THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2009
HOMECOMING 5C
CHARITY
Students stuff bus for the United Way
BY KRISTEN VERMEIRE kvermeire@kansan.com
Homecoming Week is traditionally an eventful time on campus and this year proves to be no different. Students collected cans and strapped on sneakers this weekend for the University's two major charity events: Stuff the Bus
and Jayhawk Jog.
Stuff the Bus was a nonperishable food drive in which students literally stuffed a KU bus. Registered groups received points for participating in the competition.
The event was held from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday. The bus-fills of food were donated to the United
Way of Douglas County.
Last year, the bus rolled away with 9,700 canned food items worth more than $10,000.
Justin Sailer, campus outreach co-chairman for the 2009 Homecoming Steering Committee, said participants were not only benefiting the University, but the
Lawrence community, too.
"Students are able to do something well for others and participate in a homecoming event with KU spirit," Sailer said.
Another way students got involved while benefiting the United Way was by joining in the Jayhawk Jog. The 5K run/walk
took place on Sunday at 2 p.m., beginning at the Kansas Union. A registration fee of $15 for students included a 2009 homecoming T-shirt and a donation.
Caitlin Wise, Jayhawk Jog chairwoman, said participation in such an event was noteworthy on more than one level.
"It's a great way to show your support for KU homecoming, donate money to a worthwhile cause and gain points towards Homecoming Week," Wise said.
Plus you'll get to burn some calories while you're at it."
Edited by Betsy Cutcliff
ACHIEVEMENT
Ex.C.E.L. Award celebrates students' involvement in academics, community
BY CAROLINE BLEDOWSKI
cbledowski@kansan.com
When Nathan Mack, 2009 graduate, first learned that he won the Excellence in Community, Education and Leadership Award last October, it was halftime at the homecoming football game, and thousands of KU students cheered and clapped as his name was called.
"I was very surprised that I actually won," Mack said a year later. "It was neat, too, because I could hear my friends cheering with the fans at the football game."
The Ex.C.E.L. Award is an
Mack is now an admissions counselor for the University. He said that the award helped him make connections on campus.
annual tradition of the University's Homecoming Week that began in 1991. It rewards students who demonstrate outstanding performance in class work, extracurricular activities and engagement in the KU and Lawrence community. The award comes with a $500 scholarship and an invitation to participate in the Blueprint Leadership Conference in the spring semester. Every year, one male and one female student at the University receives the award at the homecoming football game.
"Instead of having something artificial like the homecoming queen or king, we have the Ex.C.E.L. award." Stefani Gerson, coordinator of Student Programs at the Alumni Association, said.
The University discontinued the homecoming queen tradition in 1970 in order to focus more on academics.
To be eligible for the Ex.C.E.L. Award, undergraduate students must be enrolled full-time at the University and have an overall grade point average of at least 3.0 and have completed 90 credit hours. Furthermore, the committee asks that applicants show significant skills in leadership, communication and interaction with a wide variety of students and organizations.
This year Mack will be on the selection committee as one of last year's winners.
"It's important to be rather intentional about what you decide to do and how you decide to
apply after your college career, Mack said. "Incorporate academic service, involvement, leadership opportunities and bring all that stuff in some sort of cohesive unit that defines who you are and defines your contribution to your community."
Apart from Mack, the Ex.C.E.L. selection committee consists of representatives from the Homecoming Steering Committee, the Student Union Activities, the Student Involvement and Leadership Center and the Board of Class Officers.
"The award is sponsored by several different organizations on campus, so there is a representative from each department." Gerson said.
The award doesn't only rewards students for their good academic and leadership skills. Rachel Burchfield, one of last year's winners, was particularly well-suited because of her involvement in improving the KU and Lawrence experience. As well as participating in numerous school-sponsored activities, she was a new student orientation assistant and worked with KU Info.
"I really wanted to make a difference and make a positive impact," Burchfield said.
One of the key components of an Ex.C.E.L. Award winner is their involvement in activities on and around campus.
"It's a commitment to the University and to leadership and to bettering KU." Burchfield said.
"The ideal candidate is someone who loves leadership and loves to read and loves to help out."
Burchfield graduated from the University in May and is now pursuing a master's degree of higher education administration at the University of Mississippi, Oxford. She is uncertain about the possibility of returning to Lawrence.
"I'm very happy down here in Mississippi and I really like Oxford and I really like Ole Miss. But I'll never say never to coming back to KU," she said. "Overall, winning and getting the Blueprint Leadership Conference is a great addition to an application. It was a great experience."
Edited by Betsy Cutcliff