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KU Alumni proudly recognizes those who make the University of Kansas exceptional with awards, including the Fred Ellsworth Medallion.
Outstanding alumni, students, faculty and staff can apply or be nominated to be recognized during Homecoming week, including at the Far Above Awards Ceremony.
This award honors two students who are selected based on their leadership, communication skills, involvement in the KU community, academic scholarship and their ability to interact and work with a wide variety of students and organizations.
The Ex.C.E.L. Award is presented by Konica Minolta.
In her 13 years at KU Alumni, Jennifer Alderdice inspired countless students to become involved and take pride in their University. The 2009 Homecoming Steering Committee created this student award to honor Jen, a longtime Steering Committee advisor.
Established by the KU Class of 1959 to recognize outstanding dedication to student success and achievement through excellence in teaching strategies. The H.O.P.E. Awards honors an outstanding instructor and/or faculty member from any of KU’s campuses who demonstrate excellence in teaching and advancing student success in the classroom.
The Clodfelter Regional Volunteer of the Year Award recognizes a KU alumni network leader who has demonstrated outstanding leadership, service, and impact within a regional alumni network in Kansas or Missouri during the current calendar year. This award is named in honor of Mildred Clodfelter, b’41.
The Wintermote National Volunteer of the Year Award recognizes a KU alumni network leader who has demonstrated exceptional leadership, service, and impact within a national alumni network during the current calendar year. This award is named in honor of Dick Wintermote, c’51.
The Student Alumni Network is pleased to recognize outstanding KU alumni each year during Homecoming. This award was created to acknowledge graduates of the University of Kansas who consistently display school spirit, pride, and tradition throughout their lives. The award was created in 2007 to honor Judy and Rich Billings, both 1957 graduates.
The Legacy of Leadership Award recognizes an outstanding alumnus or alumna of the University of Kansas Sorority & Fraternity Life community who has demonstrated a sustained commitment to leadership, service, mentorship, and positively impacting others.
The Catalyst for Connection Award honors individuals or groups whose collaboration strengthens KU by engaging alumni, supporting students, and building meaningful community connections that help unite Jayhawks across generations, disciplines, and experiences.
Fred Ellsworth, c’22, led the KU Alumni staff as executive secretary from 1924 to 1963. Since 1975 the Fred Ellsworth Medallion honors individuals “who have provided unique and significant service to the University.”
Fred Ellsworth, c’22, led the KU Alumni staff as executive secretary from 1924 to 1963. Since 1975 the Fred Ellsworth Medallion honors individuals “who have provided unique and significant service to the University.”
Fred Ellsworth Medallion recipients are honored by KU Alumni at a special dinner in conjunction with the fall Board of Directors meeting and introduced during the home football game that weekend.
Recipients of the medallion have been honored for their leadership in Kansas higher education, as chairs and members of University boards and committees, as consultants for special KU projects, and as donors to the University. If someone you know has continually shared time, talents and resources to benefit KU, submission for this award open in spring 2027.
From 1941 to 2010, KU Alumni also awarded the Distinguished Service Citation, which recognized outstanding achievements “for the betterment of society and in behalf of humanity.”
In 2011, as a result of decisions by the Kansas Board of Regents and the University to confer honorary KU degrees, KU Alumni’s national Board of Directors voted to retire the DSC and endorse the honorary degree program. KU Alumni remains proud of its tradition of honoring nearly 400 alumni and friends who have served humanity.
In 1925, the first Homecoming Queen was crowned at KU, but the ceremony did not become tradition until 1933. A new queen was crowned each year until 1969, when anti-war demonstrations and stormy race relations led to the committee’s decision that it was “more appropriate to recognize those who embody the academic spirit for which this community was established.” Read more.
Past Homecoming Queens:
1925 — Anna Lois Voights
1933 — Lucy Edna Trees
1934 — Avanell Bushmeyer
1935 — Betty Grove
1936 — Betty Ruth Smith
1937 — Dorris Johnson
1938 — Denny Lemoine
1939 — Barbara Edmunds
1940 — Greta Gibson
1941 — Louise Lockhard
1942 — Ruth Anna Bovaird
1943 — Heloise Hillbrand
1944 — Gwen Kistler
1945 — Joy Godbehere
1946 — Nina Green
1947 — Carolyn Campbell
1948 — Ann Cowger
1949 — Diane Lee Brewster
1950 — Ada Hatfield
1951 — Jeannine Neihart
1952 — Mary Louise Lavy
1953 — Barbara Korn
1954 — Betty Davis
1955 — Marjorie Majoney
1956 — Susie Stout
1957 — Marcia Johnson
1958 — Susie Kastner
1959 — Judy Gorton
1960 — Janice Guyot
1961 — Mary Nan Scammon
1962 — Barbara Schmidt
1963 — Karen Vice
1964 — Cathy Bergtrom
1965 — Muff Yankey
1966 — Cindy Dickson
1967 — Nancy Miller
1968 — Susan Wassenberg
1969 — Janet Merrick
Your gift to KU Alumni is the single most powerful way to make all of KU stronger, including the value of your own degree. Through your support, KU Alumni:
