Kassebaum leaves award to Dole Institute student programs

LAWRENCE — Former U.S. Sen. Nancy Kassebaum has requested that her Dole Leadership Prize cash award stay at the Dole Institute of Politics to fund student programming. Kassebaum received the Dole Leadership Prize in a surprise ceremony Sept. 17 at the Dole Institute. The prize comes with a $25,000 cash award.

“We are delighted that Senator Kassebaum has chosen to generously leave this money with the Dole Institute,” said Director Bill Lacy. “Our work with students is an important part of what we do, and this gift will allow us to enhance the experience of all our students.”

The money will provide funding for the semi-annual Student Advisory Board program as well as the monthly Pizza and Politics series. Both are key components of the Dole Institute’s robust slate of student-led programming.

Kassebaum is the second consecutive Dole Leadership Prize recipient to request the cash award remain with the Dole Institute. President Bill Clinton, the 2015 honoree, also left the award with the Dole Institute to help seed a program on women in leadership.

The Dole Leadership Prize is awarded annually to an individual or group whose public service leadership inspires others. The award includes a $25,000 prize. Previous winners of the Dole Leadership Prize include John D. Kemp, Nelson Mandela, Wounded Warrior Project, former Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, Women Air Service Pilots of WWII, former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala, former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani, former U.S. Sen. George McGovern, former Polish President Lech Walesa, U.S. Rep. John Lewis and former presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton.

The Dole Institute of Politics is dedicated to promoting political and civic participation as well as civil discourse in a bipartisan, philosophically balanced manner. It is located on KU’s West District and houses the Dole Archive and Special Collections. Through its robust public programming, congressional archive and museum, the Dole Institute strives to celebrate public service and the legacy of former U.S. Sen. Bob Dole.

More information on all programs, as well as ongoing additions to the schedule, can be found on the Dole Institute’s website, www.doleinstitute.org.