KU announces ExCEL Award winners, concludes 111th Homecoming

LAWRENCE — Two University of Kansas students were named winners of the 2023 Excellence in Community, Education and Leadership (ExCEL) Awards, presented by Konica Minolta. Libby Frost of WaKeeney and Thanh Tan Nguyen of Phu Yen, Vietnam, were recognized during the KU-Oklahoma football game Oct. 28 in David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, which concluded a week of activities for KU’s 111th Homecoming celebration.

Frost, a senior in business administration on the pre-med track, is president of the KU Panhellenic Association and vice president of marketing for her sorority, Alpha Delta Pi.

Nguyen, a senior in business analytics and supply chain management, is executive director of Student Union Activities and president of the KU Memorial Corp. board. He is active in the University Honors Program and led the Homecoming Steering Committee as executive director.

ExCEL Award nominees were selected based on their leadership, communication skills, involvement at KU and in the Lawrence community, academic scholarship and ability to work with a variety of students and organizations. The ExCEL Award was first given in 1991.

The KU Alumni Association also honored Yash Prajapati, a junior in applied mathematics and interdisciplinary computing in economics from Gujarat, India, with the Jennifer Alderdice Homecoming Award, which recognizes students who demonstrate outstanding loyalty and dedication to the university. Prajapati is a student ambassador for the Office of Admissions and a research assistant for the Center for Design Research. Alderdice, of Lawrence, led student programs for the Alumni Association from 1999 to 2009 and earned her master’s degree in education from KU in 1999.

Other 2023 Homecoming award and competition winners:

Rich and Judy Billings Spirit of 1912 Award

Kansas City artist Megh Knappenberger is a 2004 graduate of the School of Fine Arts. During Homecoming week, she unveiled 11 commissioned paintings for the recently renovated Adams Alumni Center.

Student organization overall competition winners

Large group:

• First place: Pi Kappa Alpha and Alpha Chi Omega
• Second place: Sigma Kappa, Delta Tau Delta, and Triangle
• Third place: Delta Delta Delta and Alpha Tau Omega

Student organization individual event competition winners

Jayhawk Jingles

Large group:

• First place: Alpha Delta Pi and Zeta Beta Tau
• Second place: Pi Kappa Alpha and Alpha Chi Omega
• Third place: Delta Delta Delta and Alpha Tau Omega

Chalk ’n’ Rock

Large group:

• First place: Delta Delta Delta and Alpha Tau Omega
• Second place: Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Gamma Phi Beta and Phi Kappa Tau
• Third place: Alpha Delta Pi and Zeta Beta Tau

Sign competition

Large group:

• First place: Sigma Kappa, Delta Tau Delta and Triangle
• Second place: Pi Kappa Alpha and Alpha Chi Omega
• Third place: Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Gamma Phi Beta and Phi Kappa Tau

KU’s Homecoming was sponsored by Central Bank of the Midwest, Konica Minolta, KU Bookstore, Pepsi Zero Sugar and StoneHill Hotel.

The KU Alumni Association welcomes feedback on this year’s Homecoming festivities. For more information about Homecoming, go to 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.