Participate in annual One Day. One KU. campaign to change a lifetime in just 24 hours

The annual One Day. One KU. campaign empowers donors at all levels to make a lasting impact on learners and the community. Celebrate KU’s birthday on Feb. 20 with the third-annual One Day. One KU. giving campaign. The KU Edwards Campus (KUEC) dedicates 2020’s campaign to a continued focus on scholarships and supporting vital diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts, as well as supporting transfer pathways for area community college students.

More than 36 percent of KUEC students work more than 40 hours a week, and another 64 percent work part-time. More than a third have children high-school age or younger. Finances are a major obstacle for the working professional and underrepresented students KUEC serves. Enrollment fees, transportation and family expenses are road blocks for many. Scholarships of all sizes provide critical assistance in overcoming these barriers.

With funds raised in 2019’s One Day. One KU. campaign, 11 students received micro-scholarships of $150. These micro-scholarships directly affect student's’ trajectories. According to Director of Student Success and Support Services Misty Chandler, this support can be the vital push students need to apply to their program of choice and get started. 

“The micro-scholarships from the 2018 and 2019 One Day. One KU. campaigns have literally launched 31 students into their academic experience,” Chandler said. “These scholarships were just the nudge they needed. Because of the nature of One Day. One KU., small gifts can truly make a difference in changing lives.”

As one micro-scholarship recipient said, “You wouldn’t think $100 would be a lot, but it helped me pay for a book in full. I didn’t have to rent or borrow it. […] Even more importantly, receiving this micro-scholarship was a strong encouragement for me to work even harder toward my goals.”

Striving to meet the region’s diverse workforce, economic and community needs, KUEC helps adult learners start, change or advance their careers through high-demand degree, certificate and professional education programs.

“The One Day. One KU. giving opportunity is an incredible way for all of us to come together, pool our resources and affect significant change, witnessing the results as they happen,” said David Cook, KUEC vice chancellor. “This is your opportunity to give back to the program or cause most important to you, show your Jayhawk pride, aid in student success and help strengthen the future of the local workforce and community.”

Campus atmosphere and student engagement are also key to student success. The KU Edwards Campus places high priority on DEI efforts to train and develop personnel and foster an inclusive environment for learning, working and collaboration.

“The importance of campus atmosphere is often overlooked when it comes to adult learners,” Chandler said. “An inclusive, supportive environment encourages student collaboration and involvement, which has proven to increase their success.”

As a result of the 2019 campaign, the KUEC Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Cabinet was able to purchase four student-created art pieces from KU’s Annual Student Scholarship Exhibition. The artworks – three of which will be displayed on campus until this summer when their one-year stay is up – were unveiled during the largest-ever KU Edwards Campus Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Summit in summer 2019, sponsored in partnership with the KU Center for Public Partnerships & Research (CPPR).

“DEI’s been a real priority for us,” Cook said. “The packed room in July really showed how important this is to every person on this campus. Over the past few years or so, our student population has grown nearly 25 percent and with that comes a responsibility to really work with our community and make sure our campus is welcoming to everyone who comes here.”

The students’ art pieces not only bring more vibrancy to the campus but also give aspiring artists an important start. Here is an introduction to each.

Dissociation, oil paint on canvas, by Abigail Rozario, junior

“The committee knew we needed to do something special to reflect our community and our student body with the artwork on our walls,” Chandler said. “This was the first piece the committee was drawn to; it reflects so many stories and narratives from so many perspectives. Her work is truly perfect for what we were hoping to have here.”

This is Rozario’s first art sale, and her piece will be on display at the Edwards Campus indefinitely.

“The word ‘dissociation’ is about being removed from your consciousness, feeling like you’re outside of your body in a way,” Rozario said. “If someone has anxiety, for example, it’s just a part of that. For me, it’s like a sheet of glass in front of me – everything’s kind of two-dimensional. I tried to convey that in a painting with the colors and abstractness of it all. I hope it strikes up a conversation and brings people together in whatever way.”

City Scene, quilt, by Emma Kellogg, sophomore

As Chandler mentioned during the summit, this quilt represents the colorful, cultural environment in Kansas City with the individual pieces and colors feeling like the individual members of a community coming together to create something beautiful.

“I’ve always gone to First Fridays in Kansas City and Final Fridays in Lawrence, and those events showed me a lot of the vibrant culture of those places,” Kellogg said. “I thought it was a neat opportunity for artists to get together and have a celebration. Art has always been really important to me. I wanted this to represent an artistic community. I hope when people see these artworks, they will think deeply about the meaning of them. With mine, I was thinking about it as a collaboration of many different people and what that looks like.”

Self Portrait/Conflicting Identities, charcoal powder, by Ariana Stein, freshman

Reflective of populations in Johnson County and the Kansas City Metro area, Stein’s piece represents her rich heritage. This piece’s displayed description includes the following excerpt: “… I am a first generation American, born to Jewish parents from Budapest, Hungary. The political climate in Hungary has grown dangerously anti-Semitic in recent years […] I chose to portray myself openly wearing both the Star of David and a traditional Hungarian headband, two very important parts of my identity ...” 

Stein said of her piece, “Self-portraits are always a personal reflection on how the artist sees themselves. My piece lends viewers a little window into a major part of my identity, and I hope that it reflects a little bit of the complexity of those two identities that clash with not only each other, but simultaneously with the fact that I am American. I also hope that it reflects to the viewer a sense of pride in claiming multiple identities, as children of immigrants or multiple ethnicities often feel like they don't belong to either. We deserve to embrace the beauty of our heritage rather than feel isolated by it, no matter how messy or complicated it may be.”

American Jazz, digital photograph, by Charity Poole, senior

This image captures Kansas City Jazz icon, Lonnie McFadden, performing at the Black Dolphin.

“I chose to photograph popular local musician, Lonnie McFadden, to represent the rich history of Kansas City as a cradle of jazz,” Poole said. “I wanted to capture the charisma, joy and passion that he conveys when he is performing. He lights up the room, and I wanted to impart that experience to the viewer through this photograph.”

These pieces are the beginning of a legacy with the KU Visual Arts department. Each year, the DEI Cabinet plans to buy one piece to add to this collection.

With KUEC’s continued focus on scholarships as well as DEI efforts, you will be able to not only help students overcome detrimental obstacles to continue their education, but also help provide a welcoming learning environment conducive to the success of the diverse student body. In 2020, KUEC added a new giving opportunity: community college transfer pathways. These gifts will support transfer student scholarships, academic coaching, career pathway advising and networking.

Help us educate the next generation of Kansas City professionals. Your contribution will benefit the community for years to come. Visit the KU Edwards Campus giving page to learn more about One Day. One KU. and how you can make a difference. Gifts made online, by phone and in person between midnight and 11:59 p.m. CST on Feb. 20 will count toward One Day. One KU.

Follow KU Edwards Campus on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to stay informed of campaign events, online giving opportunities and results.