KU announces new 2023-2024 Self Memorial Scholars

LAWRENCE – Nineteen students have been selected to receive the University of Kansas Madison and Lila Self Memorial Scholarship for the 2023-2024 academic year. 

The Self Memorial Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship that is awarded to outstanding seniors from the University of Kansas who will be transitioning into their first year of a master’s or doctoral degree program at KU in the fall semester. Students who were selected demonstrated achievement in leadership and scholarship, capable of envisioning and attaining goals that require energy and tenacity. The Self Memorial Scholarship provides each recipient with a $10,000 scholarship award, $1,000 professional development award, leadership and career development training and an opportunity to be a part of an interdisciplinary cohort of graduate students. The leadership and career development training, titled the Scholar Development Program, complements the specialized education and training provided by the graduate programs.

Madison “Al” and Lila Self were deeply motivated by the idea that developing and investing in young leaders was vital for a successful future. The Selfs began their legacy of supporting graduate students in 1989 with the establishment of the Madison and Lila Self Graduate Fellowship. Since 1991, the Self Graduate Fellowship has supported over 200 doctoral students. The Self Memorial Scholarship was launched and permanently endowed in 2014. The first Scholars were awarded in 2018. Since 2018, the Self Memorial Scholarship has supported 82 graduate students. The overall mission of Self Graduate Programs is to provide funding and development opportunities for exceptional graduate students who demonstrate the promise to make significant contributions to their field of study and society as a whole.

The new Self Memorial Scholars for 2023-2024: 

• Gracelynn Bradbury, Topeka: bachelor’s degree in speech-language-hearing with a minor in Spanish; incoming master’s student in speech-language pathology
• Mackenzie Bravence, Overland Park: bachelor’s degree in speech-language-hearing; incoming master’s student in speech-language pathology
• Carolina Medina Castellanos, Tegucigalpa, Honduras: bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering with a minor in French; incoming master’s student in computer engineering 
• Claire Cox, Paola: bachelor’s degree in history; incoming master’s student in history
• Alaura Custard, Overland Park: bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and physics; incoming master's student in geology 
• Martel Ellis, Romulus, Michigan: bachelor's degree in ecology & evolutionary biology; incoming doctoral student in ecology & evolutionary biology
• Parker Ford, Edmond, Oklahoma: bachelor’s degree in sociology with a minor in creative writing; incoming master’s student in city and county management
• Brody Gatza, Olathe: bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering; incoming doctoral student in aerospace engineering
• Hope Hanlen, Leavenworth: bachelor’s degree in speech-language-hearing; incoming master’s student in speech-language pathology
• Natalie Hanrahan, St. Louis: bachelor’s degree in speech-language-hearing; incoming master’s student in speech-language pathology
• Braeden Huslig, Wichita: bachelor’s degree in biochemistry; incoming doctoral student in medicinal chemistry
• Hannah Jones, Sioux Falls, South Dakota: bachelor’s degree in social work; incoming master’s student in social work
• Anna Kostecki, St. Louis: bachelor’s degree in social work; incoming master’s student in social work
• Zach Misic, Overland Park: bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary computing; incoming doctoral student in computer science
• Joseph Nordling, Roeland Park: bachelor’s degree in computer science; incoming master’s student in computer science
• Vivian Orta, Bartlesville, Oklahoma: bachelor’s degrees in psychology, human sexuality, and women, gender & sexuality studies; incoming master’s student in higher education administration
• Andrew Riachi, Pittsburg: bachelor’s degree in computer engineering; incoming master’s student in computer science
• Ava Taylor, Overland Park: bachelor’s degree in speech-language-hearing; incoming master’s student in speech-language pathology
• Rachel Weis, Lindsborg: bachelor’s degrees in business analytics and information systems with a minor in supply chain management; incoming master’s student in business analytics.