KU announces ExCEL Award winners, concludes 109th Homecoming celebration
LAWRENCE — Three University of Kansas students were named winners of the 31st annual Excellence in Community, Education and Leadership (ExCEL) Awards. Javen Betts of Kansas City, Kansas; Nikki Brown of Lisle, Illinois; and Lily Nguyen of Wichita were honored during halftime of the KU-Texas Tech football game Oct. 16 in David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, concluding KU’s 109th Homecoming celebration.
Betts, a junior in education, is a student ambassador for the School of Education & Human Sciences and an assistant for KU TRIO SES & STEM. He is president of the Black Student Union and serves as the Big XII constitution delegate for Black student government.
Brown, a senior in political science, sociology and American studies with a minor in social justice, is vice president of the Latin American Student Union and vice president of the Latina-founded sorority Kappa Delta Chi. A McNair Scholar, she is a peer mentor for first-year minority and first-generation students as well as a social justice peer educator in the Office of Multicultural Affairs.
Nguyen, a senior in global & international studies and Japanese language & literature with a minor in political science, is a resident assistant for KU Student Housing and an honors seminar assistant for the University Honors Program. She was a digital media engagement intern at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
The ExCEL Award provides an annual $250 scholarship to students. Nominees were selected on the basis of leadership, effective communication skills, involvement at KU and in the Lawrence community, academic scholarship and ability to work with a variety of students and organizations.
The Alumni Association also honored Navya Singh, a pre-medicine sophomore from Chandigarh, India, with the Jennifer Alderdice Homecoming Award, which recognizes students who demonstrate outstanding loyalty and dedication to the university. The award honors Alderdice, of Lawrence, who led student programs for the Alumni Association from 1999 to 2009 and earned her KU master’s degree in education in 1999.
The theme for this year’s Homecoming was “Back in Action.” The event was sponsored by Best Western Plus West Lawrence, KU Bookstore and Truity Credit Union. Students and alumni participated in several in-person and virtual activities throughout the week, including competitions, networking events, reunions and tailgates.
The annual celebration was organized by the KU Alumni Association and a student-led steering committee, which included Madison McGuire, a senior in human biology from St. Louis, who served as executive director; Katherine Hanselman, a senior in biochemistry from St. Louis; Kayla Hernandez, a junior in strategic communication from Eudora; Johnny Meehan, a senior in strategic communication from Lenexa; and Sophie Schmidt, a senior in chemical engineering from Olathe. They worked with Alumni Association staff member Paige Freeman, director of student programs.
Other 2021 Homecoming event and award winners:
Rich and Judy Billings Spirit of 1912 Award
Leawood residents Andrew Godwin, a 1982 College of Liberal Arts & Sciences alumnus, and his wife, Cecilia Romero Godwin, who also graduated from the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences in 1982.
Overall Winners
Large Group
- First place: Sigma Kappa, Alpha Tau Omega
- Second place: Sigma Tau Gamma, Alpha Delta Pi, Theta Chi
- Third place: Delta Tau Delta, Alpha Chi Omega
Small Group
- First place: Multicultural Greek Council
Competition Winners
Jayhawk Jingles
- First place: Alpha Delta Pi, Theta Chi
- Second place: Delta Tau Delta, Alpha Chi Omega
Chalk ’n Rock
Large Group
- First place: Sigma Kappa, Alpha Tau Omega
- Second place: Sigma Tau Gamma, Alpha Delta Pi, Theta Chi
- Third place: Delta Tau Delta, Alpha Chi Omega
Small Group
- First place: Multicultural Greek Council
Best interpretation of theme
- Sigma Kappa, Alpha Tau Omega
Best use of space
- Sigma Kappa, Alpha Tau Omega
Difficulty level
- Multicultural Greek Council
Most spirited
- Sigma Tau Gamma, Alpha Delta Pi, Theta Chi
Best incorporation of organization
- Multicultural Greek Council
Fan favorite
- Sigma Kappa, Alpha Tau Omega
Sign Competition
- First place: Sigma Kappa, Alpha Tau Omega
- Second place: Sigma Tau Gamma, Alpha Delta Pi, Theta Chi
- Third place: Kappa Alpha Theta, Zeta Beta Tau, Alpha Sigma Phi
Fan favorite
- Kappa Alpha Theta, Zeta Beta Tau, Alpha Sigma Phi
For more information about this year’s event, visit kualumni.org/homecoming.
About the KU Alumni Association
Through the support of members and donors, the KU Alumni Association advocates for the University of Kansas, communicates with Jayhawks in all media, recruits students and volunteers, serves the KU community and unites Jayhawks. For more information, visit kualumni.org.