2013 ExCEL Award winners announced at Homecoming game
LAWRENCE — Two University of Kansas seniors received the 23rd annual Excellence in Community, Education and Leadership Awards during halftime of the KU-Texas Tech homecoming football game Oct. 5 in Memorial Stadium.
The 2013 ExCEL award winners are Bryne Gonzales and Natalie Scott, both of Topeka.
Bryne Gonzales, who is majoring in speech-language-hearing, is the son of Sam and Belinda Gonzales. He is a founding father and current vice president of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. He has served as a Hawk Link Guide, Colors of KU student facilitator and Jana Mackey Distinguished Lecture Series member. He recently received an Undergraduate Research Award for his research on cochlear implants.
Natalie Scott, daughter of Lynn and Ann Scott, majors in psychology and pre-occupational therapy. She is a student senator and a member of the University Honors Program. As a sophomore, she was named a University Scholar, and she is a 2013-’14 KU Woman of Distinction. She served on the executive board of Alternative Breaks and coordinated freshman orientation for two summers.
The ExCEL 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.