Forty-five students named to KU chapter of Mortar Board

LAWRENCE — Forty-five University of Kansas students have been initiated into Mortar Board, a senior honor society.

The initiation ceremony was April 15 for students and their families, chapter alumni and invited guests. A reception followed at the Kansas Union. Carlye Yanker, a junior from Ballwin, Mo., is chapter president for 2012-2013. Sue Geoffrion Neverve is president of Lawrence Mortar Board Alumni.

Among the students inducted are as follows:

• Carlye Yanker, president, a junior in finance and accounting from Ballwin, Mo.
• Bryan Do, vice president, a junior in exercise and pre-physical therapy, Wichita.
• Christine Van Allen, secretary, a junior in marketing and chemistry, Clearwater.
• Eric Driscoll, treasurer, a junior in accounting, West Fargo, N.D.
• Whitney Kleinmann, philanthropy chair, a junior in Spanish and pre-medicine, Overland Park.
• Adrienne Coleman, alumni relations chair, a junior in speech, language and hearing, Tulsa, Okla.
• Nell Neary, historian, a junior in economics with a minor in business, Omaha, Neb.
• Kayla Jo Cowell, membership co-chair, a junior in finance and management, Leawood.
• Megan Watson, membership co-chair, a junior in chemistry and creative writing, Overland Park.
• Jordan Crawford, outstanding educator co-chair, a junior in anthropology and pre-medicine, Topeka.
• Brandon Rogers, outstanding educator co-chair, a junior in human biology, Plano, Texas.
• Shanah Gaskill, social co-chair, a junior in marketing and management, Lawrence.
• Kathryn Hoven, social co-chair, a junior in English and history, Chester, N.J.
• Blaine Knox, social co-chair, a junior in human biology, Salina.
• Charles Allen, a junior in political science, Shawnee Mission.
• Hannah Bolton, a junior in management and leadership, Saint Libory, Neb.
• Kirsan Caswell, a junior in finance, Shawnee.
• Shannon Collins, a junior in political science and minor in public policy and leadership studies, Fairfax Station, Va.
• Katherine Cristiano, a junior in elementary education, Lansing.
• Mia Dufek, a junior in social welfare with a minor in communications, Green Bay, Wis.
• Kathryn Fankhauser, a junior in environmental studies with a minor in French language and culture, Topeka.
• Shannon Faucett, a junior in mechanical engineering, Overland Park.
• Ellen Frizzell, a junior in mechanical engineering, Prairie Village.
• Sarah Hageman, a junior in finance and management, The Woodlands, Texas.
• John Hart, a junior in economics with a minor in environmental studies, Leawood.
• Kimberlee Hinkle, a junior in marketing with a minor in communications, Wichita.
• Kara James, a junior in elementary education, Overland Park.
• Sarah Keeny, a junior in accounting, Kingman.
• Margaret Kopp, a junior in accounting, Leawood.
• Kelsey Leinmiller-Renick, a junior in environmental studies, Lawrence.
• Karen Lewis, a junior in environmental studies, Lawrence.
• Max Martin, a junior in human biology, Wichita.
• Matthew Moore, a junior in human biology, Wichita.
• Erin Murphy, a junior in finance and marketing, Overland Park.
• Erin O’Grady, a junior in microbiology, Overland Park.
• Jennifer Pisklo, a junior in accounting and international business, Tulsa, Okla.
• Bailey Reimer, a junior in American studies and linguistics and minor in Latin American studies, Shawnee.
• Alexandra Rose, a junior in political science and minor in peace and conflict studies, Topeka.
• Ursula Rothrock, a junior in journalism and Spanish, Lawrence.
• Ali Rueschhoff, a junior in human biology and pre-medicine, Lawrence.
• John Shuss, a junior in accounting, Leawood.
• Brian Simpson, a junior in accounting and finance, Mission Hills.
• Sarah Stern, a junior in Latin American studies and journalism, Lawrence.
• Dakota Strange, a junior in sports management, Wichita.
• Megan Wells, a junior in human biology and Spanish, Lawrence.

New Mortar Board members are selected by outgoing chapter members based on distinguished ability and achievement in scholarship, leadership and service. Students must have a 3.0 grade-point average and hold senior status during some or all of the academic year. Andy Kriegh, outgoing chapter president, said the average GPA for all newly initiated members was 3.76. Kriegh is a spring 2012 graduate from Lawrence.

Mortar Board advisers include Sandy Garrett, Lawrence Mortar Board Alumni, Beth Innocenti, professor of communication studies, and Charlie Persinger, director of university ceremonies and special events.

Founded originally in 1912 as the Torch senior women’s society, the organization became KU’s Mortar Board chapter in 1924, affiliating with the national Mortar Board women’s honor society. Mortar Board opened membership to men in 1975.