Faculty, staff, students will be honored at Women's Recognition Banquet

LAWRENCE — The Emily Taylor Center for Women & Gender Equity will host the Women’s Recognition Banquet at 6:30 p.m. today, April 13, at the Kansas Union Ballroom. KU will recognize outstanding faculty, staff and students at this annual event in addition to previously announced Kansas Women’s Hall of Fame honorees.

"This year's honorees  have made important contributions that have enhanced and transformed our campus and communities," said Kathy Rose-Mockry, center director. "By celebrating and supporting women's talents and accomplishments, we provide role models and inspiration, paving the way for others to follow while also making a statement that these contributions matter."

Honorees are as follows:

Outstanding Woman Staff Member

Julie Loats, director, Center for Online and Distance Learning

This award recognizes a female unclassified or classified staff member who, through outstanding work performance, has contributed to the academic and personal growth of KU students.

Outstanding Woman Educator

Jane Wegner, clinical professor, Department of Speech-Language-Hearing 

This award recognizes a female professor, instructor or student teaching assistant who, through outstanding teaching skills, has contributed to the academic and personal growth of KU students.

Outstanding Nontraditional Woman Student

Trinity Carpenter, junior in social welfare from Richmond, Kansas. She also attended Lawrence High School. Carpenter is the daughter of Kathryn Ashburn and Roger Kelly Sr.

This award recognizes a nontraditional female student who has demonstrated academic achievement and has made a contribution to the campus and/or community through her involvement.

Outstanding International Woman Student

Melanie D’Souza, senior in architecture from Muscat, Sultanate and Oman. She attended Indian School Al Wadi Al Kabir and Indian School Muscat. D’Souza is the daughter of Elaine Rebello-D'Souza and Vianney John D'Souza.

This award recognizes an international woman student who has demonstrated academic achievement and has made a contribution to the campus and/or community through her involvement

Outstanding Woman Student in Leadership
Hannah Reinhart, senior in journalism and political science. She attended St. Teresa’s Academy in Kansas City, Missouri. She is the daughter of Tony and Michele Reinhart.

This award recognizes a woman student who has demonstrated outstanding leadership skills by taking an active role in campus or community organizations, developing a new project or addressing a current need.

Outstanding Woman Student in Partnership
Cindy Nguyen, senior in applied behavioral science from Salina. She attended Salina South High School. She is the daughter of Thuy and Dan Nguyen.

This award honors a woman student who has made outstanding contributions to students through her collaborative work and interactions with campus departments, services or organizations.

Outstanding Woman Student in Community Service
Tina Woods, senior in social welfare from Galena. She attended Galena High School.

This award recognizes a woman student who has made outstanding contributions to off-campus organizations or agencies.

Outstanding Woman Student in Athletics
Yupaporn “Mook” Kawinpakorn, senior in sport management from Samutprakan, Thailand. She is a member of the women’s golf team.

This award goes to a woman student who has actively participated in KU athletic organizations and has contributed to the development of women’s intercollegiate or intramural athletics.

Sally Mason Woman Student in Science Award
Jennifer Stern, senior in ecology & evolutionary biology from Lawrence. She attended Free State High School and is the daughter of Joan and George Stern.

This award honors a female undergraduate or graduate student in the sciences who has demonstrated academic excellence involvement in campus activities and leadership in her academic department.

Marlesa and Hannalesa Roney Student Success Award
Natalie Hoskins, doctoral student in communication studies from Lenexa. She attended Shawnee Mission South High School.

This award honors a woman graduate or undergraduate student who has contributed to the success of another student.

Kathleen McCluskey-Fawcett Woman Mentoring Women Award
Dr. Erica Howe, associate professor, internal medicine

This award honors a woman student, staff or faculty member who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to the supporting and mentoring of women at KU.

Alma Poehler Brook Award  
Emmy Seitz, freshman in biology from Prairie Village. She attended Shawnee Mission East High School and is the daughter of David and Joan Seitz.

This award is given by KU Housing staff to women in GSP and Corbin who make significant contributions to their living communities.  

Terri Knoll Johnson Award
Kristine Beaty, graduate student, biological anthropology
Alyssa Cole, graduate student from Garden City, history and African & African-American studies

The award was established by Kelly Johnson, lecturer in the Department of Biology, to honor his wife, Terri, who died of breast cancer in 2005. She was development director for KU Endowment and proud mother of a daughter and two sons. Following her diagnosis, she became a tireless advocate, speaker and educator to raise awareness about breast cancer. This award provides support to women with dependent children who are pursuing undergraduate or graduate degrees in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences or KU Medical Center. 

Since 1970 the Emily Taylor Center for Women and Gender Equity has honored a select group of women to be inducted into the Women’s Hall of Fame. The previously announced inductees for 2016, to be recognized at a reception at 5 p.m. today at the Adams Alumni Center, include Venida Chenault, Alferdteen Brown Harrison, Sharon Lee, Anne Levinson, Patricia N. Long and Carol J. Fabian, as well as Pioneer Woman award winner Marci Penner.