14C
HOMECOMING
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN MONDAY OCTOBER 5, 2009
LEGACIES
MONDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2009
---
Family ties: Inheriting the Jayhawk gene
BY KIRSTEN KWON
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Audrey Stucky. Houston senior, attends a Kansas game with her father, Barry, a KU alumnus, Audrey's mother, Mary Sheryl, and maternal grandfather, Don, also both attended the University.
kkwon@kansan.com
Audrey Stucky, Houston senior, was one of those babies whose parents dressed her in KU jumpers. "I've been on this campus since I was little," Audrey said.
Audrey is a third-generation Jayhawk. The Stucky tradition started in 1970 when Audrey's grandfather, Don Steck, graduated. Steck raised his family in Shawnee. The legacy continued when his daughter, Sheryl, decided to study at the University, where she met Audrey's father, Barry, who is originally from Inman. The two were married in 1986 at the St. Lawrence Catholic Center, at the intersection of 15th Street and Engel Road.
"I's cool. When I lived in Templin as a freshman I'd walk by the Center and be like, 'Oh, that's where my parents were married!'$^{190}$ Audrey said.
Audrey was raised a lajayhawk fan, and sports are one of the main things over which the Stucky family bonds. As a child, Audrey's father would make her watch basketball games on TV to teach her how to play. Because her parents still
live in Texas, it isn't often they are able to make it out to Lawrence to visit, but Stucky remembers a specific football game against Kansas State that will always be a fond memory.
"It was so cold outside, we all had blue lips," Audrey
said, laughing. "My mom still talks about the $12 hot chocolates we bought."
Despite her strong Jayhawk ties, Stucky said she didn't feel any pressure to attend the University. Her parents, however, are happy she does, and she said her relationship with them was closer because they could share KU traditions. When the Stucky family can make it to town, they visit the places they remember the most, such as Potter
Lake.
"I applied to three schools in total, but as soon as I knew I was admitted to KU, everything else was wiped off the board."
"I'm sure I'll get phone calls for every touchdown," she said.
This year, Audrey will be spending homecoming without her family but plans to attend the parade and enjoy the football game.
Thomas Hiatt, Shawnee sophomore, said he's a bigger Kansas sports fan than his alumni parents. Thomas is a fourth-generation
MEREDITH CARROLL Deerfield, Ill., Senior
Jayhawk. His maternal grandmother, Dorothy Bennett, and maternal great-grandfather, Roy Bennett, led the way for the family legacy. Though his parents aren't as big of fans as he is, Thomas said they always cheered for the University in their house.
"My parents weren't huge sports followers."
he said. "But they have season tickets this year and they're coming up for the homecoming game."
Thomas briefly thought about other colleges for his education. But he quickly realized the University was the place for him. His first experience at Memorial Stadium helped him make that decision.
"I went to a KU versus Missouri game when I was freshman in high school and it made me wanna come here. I just remember a really fun
environment," Thomas said.
For Meredith Carroll, Deerfield, Ill., senior, choosing the University was a no-brainer.
"I applied to three schools in total, but as soon as I knew I was admitted to KU, everything else was wiped off the board," she said.
Eoth of Merediths parents and several of her aunts and uncles attended the University in the early 1970s. Like Meredith, her family grew up in the Chicago area before moving to Lawrence for school. Because so many relatives are alumni, cheering for the University has become a fun family experience.
"Every time there's a game day my uncle is texting me, 'Oh my gosh, did you see that?' Meredith said. "My cousin, who is only 10 years old, already says she's coming here for college."
As the Carroll family legacy continues at the University, Meredith's father Patrick Carroll said he was happy to be affiliated with the University even though it isn't exactly how he remembered it.
"Much has changed and much has stayed the same on campus," he said. "But KU has always been a great comfort for my family, and we are proud to be alumni."
Edited by Melissa Johnson
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Audrey Stucky's parents studied abroad in Egypt while attending the University, where they met. The two eventually were married at the St. Lawrence Catholic Center at 15th Street and Engel Road.
Meredith Carroll, Deerfield, IL., senior, sits with her parents, both of whom attended the University, as did several of her aunts and uncles. "My cousin, who is only 10 years old, already says she's coming here for college." Carroll said.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
FRESH START
Campus, culture attract first-generation Jayhawks
cwesteman@kansan.com
BY CORINNE WESTEMAN
When Garrett Flippin, San Francisco junior, was looking at prospective colleges, he was unable to attend some of the schools in California.
That's when Flippin learned about the University through some of his distant relatives. Strongly encouraged by his mother, he decided to tour the campus.
"I fell in love right then and there," Flippin said.
One of many first-generation Jayhawks, Flippin chose the University despite a lack of immediate family members who had previously attended the University. Flippin said he wanted a "real university feel."
"When I came to KU, it was everything I wanted," he said. "When I first saw Strong Hall, it was the type of centerpiece of a campus that I wanted to be a part of."
Stephen Doherty. Ft. Scott junior, said his need for a diverse campus is what drew him to the University.
"I wanted more diversity, because I went to smaller schools, and usually there are a bunch of
the same kind of people," Doherty said. "It's the first big school I've went to — lots more diversity and things to challenge me."
Doherty transferred to the University from Benedictine College in Atchinson. While there, he said he was surrounded by people who had many of the same opinions he did.
Here, most were people from all over the world with many different views.
Here, though, he said that there
"That's the biggest thing," Doherty said. "I want to be challenged outside of the classroom by these different opinions that I'm going to face in my everyday life and not inside
"When I came to KU,
it was everything
I wanted. When
I first saw Strong
Hall, it was the type
of centerpiece of
a campus that I wanted
to be a part of."
this little bubble that Int in at a smaller school."
In some cases, not having family members who have attended the University can make the transition harder for first-generation Jayhawks.
Flippin remembered feeling uncomfortable when he first came
GARRETT FLIPPIN San Francisco junior
to Lawrence.
"When I first heard about it and I hadn't done any research, I thought the University of Kansas would be out in the middle of the boondocks somewhere," Flippin said. "I thought I would be like the only black person on campus ... But I came here, and I found out it's a pretty diverse campus."
"I was a little lost my freshman year," Lavin said. "I guess I kind of felt like 'dorky new kid'; because most of my friends already knew what was up, and I had to have everything explained to me ... But I figured it out now."
Along with many in-state and out-of-state students, most members of the University's international student population are first-generation lavhawks.
and first-generation layhawk, admitted that her transition to the University was rocky.
Shishi Zhang, a southeast China sophomore, was very curious about KU culture upon her arrival on campus.
"Some people think there's a lot of difference between the culture here and the culture in China, and it depends on the individual."
Zhang said. "I like it." I just thought I, it just was curious. I didn't think it was weird, just interesting."
Zhang decided to attend college in the U.S. after the score on her
"Lawrence is such a great town to live in. It's got so much to offer."
final high school exam was lower than she had expected.
ERIN LAVIN
Gardner sophomore
"I was so disappointed and so were my parents," she said. "And I was not able to enter the universities I liked in China. So, I just thought that if I can change my location, where no one knows me or knows about me, I can start over."
So far, Zhang has enjoyed her time at the University. She says the best part of her experience has been the professors.
Her first semester, Zhang took an English 101 course. When she got a low score on her first essay, she decided to talk to her professor. After that, her grades in the class improved.
"The education system is more human, more flexible," Zhang said. "But if we are in China, the teachers are very strict and critical
love the professors. In the bigger classes, like 500 people compared to the 18 or 20 that I had in my other classes — like you don't even feel like you're one of 500 in there, because they do such a great job of keeping you.
"It's like your own little city," he said. "And the professors — I absolutely
of keeping you entertained"
For Doherty, the professors and the diversity of the campus have been his favorite parts of the Jayhawk experience.
Flippin had a hard time pinpointing his favorite part about being a lahayk.
"I guess it's not really one thing; it's the whole experience." Flippin said. "From sports to being in a town of people your own age to campus life."
"Lawrence is such a great town to live in," Lavin said. "it's got so much to offer. You can meet just about anybody, people from all walks of life in Lawrence. There's so many opportunities at KU to do whatever you want to do."
While they might be firstgeneration Jayhawks, Flippin and Doherty hope to pass on the KU experience to other members of their family and, potentially, to future children.
Lavin agreed that the Lawrence community is a vital part of the KU experience.
SHISHI ZHANG China sophomore
1
"Some people think there's a lot of difference between the culture here and the culture in China, and it depends on the individual. I like it."
Doherty has an older brother joining him at the University in the summer and said that he hoped to have a better experience with his brother here.
"It's an excellent school — it's great for people who've been in a small town," said Doherty "To open your eyes to the world, and get out of the cloister that you're in when you're in a small town."
Flippin said he would let his kids look at the University.
"It's not for everybody, but if they like it, sure!" Flippin said.
"It was a great decision to come here."
Doherty said he didn't regret transferring to the University.
he said. "I wish I would have come here earlier."
Edited by Abbey Strusz
}