20 KU faculty surprised by Kemper awards

First, more students enrolled than were expected, requiring a last-minute room change. And when she left the class to make more copies of the course syllabus for her students, a team of unexpected visitors arrived.

Chancellor Robert Hemenway, accompanied by representatives of Commerce Bank and the KU Endowment Association, took seats alongside the students and patiently awaited Amey's return from the photocopier.

"Oh, my God," Amey exclaimed as she turned the corner into her classroom and saw the coat-and-tie clad Hemenway. "Honest, chancellor, I'm usually better prepared for my class."

But Hemenway had nothing but smiles for one of KU's best teachers as selected by a panel of KU faculty, students and alumni. He quickly announced that Amey was the recipient of a W.T. Kemper Fellowship for Teaching Excellence. Hemenway then introduced Jerry Samp, president of Commerce Bank-Lawrence, who presented Amey with a letter describing the details of her $5,000 award.

Amey's was the 13th award presentation made by university and Commerce officials since August 22, the beginning of the fall semester. A total of 16 Lawrence campus faculty were honored for their teaching and advising efforts in presentations Aug. 22, 26 and 28. The recipients included

For teaching and advising at the Freshman-Sophomore level

• Paul J. D'Anieri, assistant professor of political science;

• Amy J. Devitt, associate professor of English;

• Stanley F. Lombardo, professor of classics;

• Mehrangiz Najafizadeh, associate professor of sociology;

• Robert C. "Robin" Rowland, professor of communication studies;

• Greg Shepherd, associate professor of communication studies;

• Marylee Z. Southard, associate professor of chemical and petroleum engineering;

• Craig E. Martin, professor of botany;

• Marilyn J. Amey, associate professor of educational policy and leadership;

• Beverly Davenport Sypher, professor of communication studies;

• Da-Hsiang Donald Lien, professor of economics;

• Joane P. Nagel, professor of sociology;

• Christine M. Arguello, associate professor of law;

• Nancy L. Peterson, professor of special education;

• Burdett A. Loomis, professor of political science;

• Bozenna Pasik-Duncan, professor of mathematics.

• Dr. Cheng Cho, professor of pediatrics and microbiology;

• Robert M. Klein, professor of anatomy and cell biology;

• Dr. Norman L. Martin, professor of radiology;

• Dr. George Varghese, professor of rehabilitation medicine.

The W.T. Kemper Foundation-Commerce Bank, Trustee, has established a $250,000 fund to help finance the program. The KU Endowment Association provided $250,000 in matching funds.

A seven-member selection committee, comprising KU faculty members and students and a KU alumnus, chose the KU Kemper fellows after reviewing nomination letters from faculty and students.

The William T. Kemper Foundation-Commerce Bank, Trustee, was established in 1989 after Mr. Kemper's death.