RCW: WEF Donor Spotlight - Mark & Jessica Stockham

Mark and Jessica Stockham have been members of the Williams Education Fund for five years. The pair live Lawrence and both are currently doctoral students at KU, and although their time as students is drawing to a close, they say they have been very fortunate to find career opportunities that will allow them to stay in Lawrence. They look forward to sticking around and raising a few of their own little Jayhawks. Get to know the Stockham’s a little more in this edition of the WEF Donor Spotlight.

Are you University of Kansas alumni?
Yes, we both graduated with Bachelor’s degrees in 2009 and came back to KU in 2011 to work on PhDs in Physics.

What is your favorite Kansas Athletics memory?
Mark: The final game against Missouri at Allen Fieldhouse is hard to beat, but I’ll also include the 76-39 football win against Nebraska in 2007.

Jess: When KU lost to Northern Iowa in the 2010 NCAA Tournament, which happened to coincide with our wedding day. We had the game on a big screen after the ceremony, and since our wedding colors were Crimson and Blue, it probably looked like we were just having a fancy watch party. As much as we’ve always enjoyed watching KU basketball together, since then, it has always reminded me that I have a cheering buddy for life.

Why do you support Kansas Athletics and its student-athletes?
We both love the university and feel so at home here. Athletics and the student-athletes go a long way toward making KU such a special place.

What is your favorite KU tradition?
Mark: Waving the wheat.

Jess: Walking through the Campanile at graduation.

If you could describe KU in one word, what word would it be and why?
Home. For us, KU gives us the same feeling as being in the house you grew up in, like you just know that’s where you belong.

For more information on the Williams Education Fund, including tickets, parking, premium seating, facility projects and special events visit WilliamsFund.com.