Jena Klaas, Kansas City, Kan., was one of 30 students who were awarded Sen. Robert J. Dole Service Scholarships of $1,000 each.
The scholarships were awarded by the Dole Institute of Politics at the University of Kansas to recent high school graduates and will be used for the 2014-2015 academic year.
The scholarship program recognizes graduating seniors throughout Kansas who have volunteered in their communities and maintained a 3.0 or higher grade point average.
Aligned with the primary mission of the Dole Institute of Politics, the scholarship program encourages young Kansans to get involved in politics, government and community service.
“The Dole Institute of Politics provides many opportunities for Dole Scholars to become involved in civic engagement and continue their interest in public service,” said Barbara Ballard, director of the scholarship program and associate director of the Institute. “We hope the scholarships will inspire students to take their public service interest to the next level as they develop academically to become future leaders.”
Funded by two federal grants from NASA, the scholarship program began with 40 scholarships each year in 2005 and 2006. From 2007-2009, a total of 128 new scholarships were awarded annually. All scholarships could be renewed up to three times. Scholarship recipients were required to complete 100 community service hours per year. Students have provided more than 100,000 service hours in Kansas.
The scholarships, now totaling more than $1.4 million to date, have been distributed among the state’s four congressional districts to ensure the broadest statewide opportunity and participation.
Scholars must enroll at one of the six Kansas Board of Regents universities or Washburn University in Topeka. Regents universities are the University of Kansas, Emporia State University, Fort Hays State University, Kansas State University, Pittsburg State University and Wichita State University.
“It’s great to see so many young Kansans interested in public service each year,” said Bill Lacy, director of the Dole Institute. “Helping them understand the challenges and rewards of public life is invaluable.”
The Dole Public Service Scholarship program was administered by Scholarship Management Services, a department of Scholarship America, a national nonprofit educational support and student aid service organization that seeks to expand educational opportunities and encourage educational achievement. Awards were granted without regard to race, color, creed, religion, gender, disability or national origin.
Ballard formally announced the new scholars during a luncheon program at the Dole Institute this past summer. The scholars and their guests received remarks from the luncheon’s keynote speaker, Paul Buskirk, associate athletics director for Student Athlete Support Services at KU, Lacy and Ballard.