Legacy of Leadership Award

KU Sorority & Fraternity Life | Legacy of Leadership Award

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 award honors alumni who demonstrate that the values and experiences developed through sorority and fraternity membership can serve as a lifelong foundation for leadership, service, and engagement. Rather than recognizing professional accomplishments alone, the Legacy of Leadership Award celebrates individuals whose influence is demonstrated through the people they have supported, the leaders they have developed, the organizations and communities they have strengthened, and the positive change they have created.

 

Recipients exemplify values-based leadership and demonstrate a sustained commitment to making a positive difference following their collegiate experience.

Nomination

Nominees should demonstrate a sustained record of leadership and service, with evidence of meaningful impact across the following areas.

Sustained Leadership

Demonstrates a consistent commitment to leadership following their collegiate experience by bringing people together, addressing challenges, advancing meaningful initiatives, and contributing to the success of organizations or communities. Examples may include:

  • Leading organizations, teams, or community initiatives
  • Serving in volunteer leadership positions
  • Advancing positive organizational or community change
  • Building collaborative partnerships
  • Demonstrating integrity and accountability in leadership
  • Using their leadership to create opportunities for others

 

Leadership may be demonstrated through professional, volunteer, civic, community, university, or fraternity and sorority involvement.

Commitment to Service

Demonstrates an ongoing commitment to serving others and contributing to the well-being of their community. Examples may include:

  • Community volunteer service 
  • Nonprofit involvement or leadership 
  • Philanthropic involvement 
  • Civic or public service 
  • Chapter, university, or alumni volunteerism 
  • Sorority or fraternity service
  • Advocacy or initiatives that improve the lives of others
Mentorship and Developing Others

Intentionally invests in the growth and development of others and demonstrates a commitment to helping individuals reach their potential. Examples may include:

  • Mentoring students or young professionals
  • Advising collegiate chapters or student organizations
  • Coaching or developing emerging leaders
  • Supporting the personal or professional growth of others
  • Creating opportunities for individuals to develop leadership skills
  • Providing guidance that has had a meaningful influence on others
Lasting Impact

Demonstrates evidence that their leadership, service, and mentorship have created meaningful change beyond their individual accomplishments. Examples may include:

  • Strengthening organizations or communities
  • Creating opportunities for others 
  • Developing sustainable programs or initiatives
  • Building organizations, partnerships, or systems that continue to benefit others
  • Developing leaders who have gone on to serve or lead others
  • Creating contributions whose impact extends beyond the nominee’s direct involvement

 

Lasting impact should reflect not simply what the nominee has accomplished, but how their contributions have positively influenced people, organizations, or communities.

Eligibility

Nominees must:

  • Be an initiated member of a sorority or fraternity recognized by the University of Kansas. 
  • Have graduated from the University of Kansas.
  • Have demonstrated continued leadership and service following graduation.
  • Exemplify the values of sorority and fraternity membership.
  •  

Timeline

  • Online nomination opens: Monday, Aug. 24 at 8 a.m.

  • Online nomination closes: Sunday, Sep. 20 at 11:59 p.m.

  • If able, the winner will be asked to attend the following events:

    • Homecoming Parade | Friday, Oct. 23, Jayhawk Blvd

    • Homecoming Football Game | Saturday, Oct. 24, David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium

Questions

Please contact the Homecoming team at homecoming@kualumni.org.

Nomination Form

Please complete the nomination form below and upload the required materials.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Nominee Information

Name of Nominee(Required)
Accepted file types: pdf, Max. file size: 1 MB.

Nominator Information

Name of Nominator(Required)
- How has the nominee demonstrated meaningful leadership following their time at KU? - How has the nominee served others and invested in the growth and development of people around them? - What lasting impact has the nominee's leadership and service had on individuals, organizations, or communities?
Accepted file types: pdf, Max. file size: 1 MB.
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Award Recipients

2007 — Rich, c’57, and Judy Howard Billings, d’57 (Lakewood, Colo.)
2010 — Margey Wallet Frederick, j’69, g’78, and the late Bob Frederick, d’62, g’64, EdD’84 (Lawrence)
2011 — Amy Hurst, c’74 (Whitmore Lake, MI)
2012 — Marching Jayhawks Alumni Band
2013 — Topeka Corvette Club
2014 — Scott Simpson, ’89
2015 — Joe, b’61, and Susan Morris
2016 — Linda Ellis Sims, e’79
2017 — Larry, c’73, and Nancy Stoppel, d’73
2018 — Howard, b’79, and Debra Cohen, assoc.
2019 — Warren, e’50, and Mary Corman, c’73, h’74
2021 — Andrew, c’82, and Cecilia Romero Godwin, c’82
2022 — Andrew, ’04 and Lauren Wymore, d’06
2023 — Megh Knappenberger, f’04
2024 — Michael Chavez, c’11, g’14
2025 — Sheri Hart, f’93

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Apply
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