KU News Release

LAWRENCE — Ten finalists have been selected for the 20th annual Excellence in Community, Education and Leadership Awards at the University of Kansas.

The finalists, all seniors, will be recognized during a private reception Friday, Oct. 22, at the Adams Alumni Center and will participate in the homecoming parade at 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23, along Jayhawk Boulevard.

Two winners, one male and one female, will be announced during halftime of the KU-Texas A&M homecoming football game Oct. 23 at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is 6 p.m.

The Ex.C.E.L. Award provides an annual $500 scholarship to two students. The winners will plan a leadership conference during the spring semester in conjunction with KU’s Student Involvement and Leadership Center.

Nominees were selected on the basis of leadership, effective communication skills, involvement at KU and in the Lawrence community, academic scholarship and ability to work with a variety of students and organizations. The selection committee included representatives from Student Union Activities, the Board of Class Officers, the Student Involvement and Leadership Center and the Homecoming Steering Committee.

The award was established and first given in 1991 to recognize one male and one female student for achievement and to add student interest to annual homecoming festivities.

Names of winners are listed on a plaque on the fifth level of the Kansas Union.

To be eligible, applicants must be full-time undergraduate students with an overall grade-point average of 3.0 or higher. Each finalist completed an application and participated in an interview. The finalists and brief highlights of their campus achievements are listed below.

BUTLER COUNTY
From Andover 67002
Emily Diane Hooker, psychology, is a Ronald E. McNair Post Baccalaureate Achievement Program Scholar, a Dean’s Scholar (the program is for outstanding minority students preparing for graduate school) and a Multicultural Scholar in KU’s Multicultural Scholar Program. Hooker serves as manager for KU’s Health Psychology Lab and volunteers as a tutor for Upward Bound. She is interested in teaching at the university level and plans to pursue a graduate degree in social and health psychology. She is the daughter of Sheila Hooker and Dave Hooker and is a graduate of Andover Central High School.

DOUGLAS COUNTY
From Lawrence 66049
Alejandro Jonathan Sabillon, communication studies, is senior class treasurer and works as the assistant coordinator for comedy and music for Student Union Activities. He is the saxophone section leader for the Marching Jayhawks band and is the founder of KZOO, a volunteer outreach program for the campus and community to foster appreciation and support for all animals. He is the son of Alejandro and Waldina Sabillon and a Lawrence Free State High School graduate.

JOHNSON COUNTY
From Leawood 66209
Christopher Mark Campbell, biology, is executive producer of Rock Chalk Revue, a annual benefit show staged by greek organizations. Campbell is the vice president for educational affairs and scholarship for the Interfraternity Council and chairs the Outstanding Educator selection committee for KU’s Mortar Board chapter. He works as a teaching assistant in biology and was a site leader for an Alternative Breaks site in New Orleans. After graduation, Campbell plans to attend medical school. He is the son of Mary and John Campbell and a graduate of Rockhurst High School, Kansas City, Mo.

From Overland Park 66206
Kelly M. Unger, sociology, is senior class president and president of the KU Blood Drive Committee. She is a member of Kappa Delta sorority and Mortar Board national honor society. Unger volunteers with the local Boys and Girls Club. After graduation, she plans to pursue a master’s degree in public administration. She is the daughter of Dave and Joan Unger and a graduate of St. Thomas Aquinas High School.

NORTON COUNTY
From Lenora 67645
Mathew James Lawrence Shepard, economics and environmental studies, is president of the KU chapter of Mortar Board honor society and vice president of the senior class. Shepard is the Homecoming Steering Committee parade co-chair. He was president of the All Scholarship Hall Council for 2009-10. After graduation, Shepard plans to enroll in graduate school to earn a degree in higher education administration. He is a graduate of Norton High School.

SALINE COUNTY
From Assaria 67416 and Salina 67401
Alexander R. Earles, communication studies and political science, is a student senator and serves on the Student Legislative Awareness Board. Earles is a member of Delta Lambda Phi fraternity. Earles has served on the Dole Institute Student Advisory Board since his freshman year. He plans to attend law school following his graduation. He is the son of Robin Earles and Peter Earles and is a graduate of Southeast Saline Senior High School in Gypsum.

SEDGWICK COUNTY
From Mulvane 67110
Caitlin Maureen Wise, management and leadership, is director of the 2010 Homecoming Steering Committee and president of KU’s Panhellenic Association. Wise has served as vice president for social standards for Delta Gamma sorority. She works as an orientation assistant for New Student Orientation and is a member of the KU chapter of Mortar Board honor society. Following her graduation at KU, Wise plans to pursue a graduate degree in higher education administration. She is the daughter of Jackie and Forrest Wise and a Mulvane High School graduate.

From Wichita 67205 and Alameda, Calif.
Tonia Nicole Salas, human biology, is associate director for business operations for the KU Dance Marathon. Salas is a peer leadership consultant for Ascend KU, a comprehensive program to develop student leadership skills and is the undergraduate leadership coordinate for KU’s Student Involvement and Leadership Center. She is a member of KU’s chapter of Mortar Board honor society. She is the daughter of daughter of Pedro Salas and Joanne Collier and a graduate of Maize High School.

SHERMAN COUNTY
From Goodland 67735
Michael Wade Smith, American studies and English, is student body president. Smith is on the senior advisory board for KU’s Board of Class Officers and on the dean’s student advisory board for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. His plans following graduation include earning a doctorate in political communications and continuing to work as a professional motivational speaker. He is the son of Celia Smith and a Goodland High School graduate.

CALIFORNIA
From Alameda 94501 and Wichita, Kan.
Tonia Nicole Salas. SEE SEDGWICK COUNTY

COLORADO
From Aurora 80015
Abigail Lee Rimel, mechanical engineering, is a student senator and team leader for Jayhawk Motorsports, the School of Engineering’s Formula SAE competition team. Rimel is a Madison and Lila Self Engineering Leadership Fellow and an ambassador for the School of Engineering. She is a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. She is the daughter of David and Cindy Rimel and a graduate of Smoky Hill High School.