3256 | 1314 Jayhawk Blvd., Lawrence, KS 66045