Two Kansas Student-Athletes Featured on the 2010-11 KU Women of Distinction Calendar
Aug. 30, 2010
LAWRENCE, Kan. — Two KU student-athletes are among the 24 women featured on the 2010-11 University of Kansas Women of Distinction calendar. Those honored were recognized at a reception Monday at the Kansas Union.
KU track and field standout Rebeka Stowe and Jayhawk swimming and diving junior Joy Bunting are on the Kansas Women of Distinction calendar, represented in the calendar group: Athletes Demonstrating Excellence and Taking the Lead. The women on the calendar represent faculty, staff and students. Some are recent graduates. All have distinguished achievements in their work on campus and in communities locally, regionally and abroad.
From Olathe, Kan., Stowe, a sophomore majoring in health and physical education, won the 2010 indoor track All-American distance medley relay and is a member of KU’s women’s cross country team. She also competed on the U.S. team in the North America, Central America and Caribbean under-23 steeplechase event. Stowe holds the KU record in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase and distance medley relay team. She is the daughter of Patricia Stowe and an Olathe Northwest High School graduate.
Bunting is from Greeley, Colo., and majoring in communication studies. She was captain of the KU women’s swimming and diving team for 2009-10. Bunting has received the Karen Dionne (Most Inspirational) Team Award for three consecutive years and qualified in the top eight at the Big 12 Championships.
Calendars are free, although donations are accepted. They are available at numerous locations, including the KU Bookstores in the Kansas Union in Lawrence and at the KU Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan., and the Edwards Campus in Overland Park. Other Lawrence campus locations include the Student Involvement and Leadership Center in the Kansas Union, on-campus housing facilities and various university departments.
Students featured on the 2010-11 Women of Distinction calendar are listed below by hometown, level in school, major, recent achievements, parents’ names, other schools attended (when available) and calendar group (if applicable).
BOURBON COUNTY
From Fort Scott 66701
Erin M. Lewis, a doctoral student in mechanical engineering, is a Madison and Lila Self Graduate Fellow at KU. In 2009, she received the Sammie and Carl Locke Award for Outstanding Graduating Senior in the School of Engineering. She was a 2009 KU Institute for Advancing Medical Innovation Graduate Fellow. She is the daughter of David and Debbie Lewis and a Fort Scott High School graduate.
DOUGLAS COUNTY
From Lawrence 66044
Jodi Lorraine Gentry, a doctoral student in environmental engineering, is a National Science Foundation IGERT C-CHANGE (Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship: Climate Change, Humans and Nature in the Global Environment) Fellow at KU. She also is a Madison and Lila Self Graduate Fellow. She started the KU chapter of Engineers Without Borders in 2007. Gentry received a master’s degree in engineering from KU in 2009 and a bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University in 2004. Calendar group: Engineers Without Borders
From Lawrence 66046
Stephanie Annette Farve, who earned a bachelor’s in environmental studies in spring 2010, was president of the First Nations Students Association for two years. She is a Wetlands Preservation Organization member and participated in the summer 2010 Washington Internships for Native Students program. She is the daughter of Michael Farve and a graduate of Lawrence High School.
FINNEY COUNTY
From Garden City 67846
Lara Elizabeth Pracht, who earned a bachelor’s in civil engineering in spring 2010, was president of Engineers Without Borders in the 2009-10 academic year. A 2006 National Merit Scholar, Pracht was selected for KU’s University Scholars program in 2007. She is the daughter of Willis and Connie Pracht and a graduate of Garden City Senior High School. Calendar group: Engineers Without Borders
JEFFERSON COUNTY
From Perry 66073
Molly Sparks Sailors, who earned a bachelor’s in social welfare in spring 2010, was named as a 2009 KU Outstanding Woman Student in Community Service. She was a finalist for the 2009 ExCEL Award and a Kappa Alpha Theta sorority member. She is the daughter of Gordon Sailors and Paula Kellogg and a graduate of Perry-Lecompton High School. Calendar group: Women Committed to the Community
JOHNSON COUNTY
From Olathe 66061
Rebeka Dianne Stowe, a sophomore in health and physical education, won the 2010 indoor track All-American distance medley relay and is a member of KU’s women’s cross country team. She also competed on the U.S. team in the North America, Central America and Caribbean under-23 steeplechase event. Stowe holds the KU record in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase and distance medley relay team. She is the daughter of Patricia Stowe and an Olathe Northwest High School graduate. Calendar group: Athletes Demonstrating Excellence and Taking the Lead
From Olathe 66062
Yvonne Nyakio Kamau, a senior in microbiology and international studies, is a Leadership Alliance Scholar at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and Harvard University. She has served on the Douglas County AIDS Project Board of Directors. She is the daughter of Ann Mungai and Godfrey Kamau and a graduate of Olathe North High School.
Anne Ndunge Nzuki, a junior in human biology, is a 2010 Kansas Health Foundation Undergraduate Fellow and is also a 2010 Initiative for Maximizing Student Diversity Scholar. In April, she received a Black Faculty and Staff Council Student Achievement Award. She is the daughter of Fidelis Munyao and an Olathe North High School graduate.
From Overland Park 66212
Amanda “Mandy” M. Shriwise, a spring 2010 graduate in dance, is working as a special assistant to Assistant Secretary of Health Dr. Howard K. Koh, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. While at KU, she was a 2006 University Scholar, co-director of the Center for Community Outreach, 2008-09; and president of the University Dance Company, 2007-08. She is the daughter of Rodney and Susan Shriwise of Overland Park and a graduate of Shawnee Mission South High School.
From Spring Hill 66083
Katherine Joann Harry, a senior in chemical engineering, is co-president of Engineers Without Borders for 2010-11. Harry received an honorable mention in the national competition for a Goldwater scholarship in 2010. She was a 2009 Summer Scholar at the Center for Materials Science and Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She is the daughter of Joann Paul and Jack Harry and a graduate of Spring Hill High School. Calendar group: Engineers Without Borders
MONTGOMERY COUNTRY
From Coffeyville 67337
Rebecca Lo, a senior in community health education, is a Gates Millennium Scholar at KU. She is program coordinator for Music Mentors Program and winter break coordinator for the Alternative Breaks program. She is the daughter of Victor and Susan Lo and a graduate of Field Kindley Memorial High School. Calendar group: Women Committed to the Community
OSAGE COUNTY
From Carbondale 66414
Emily C. Robbins, a master’s student in environmental engineering, was the 2009 Kansas Water Environment Association Scholarship/Essay Contest winner. She was Watkins-Berger Scholar, 2005-09, and has a Tolaney Family Graduate Scholarship, 2009-10. She is the daughter of Marian Massoth and Vic Robbins and a graduate of Santa Fe Trail High School. Calendar group: Engineers Without Borders
SEDGWICK COUNTY
From Wichita 67205
Tonia Nicole Salas, a senior in human biology, received a 2010 KU Outstanding Woman in an Organized Living Group award for Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. As a member of the spring 2010 KU Dance Marathon, Salas raised $35,761.42 to benefit the Children’s Miracle Network. She was a peer leadership consultant for Ascend KU, a comprehensive leadership program to help undergraduates develop leadership skills. She is the daughter of Pedro Salas and a Maize High School graduate. Calendar group: Women Committed to the Community
SHAWNEE COUNTY
From Topeka 66610
Erin Elizabeth Atwood, a junior in genetics, is a co-coordinator for Natural Ties, a service group that matches KU organizations with individuals with developmental disabilities, and works with Head Start through the KU Campus Advocacy Corps. Last fall, Atwood was co-director for the Center for Community Outreach’s “Into the Streets Week,” an annual community service campaign organized by students. She is the daughter of Jennie and Michael Atwood and a Washburn Rural High School graduate. Calendar group: Women Committed to the Community
From Topeka 66604 and St. Joseph, Mo.
Precious Porras, a doctoral student in education, is an assistant director at the Office of Multicultural Affairs. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Missouri Western State College in 2002 and a master’s degree from Emporia State University in 2004.
COLORADO
From Greeley 80634
Joy Christine Bunting, a junior in communication studies, was captain of the women’s swimming and diving team for 2009-10. Bunting has received the Karen Dionne (Most Inspirational) Team Award for three consecutive years and qualified in the top eight at the Big 12 Championships. Calendar group: Athletes Demonstrating Excellence and Taking the Lead
MISSOURI
From Rolla 65401
Mary Adams, a junior in architectural engineering, is a Madison and Lila Self Engineering Leadership Fellow. She is a member of the Azacilo, Boliva, Latrine Team for Engineers Without Borders and was the 2010 KU Engineering Expo co-coordinator. She is the daughter of Craig and Susan Adams and a graduate of Rolla Senior High School. Calendar group: Engineers Without Borders
From St. Joseph and Topeka, Kan.
Precious Porras. SEE SHAWNEE COUNTY
TURKEY
From Istanbul
Aslihan Demirkaya, a doctoral student in mathematics, received a 2010 KU Graduate Studies Summer Research Fellowship and the Outstanding International Student Award from Phi Beta Delta, an international education honor society. She received a master’s in mathematics at KU in summer 2007 and bachelor’s from Middle East Technical University in Ankara. In Turkey, she received silver and bronze medals in the National Mathematics Olympiads, from 1996 to 1999. Calendar group: Mentors in Mathematics
