Jayhawk Graduating Seniors Honored
5/8/2026 12:14:00 PM | General, Student-Athlete Support Services, SAAC
LAWRENCE, Kan. — Dr. Robert E. Frederick Senior Scholar Athlete of the Year award winners Will King (golf) and Lydia Lafferty (swimming) highlighted the Kansas Athletics K Ring and Graduation Celebration Friday morning at the University of Kansas Conference Center.
More than 120 Kansas graduating student athletes and spirit squad members were honored at the event that had approximately 300 in attendance consisting of families, KU coaches and staff, K Club board members and past presidents, and other dignitaries. Former KU football standout Brandon McAnderson served at the emcee of the ceremony that included the presentation of the K Rings to the graduates and senior remarks from Tanner Talley (track) and Heike Janse van Vuuren (tennis).
"Today we celebrate an incredible group of Jayhawks," Director of Athletics Travis Goff said when he addressed the contingent. "Every single one of them, regardless of where their journey started, regardless of how they got here, they are completing a degree and will go off onto the next chapter in a profound manner."
"You have represented us with pride; you faced adversity and have done it with honor and with passion," Goff continued turning his focus to the graduates. "You've had some challenges. You've had some winding journeys, but you came out of that in a remarkable fashion. We're so proud of you and we're so excited about what now you'll go out and conquer in your lives. You've made us better."
King has posted two wins during his Kansas career. Last fall, the Olathe, Kansas native set school record for the lowest 54-hole with a 199 (-14) at Ka'Anapali Classic in Hawaii. King, who won the 2025 Kansas Amateur, carries a 4.0 grade point average (GPA) majoring in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology with a business minor. A two-time Cobalt Golf All-America Scholar and three-time Academic All-Big 12 First Team selection, King was the 2025 Big 12 Scholar Athlete of the Year and a recipient of the 2025 Dr. Gerald Lage Academic Award, which is the highest academic achievement the Big 12 Conference honors.
Lafferty is a two-time All-Big 12 selection who placed second in the 50-yard freestyle at the 2026 Big 12 Championship. The Watonga, Oklahoma native earned a trio of lifetime bests in the 50 free (23.66) while placing fifth in the 100 fly (53.24) and 11th in the 100 back (53.85) at the 2025 Big 12 Championship. Lafferty holds the KU record in a conference meet in the 100-yard butterfly. An exercise science and pre-medicine student, Lafferty is a three-time Academic All-Big 12 First Team selection who has a 3.97 GPA. She was also a 2025 Dr. Gerald Lage Academic Award recipient and was a 2025 College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America Individual Scholar All-America honoree.
The Kansas Athletics Class of 2026 helped contribute to setting the department grade point average record six times over, including in the Fall 2025 semester with a 3.54 GPA.
More than 120 Kansas graduating student athletes and spirit squad members were honored at the event that had approximately 300 in attendance consisting of families, KU coaches and staff, K Club board members and past presidents, and other dignitaries. Former KU football standout Brandon McAnderson served at the emcee of the ceremony that included the presentation of the K Rings to the graduates and senior remarks from Tanner Talley (track) and Heike Janse van Vuuren (tennis).
"Today we celebrate an incredible group of Jayhawks," Director of Athletics Travis Goff said when he addressed the contingent. "Every single one of them, regardless of where their journey started, regardless of how they got here, they are completing a degree and will go off onto the next chapter in a profound manner."
"You have represented us with pride; you faced adversity and have done it with honor and with passion," Goff continued turning his focus to the graduates. "You've had some challenges. You've had some winding journeys, but you came out of that in a remarkable fashion. We're so proud of you and we're so excited about what now you'll go out and conquer in your lives. You've made us better."
King has posted two wins during his Kansas career. Last fall, the Olathe, Kansas native set school record for the lowest 54-hole with a 199 (-14) at Ka'Anapali Classic in Hawaii. King, who won the 2025 Kansas Amateur, carries a 4.0 grade point average (GPA) majoring in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology with a business minor. A two-time Cobalt Golf All-America Scholar and three-time Academic All-Big 12 First Team selection, King was the 2025 Big 12 Scholar Athlete of the Year and a recipient of the 2025 Dr. Gerald Lage Academic Award, which is the highest academic achievement the Big 12 Conference honors.
Lafferty is a two-time All-Big 12 selection who placed second in the 50-yard freestyle at the 2026 Big 12 Championship. The Watonga, Oklahoma native earned a trio of lifetime bests in the 50 free (23.66) while placing fifth in the 100 fly (53.24) and 11th in the 100 back (53.85) at the 2025 Big 12 Championship. Lafferty holds the KU record in a conference meet in the 100-yard butterfly. An exercise science and pre-medicine student, Lafferty is a three-time Academic All-Big 12 First Team selection who has a 3.97 GPA. She was also a 2025 Dr. Gerald Lage Academic Award recipient and was a 2025 College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America Individual Scholar All-America honoree.
The Kansas Athletics Class of 2026 helped contribute to setting the department grade point average record six times over, including in the Fall 2025 semester with a 3.54 GPA.
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