Chester Student Honored With Leadership Award

Chester resident Kathryn Hoven, a senior at the University of Kansas, was one of two winners of the 22nd annual Excellence in Community, Education and Leadership Awards during halftime of the KU-Texas homecoming football game Oct. 27 in Memorial Stadium.

The 2012 Ex.C.E.L. was also awarded to Brandon Rogers of Plano, Texas.

Hoven is a senior majoring in English and history with a minor in classical antiquities. She is the daughter of Donald and Janet Hoven. She leads the Panhellenic Association as president. As a student in the KU Honors Program, she also is a University Scholar.

Rogers is senior majoring in human biology and the son of John and Debbie Rogers. He serves as a recruitment co-chair for The Big Event, an annual day of volunteer service in the spring to unite the KU and Lawrence communities. He also coordinates fundraising for Rock Chalk Revue advisory board.

The Ex.C.E.L. Award provides an annual $500 award to two students. The winners will plan the Blueprints Leadership Conference next spring in conjunction with KU’s Student Involvement and Leadership Center.

The winners were selected from among 10 finalists 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 selection committee included representatives from Student Union Activities, the Board of Class Officers, the Student Involvement and Leadership Center and the homecoming steering committee.

The award was established in 1991 to recognize one male and one female student for achievement and to add student interest to annual homecoming festivities.

To be eligible, applicants must be full-time undergraduate students with an overall grade-point average of 3.0 or higher. Each finalist completed an application and participated in an interview.