KU Alumni Association honors students, alumnus with 2024 Homecoming awards

LAWRENCE — Four Jayhawks were recognized during halftime of the University of Kansas-Houston football game Oct. 19 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, concluding a week of festivities for KU’s 112th Homecoming.

Emma Saville of Mulvane and Aarush Sehgal of Chandigarh, India, received the 2024 Excellence in Community, Education and Leadership (ExCEL) Award. Sponsored by Konica Minolta, the award has been given since 1991 to students who demonstrate exceptional leadership, effective communication skills, involvement in the KU community, academic scholarship, and the ability to work with a wide variety of students and organizations.

Saville, a senior in multimedia journalism, is executive director of Student Union Activities, a student ambassador and front desk assistant for KU Admissions, and social media producer for “Good Morning Indian Country,” a weekly news program produced by students at KU and Haskell Indian Nations University.

Sehgal, a senior in molecular, cellular & developmental biology, is a University Scholar and involved in radiation therapy research at KU Cancer Center. He is president of the International Student Association and proctor of Krehbiel Scholarship Hall.

The Alumni Association also honored Ariana Siddique, a junior in molecular, cellular & developmental biology from Overland Park, with the Jennifer Alderdice Homecoming Award, given to a student who has shown outstanding dedication to the university. Siddique is president of LEAD UP, a program that provides college preparation support to Kansas City youth. She is also a member of the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Equity Advisory Board and is the community outreach officer for the Hearts for the Homeless organization at KU.

Alderdice led student programs for the Alumni Association from 1999 to 2009 and earned her master’s degree in education from KU in 1999.

Michael Chavez of Lawrence received the Rich and Judy Billings Spirit of 1912 Award, which recognizes alumni who embody Jayhawk pride and ongoing commitment to the university and its traditions. In his role as associate director for community engagement initiatives at KU Admissions, Chavez helps bring new generations of Jayhawks into the flock and guide students toward success on the Hill. He earned his bachelor’s degree in communication studies in 2011 and his master’s degree in higher education in 2014, both from KU. The Spirit of 1912 Award commemorates the first year of KU’s Homecoming and honors Rich and Judy Billings, 1957 KU graduates who in 2011 created an endowment to fund future KU Homecoming celebrations.

Sixteen student organizations competed in the Homecoming student competition, earning points based on their performance in activities such as Chalk ’n’ Rock, a pickleball tournament, banner competition and more. The overall winners:

• First place: Kappa Delta sorority
• Second place: Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity
• Third place: Sigma Kappa sorority

This year’s Homecoming celebration was sponsored by Central Bank, with presenting partners Konica Minolta, KU Bookstore, Pepsi Zero Sugar and The University of Kansas Health System, and additional support from Active & Fit Direct, Jostens, Wendy’s, the Jayhawk License Plate program and Flying Jayhawks.

For more information on Homecoming at KU, visit the Alumni Association’s Homecoming page.

About the KU Alumni Association

Through the support of members and donors, the KU Alumni Association advocates for the University of Kansas, communicates with Jayhawks in all media, recruits students and volunteers, serves the KU community, and unites Jayhawks. For more information, visit the KU Alumni Association website.