Students, alumni take top honors for KU Homecoming spirit

LAWRENCE —The 102nd Homecoming at the University of Kansas concluded Sept. 27 after a week that included events for KU students and the Lawrence community.

Throughout the week, KU student organizations collected points for their participation in events coordinated by the student-led Homecoming Steering Committee and the KU Alumni Association, along with campus and community partners. The theme of this year’s celebration was Roll with the ’Hawks. For information on the winners of individual daily events, visit Homecoming.

The overall winners for the week were Delta Delta Delta sorority and Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, which together won first prize in the Greek Life division, and the School of Engineering, which placed first in the Student Life division. The winners were announced at halftime of the KU-Texas football game Sept. 27.

In addition, Caleb Bobo, a junior political science and African-American studies major from St. Louis, won the Jennifer Alderdice Homecoming Award. The Homecoming Steering Committee selected him for his spirit and campus service. Bobo is vice president of membership for the Student Alumni Leadership Board and vice president for the Student Endowment Board. He also leads the KU Black Men’s Union as president. He represents the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in the Student Senate, and he helps recruit students for the Office of Admissions. He received the Jayhawk Generations Scholarship and was selected for the University Scholars program. He also mentors fellow students in the University Honors Program. He is the son of KU alumni Luke Bobo and Rita Holmes-Bobo, who now live in Shawnee.

The award honors Jennifer Alderdice, a former KU Alumni Association staff member who advised the Homecoming Steering Committee and the Student Alumni Association for many years. Alderdice, who still lives in Lawrence, earned her KU master’s degree in higher education administration in 1999.

KU alumnus Scott Simpson of Lawrence received the Rich and Judy Billings Spirit of 1912 Award for his contributions to KU Homecoming tradition through the years. Simpson attended KU from 1980 to 1985 and is the owner of Scott Simpson Productions. As a disc jockey for nearly 30 years, he has presided over countless KU events for Homecoming and pep rallies at home and away games. Most recently, he has helped the Alumni Association host the annual food festival and Jayhawk Jingles competition during Homecoming celebrations. In 2013, he was voted the “Best of Lawrence” DJ by readers of the Lawrence Journal-World.

The Spirit of 1912 Award honors Rich and Judy Howard Billings of Lakewood, Colorado. As 1957 KU graduates, the Billingses attended 50 consecutive Homecomings following their graduation. In 2007, they received the Spirit of 1912 Award, which honors the year KU celebrated its first Homecoming. The Alumni Association renamed the award to honor the couple; they have created an endowment to fund future KU Homecoming activities.