KU News Release

LAWRENCE — The William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Kansas recently recognized 124 outstanding students with more than $400,000 in scholarships and awards.

“Our donors are making a difference in the lives of our students,” said Ann Brill, dean of journalism. “After the ceremony, a future KU student and her mother told me that without the scholarship, college was only a dream. Now, thanks to a generous donor, her dream could be her reality.”

Students were honored during the school’s annual awards ceremony April 26. A total of 103 students received $395,000 in scholarships. Named awards totaling $7,600 were given to 21 outstanding journalism students.

Journalism students must apply to be eligible for scholarships. Scholarship recipients were selected by a committee of faculty and staff members from the journalism school.

Awards are established in honor of faculty members or graduates of the school. Award recipients are chosen by the journalism school faculty members in the specialty represented by the award.

— Mel Adams Award, for student leadership in strategic communication
— Sharon Bass Award, for an outstanding magazine student
— John Bremner Award, for excellence in copy editing
— Brill-Schmitz Award, for excellent and effective journalism skills in service to the community
— Walter Ewert Award, for outstanding reporting on the University Daily Kansan
— Gerald Funk Award, for outstanding magazine writing
— John Katich Award, for outstanding students in broadcast journalism
— Dean’s Award, for an outstanding student who has been selected to carry the school’s banner at KU’s Commencement ceremony
— Diane Lazzarino Award, for an outstanding student in strategic communication
— Dana Leibengood Award, for an outstanding senior in public relations
— Bruce Linton Award, for an outstanding graduate student who specializes in broadcast
— Rick Musser Multimedia Award, for an outstanding student who specializes in multimedia
— Calder Pickett Award, for an outstanding graduate student
— Don Pierce Award, for outstanding sports writing on the University Daily Kansan
— Angelo C. Scott Memorial Award, for outstanding work on the University Daily Kansan
— Gene Slais Award, for an outstanding senior in broadcast news
— Sullivan, Higdon and Sink Award, for an outstanding senior in strategic communication
— Trivadi Award for Excellence in Writing, for a graduate student with exceptional writing and contributions to a newspaper or magazine

Funds for awards and scholarships are made possible by private donations to KU Endowment, the independent, nonprofit organization serving as the official fundraising and fund-management organization for KU. Founded in 1891, KU Endowment was the first foundation of its kind at a U.S. public university.

Student award winners are listed by below hometown, level in school, major, parents’ names, high school, and awards.

COWLEY COUNTY
From Winfield 67156
Alyssa Lane Steffen, senior in journalism; daughter of Rodger and Marcie Steffen; Winfield High School; Dana Leibengood Award.

DOUGLAS COUNTY
From Lawrence 66044
Shaun D. Hittle; graduate student in journalism; Bruce Linton Award.

From Lawrence 66047
Michael Allen Moore, senior in journalism; Baldwin High School; John Katich Award.

DICKINSON COUNTY
From Abilene 67410
Alicia Marie Facklam, senior in journalism; daughter of Karen and Duane Facklam; Abilene High School; Sullivan Higdon & Sink Award.

JOHNSON COUNTY
From Lenexa 66227
William Jayson Jenks, sophomore in liberal arts; son of Holly Soptick; Shawnee Mission Northwest High School; Don Pierce Award.

From Olathe 66061
Andrea Lauren Olsen, senior in journalism; daughter of Matthew and Colleen Olsen; Olathe Northwest High School; Gerald Funk Award.

From Overland Park 66213
Gordon Allen Alloway, senior in journalism; Calder Pickett Award.

Clinton Richard Armistead, senior in journalism; son of Julie and Lance Armistead; Blue Valley Northwest High School; Brill-Schmitz Award.

MIAMI COUNTY
From Osawatomie 66064
Michael E. Smith, senior in journalism; son of Ronald and Roanda Smith; Osawatomie Senior High School; Gene Slais Award.

SEDGWICK COUNTY
From Derby 67037
Jennifer Lynne Torline, senior in journalism; daughter of Lori and John Torline; Bishop Carroll High School; Angelo C. Scott Memorial Award.

From Wichita 67212
Lauren Ray Keith, senior in journalism and environmental studies; daughter of David and Billie Keith; Maize High School; John Bremner Award.

From Wichita 67220
Carnez D. Williams, senior in journalism; son of Kevass and Teketa Harding; Northeast Magnet School; Dean’s Award.

SHAWNEE COUNTY
From Silver Lake 66539
Lauren Cunningham, senior in journalism; daughter of Kim and Alan Cunningham; Silver Lake Junior-Senior High School; Rick Musser Multimedia Award.

From Topeka 66610
Alyson M. Van Dyke, senior in journalism; daughter of Carol Hille; Washburn Rural High School; Walter Ewert Award.

WYANDOTTE COUNTY
From Kansas City 66109
Alexandra Caroline Garry, junior in journalism; daughter of Angela Garrison; Piper High School; Sharon Bass Award.

ARIZONA
From Scottsdale 85255
Kirsten Marie Hudson, senior in journalism; daughter of Celia Galloway; Wichita High School North; Gerald Funk Award.

GEORGIA
From Roswell 30075
Sarah Lynn Bluvas, senior in journalism; daughter of Karen and Joseph Bluvas; Roswell High School; Gerald Funk Award.

NEBRASKA
From Kearney 68845
Allyson Dawn Nienhueser, junior in journalism; daughter of Kevin and Nikki Nienhueser; Kearney High School; Mel Adams Award.

TEXAS
From Longview 75605
Adriane Kaye Jewett, graduate student in journalism; Trivadi Award for Excellence in Writing.

WISCONSIN
From Green Bay 54313
Alexander Craig Dufek, senior in journalism; son of Amy and Craig Dufek; Notre Dame Academy; Diane Lazzarino Award.

BRAZIL
From Belo Horizonte
Patrick Sullivan De Oliveira, senior in journalism and history; son of Luiz Carlos and Pat Sullivan De Oliveira; Gerald Funk Award.