KANSAN.COM / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2011 / NEWS /
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ENDOWMENT
Celebrations for major donor's 150th birthday
Elizabeth Watkins was one of KU's biggest donors, contributing more than $30 million
BY CHRISTINE CURTIN ccurtin@kansan.com
KU students have access to different campus buildings and resources to further their higher education thanks to generous contributions from public and private donors. Starting this weekend, the University will celebrate the 150th birthday of Elizabeth Watkins, one of its most generous donors.
According to Rosita ElizaldeMcCoy, KU Endowment senior vice president for communications and marketing, Watkins' donations have funded Lawrence Memorial Hospital, Watkins Memorial Health Center, Miller and Watkins Scholarship Halls, and have also funded 23,000 acres of land. Watkins also donated her home to the University, which is now where the University's chancellor resides. Between these contributions and others, Watkins has donated more than $30 million to the University.
However, Watkins didn't grow up in a wealthy family. She wasn't able to attend college, which inspired her to help other young adults achieve what she couldn't.
She was especially concerned with higher education for women.
"She inherited the wealth from her husband, and after he passed away she wanted to make sure young women had the opportunity to get a college education," Elizalde-McCoy said. "So that was a big passion of hers—education for young people, but especially women."
Elizalde-McCoy says she hopes that by the University honoring Watkins' birthday and her lasting impression, students will become more aware of the power of one person, and that her donations still affect them today.
Elizabeth Watkins, one of the University of Kansas' most generous donors. Watkins has donated money to Watkins Memorial Health Center, Miller and Watkins Scholarship halls,and Lawrence Memorial Hospital. Photo courtesy SPENCER RESEARCH LIBRARY
Residents of Watkins Scholarship Hall also have activities planned for this weekend, including an annual alumni tea. But, the women say they don't just honor Watkins' legacy during this time of year.
"To live here, you have a strong sense of history and a strong sense of why we're here," Emily Katz, a sophomore from Overland Park, said.
Different events celebrating
Photo courtesy SPENCER RESEARCH LIBRARY
Watkins' birthday will start Saturday and continue through next week.
Edited by Erin Wilbert
For a schedule of the events, visit www.kuendowment.org.
Two airplanes clip each other at JFK
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK — A wing of an Airbus A380, the world's biggest commercial passenger jet, clipped the tail of another plane while taxiing out to depart John F. Kennedy International Airport on Monday night.
There were no injuries when the Air France super jumbo jet touched the other plane at 8:09 p.m., Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Jim Peters said.
Air France Flight 7, bound for Paris, was taxing on a runway when its left wingtip struck the tail of Comair Flight 6293, which had just landed from Boston and was taxing to its gate at Kennedy, one of the nation's busiest airports. Peters said
Both jets were being towed to a ramp area for inspection, Peters said. The extent of the damage was unknown.
The FAA didn't immediately say how many people were on the double-deck Airbus A380, which can carry 525 passengers in a three-class configuration or more than 850 in a single-class configuration. Air France didn't immediately return a telephone message.
The Comair CRJ 700 Regionat Jet was carrying 62 passengers and four crew members, said Betsy
Talton, a spokeswoman of Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines Inc., for which Comair operates regional flights. All the passengers were taken off the plane and into a terminal, she said.
ers occurred last year, when a Rolls-Royce engine on a Qantas A380 disintegrated shortly after takeoff from Singapore, prompting Qantas to temporarily ground its fleet. A preliminary report blamed the massive engine failure on an oil leak.
The most serious safety scare for the world's largest and newest jetlin-
State and Local Laws Discouraging Illegal Immigration: Their Economic and Security Impact
J.A. VICKERS, SR. AND ROBERT F.
VICKERS, SR. MEMORIAL LECTURE SERIES
THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS PRESENTS
TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2011 - 7:00 P.M.
THE LIED CENTER OF KANSAS
FREE TO THE PUBLIC
FREE TO THE PUBLIC
Jim Margolis Wednesday, April 13 7:30 p.m.
Margolis led the team that created and produced President Obama's advertising campaign in 2008 and will be doing the same in 2012.
Wednesdav
April
13
2011
7:30 PM