Bronze Jayhawk Lands at KU Edwards Campus

Facility allows students to conduct life sciences research in Overland Park

Campus installs replica Jayhawk 50 years after original was created.

WHO: KU Edwards Campus “Academic Jayhawk.” A bronze, four-foot tall, 600-pound replica of the “Academic Jayhawk” that currently stands in front of Strong Hall at the University of Kansas’ Lawrence campus.

WHAT: KU Edwards Campus will install the bronze “Academic Jayhawk” in front of Regnier Hall at the Overland Park campus.

WHEN: 11 to 11:45 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 21, 2006 / Weather permitting.

WHERE: Regnier Hall, KU Edwards Campus, 12600 Quivira Rd., Overland Park, Kan. 66213

WHY:

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the original bronze Jayhawk which was donated to the university by the class of 1956.
Elden C. Tefft, a KU alumni and retired professor of sculpture at KU, designed both bronze “Academic Jayhawks.” According to Tefft, the only difference between the two Jayhawks is that the KU Edwards Campus Jayhawk is “50 years younger and prouder!”
The Jayhawk further unites KU Lawrence with the KU Edwards campus.

MEDIA NOTE: The installment will be a great visual opportunity.

MORE ABOUT ELDEN C. TEFFT

Elden C. Tefft began sculpting in the late 1940s. As a Jayhawk alumni, he then developed the sculpture program at the University of Kansas and taught at KU for 40 years. Tefft works primarily with bronze when sculpting, but also works in stone and other mediums. Tefft’s work includes the “Academic Jayhawks,” the University of Kansas Seal, portraits of Chancellors Snow, Strong, Murphy and Wescoe. Current work-in-progress includes James Naismith for the International Basketball Memorial Sculpture Court.

MORE ABOUT THE “ACADEMIC JAYHAWK”

The original “Academic Jayhawk” was a gift to the University by the class of 1956. Today, the gift still sits in front of Strong Hall on the Lawrence campus. In order to make the replica “Academic Jayhawk,” a mold of the original was taken in September 2005.

There are few differences between the original “Academic Jayhawk” and the replica that will reside at KU Edwards Campus. The replica is slightly smaller than the original and is made of silicon bronze, instead of tin bronze, making the KU Edwards Campus’ version heavier (600-pounds) and more durable. The “Academic Jayhawk” was donated to KU Edwards Campus by private funds.