Wullbrandt Award

Wullbrandt Flying Jayhawks Award

The Wullbrandt Flying Jayhawks Award was established by Wendy Wullbrandt, a 1972 KU fine arts graduate and longtime Flying Jayhawks traveler, to give one Student Alumni Ambassador the opportunity to join a Flying Jayhawks trip.

 

The Flying Jayhawks program invites graduates, former students, families, and friends to travel together through discovery, adventure, and education, exploring other cultures while strengthening the bonds of a community drawn together by KU.

 

Through this award, Wendy hopes the recipient will experience that community
firsthand and return as an advocate for the lasting impact these journeys can make.

Information

Award Criteria: Leadership, Service, and Ambassadorship

The recipient should demonstrate exceptional leadership and service within the Student Alumni Ambassadors program and exemplify the qualities of an outstanding ambassador for KU Alumni and the University of Kansas. This student consistently advances SAA’s mission of connecting students, alumni, and the University through active participation, reliability, and initiative, whether by supporting peers, leading projects, or representing KU Alumni at events.

 

They communicate with confidence and engage comfortably with alumni, donors, university leadership, and prospective students, representing KU with professionalism, enthusiasm, and authenticity.


Upon returning from the Flying Jayhawks trip, the recipient should be prepared to share the impact of their experience and serve as a storyteller to fellow students and an advocate for alumni engagement.

Selection Criteria

The ideal recipient:

  • Demonstrates exceptional leadership and service within the Student Alumni Ambassadors program.
  • Advances SAA’s mission of connecting students, alumni, and the University of Kansas.
  • Shows reliability and initiative by supporting peers, leading projects, and representing KU Alumni at events.
  • Communicate confidently with alumni, donors, university leadership, and prospective students.
  • Represents KU with professionalism, enthusiasm, and authenticity.
  • Is prepared to share the impact of the Flying Jayhawks experience and serve as a storyteller with fellow students and advocate for alumni engagement after the trip.

Eligibility

Applicants must:

  • Be a current member of the Student Alumni Ambassadors program.
  • Be enrolled as a full-time KU student during the application year for the award.
  • Be available to travel within the following 12-month calendar year.
  • Hold a valid passport by date of travel.

Application Components

Students interested in applying for the award must submit:

  • Resume or CV
  • Personal Statement (1000 words max)
  • Eligibility confirmation
  • Additional information on any travel constraints within the next 12 months

Timeline

  • Online application opens: Monday, Aug. 24 at 8 a.m.
  • Online application closes: Sunday, Sept. 20 at 11:59 p.m.
  • Virtual interviews: Monday, Sept. 28 – Friday, Oct. 2
  • Finalist notifications: Monday, Oct. 12 by 5 p.m.
  • If able, finalists will be asked to attend the following events:
    • Far Above Awards Ceremony | Thursday, Oct. 22, Jayhawk Welcome Center
    • 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.

Application

Please complete the application below and upload the required materials.

Recipients

2026 — Brynn Murphy (Wichita)

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