KU Alumni honors Jayhawks with 2025 Homecoming awards

LAWRENCE — The 113th University of Kansas Homecoming came to a spirited close as Jayhawks packed the stands for the KU vs. Oklahoma State game Nov. 1, where eight Jayhawks were honored with 2025 Homecoming Awards. Each award shines a spotlight on the alumni, students and faculty who embody the very best of Jayhawk pride and tradition.

2025 KU Homecoming award winners

Wintermote National Volunteer of the Year Award

• Monique Garcia, c’96, owner/consultant of Garcia Group LLC. 

Clodfelter Regional Volunteer of the Year Award

• Leah Vomhof, d’02, g’12, principal at Blue Valley Northwest High School.
• Michael Seck, b’78, l’82, g’82, partner at Fisher, Patterson, Sayler & Smith.

Spirit of 1912 Award

• Sheri Hart, f’93, group connections director at VML. 

Excellence in Community, Education and Leadership (ExCEL) Award presented by Konica Minolta

• Hannah Kaiser, junior in behavioral neuroscience from Leipzig, Germany.
• Sarah Walsh, senior in chemical engineering from Leawood.

Jennifer Alderdice Homecoming Award

• Avery Oppermann, junior in finance from St. Louis.

Honor for Outstanding Progressive Educator (H.O.P.E.) Award

• Christopher Depcik, professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering within the School of Engineering and ASME Fellow.

Homecoming Student Competition

Throughout Homecoming week, student organizations competed against one another for the annual Homecoming Student Competition. Organizations obtained points based on their performance and placement in various events. The top three student organization finalists were recognized during halftime at the KU vs. Oklahoma State Homecoming game:

1.    Theta Chi fraternity

2.    Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity

3.    Delta Chi fraternity.

Homecoming sponsors

The title sponsor for Homecoming this year was Central Bank. Presenting sponsors were Konica Minolta, KU Bookstore, Love Kansas and The University of Kansas Health System. Supporting sponsors were Jostens, Pepsi and Wendy’s. 

About KU Alumni  

Through the support of donors and friends, KU Alumni 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 on ways that KU Alumni builds lifelong relationships to create fierce champions for KU, visit the KU Alumni website.