KU Alumni presented three Jayhawks with its highest honor, the Fred Ellsworth Medallion, during the Far Above Awards Oct. 22 at the Jayhawk Welcome Center. The medallion recognizes extraordinary, steadfast service to the University, and since 1975 has been awarded to 176 Jayhawks. Meet the 2026 honorees.
Marvin Motley
Marvin Motley, c’77, l’80, g’81, began his law career in private practice before serving as in-house counsel and in various executive positions at Sprint for 30 years. Since 2018, he has been a mediator and arbitrator with the firm Associates in Dispute Resolution.
Marvin served two terms on KU Alumni’s national board of directors—1989 to 1994, and 2001 to 2007—and led the organization as chair in 2006-07. Service on the School of Law’s board of governors and work with Jayhawks for Higher Education, a national volunteer network dedicated to legislative advocacy on behalf of KU and higher ed, have been among his continued efforts to bolster the University.
Marvin is a KU Endowment trustee and serves on the board of trustees’ executive committee and as chair of the audit committee. He is a KU Alumni Presidents Club donor and longtime supporter of student scholarships across academic units and campuses. Marvin and his wife, Susan Nordin Motley, j’83, live in Leawood.
Winifred “Win” Pinet
Winifred “Win” Pinet, c’80, g’82, is president and CEO of Sycamore Associates, a sustainability, financial technology and corporate finance advisory firm she founded in 1999.
She is immediate past co-chair of KU’s College of Liberal Arts & Sciences advisory board and served on the search committee that hired Arash Mafi—now KU provost—as the College’s dean in 2023. Her far-reaching involvement with her alma mater has included stints on the School of Business advisory board and the KU Memorial Corporation board.
A KU Alumni Presidents Club donor, Win served five years on KU Alumni’s national board of directors, from 2006 to 2011, and in 2023 was elected to KU Endowment’s board of trustees. She lives in Plymouth, Michigan.
Todd Slawson
Todd Slawson, e’84, a fourth-generation Jayhawk, is president of Slawson Companies, which operates in oil exploration, real estate and hospitality services.
Todd and his two brothers made the lead gift for the construction of Slawson Hall, opened in 2018, which honors their late father, Donald, c’55, Slawson Companies founder. Slawson Hall is part of KU’s Earth, Energy & Environment Center, a hub for interdisciplinary research and education on the Lawrence campus. In 2019, KU’s department of chemical and petroleum engineering inducted Todd into its Hall of Fame.
Todd is a KU Endowment trustee and serves on the board of trustees’ executive committee and as chair of the property management committee. He is a KU Alumni Presidents Club donor and an Oread-level donor to KU Athletics. Both his father, Donald, and grandfather Charles Slawson, c1920, are past recipients of the Fred Ellsworth Medallion. Todd splits his time between Wichita and Denver.
The Fred Ellsworth Medallion was one of several honors presented during the Far Above Awards. View the full list of award recipients.
