ConnectingU | August '17

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CONNECTING AUGUST. 2017

In this issue of ConnectingU - August 2017, you will find: Courtside Café Silver Horton Award Winner Kim Nixon Wins the Christopher M. Sowa Pride Award KU Bookstore Introduces Charlie Hustle Student Feature: Collin Cox Whitney Fox Named Employee of the Month Kansas Union Directors & Staff Visit KU 9th Annual Rotary Youth Leadership Academy Director’s Corner with David Mucci JJ O’Toole-Curran Promoted to Senior Associate Union Director

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CONNECTING AUGUST. 2017

HIGHLIGHTS

SILVER HORTON AWARD WINNER

In May of this year, the DeBruce Center's Courtside Café was awarded the prestigious Silver Horton Award in the Retail Sales—Multiple Concept/Marketplace category. The Horton Awards are given out each year by the National Association of College and University Food Services (NACUFS). More than 75 colleges submitted entries this year.

“The entries submitted by the various NACUFS institutions showcase some of the best trends and ideas in college and university dining service programs across the country,” said Dawn Hearne, Hendrix College, Loyal E. Horton Dining Awards chair.

To learn more about NACUFS' Horton Awards and to see the full list of this year's winners, visit https://www.nacufs.org/recog nition-dining-awards/.

KIM NIXON: AWARD WINNER

Congrats to Kim Nixon, Impromptu Café manager, for receiving the Christopher M. Sowa Faculty/Staff Pride Award at SILC's Lavender Graduation on May 11th, 2017. Kim is highly deserving of this award. We are very grateful to have her on our team here at the Union.

To learn more about Lavender Graduation and Kim's award, visit https://silc.ku.edu/LavGrad.

KU BOOKSTORE INTRODUCES CHARLIE HUSTLE

The KU Bookstore is proud to announce their new partnership with Charlie Hustle!

Select styles are now being sold here at the Union Bookstore, as well as at 1865 in the Oread Hotel, KU Med Center, and Jayhawk Central (Edwards Campus). You can also check out the Charlie Hustle lineup at bit.ly/CharlieHustleKU. Charlie Hustle makes vintage fresh, and the KU Bookstore is excited to be able to bring their KU Collection to campus.

STUDENT FEATURE:

COLLIN COX

KU Student: Collin Cox

Collin Cox has been actively involved in SUA since he came to KU, and most recently led the Redo Your U student organization this spring. Check out his recent interview with the School of Public Affairs and Administration at http://kupa.ku.edu/student-spotli ght-collin-cox-undergraduate-st udent "I am proud to be a Jayhawk.

Through the many skills I’ve obtained, the connections I’ve made, and the community I’m a part of – there is truly no place like home (KU)." - Collin Cox

WHITNEY FOX NAMED EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH

KANSAS UNION DIRECTORS & STAFF VISIT KU

The Kansas Union and DeBruce Center were showcased at the annual Wayne Reynolds Union Directors Conference on May 18, 2017. Directors and staff from six Kansas institutions joined our crew in sharing perspectives on Union services and trends. The 100+ guests began the day at the Kansas Union with updates on developments at their respective Unions. Building tours followed as guests took a look at meeting room set-ups, student programming areas, back-of-house Maintenance and Custodial areas, and Dining and Bookstore units. The morning was capped with “speed discussion” roundtables (pictured) on hot topics facing the industry. The guests then headed over to the DeBruce Center to feast on tasty cuisine courtesy of the Center’s Courtside Café. The day wrapped up with tours of DeBruce, the Booth Family Hall of Athletics, and a peek into Allen Fieldhouse.

9TH ANNUAL RYLA

From June 4-June 8th, high school participants from Rotary District 5710 attended Rotary Youth Leadership Academy (RYLA) at the University of Kansas. In 2008 the KU Memorial Union had the opportunity to bid on hosting RYLA at the University of Kansas. We have since had the oportunity to host it for the past 9 years.

RYLA had an all time high of 88 participants recruited. District 5710 is located in northeast Kansas and composed of cities including Atchison, Emporia, Manhattan, Overland Park, Kansas City, Lawrence, and many more.

Throughout the camp our participants partake in activities intended to challenge and develop their leadership, community service, and civic engagement understanding and skills. Some of the activities include attending the Adams Campus Challenge Course, taking the True Colors personality test, engaging in consensus building activities, and participating in community service projects around Lawrence.

Throughout the week the campers meet in small groups and develop an answer to one of three presented problems. Topics include: • Kansas Brain Drain – how to keep Kansas graduates in the state • Crimes Against Humanities – a look at funding issues surrounding the humanities in K-12 education • Free college – should there be an option that allows for free college within the state or the nation Each small group presented on their chosen topic at graduation on Thursday, June 8 in the Kansas Union Ballroom.

Congrats to Whitney Fox, KU Dining Services' Catering Coordinator, for being selected as a KU Employee of the Month for June! Read more about Whitney’s notable accomplishments in KU Today.

DIRECTOR’S CORNER People often assume that life on campus during summer is a snooze. While that may be the case for some, the Union roars along. Orientation, summer conferences, visitors, final inventory, year-end close, fall prep—all maintain the intensity.

Summer made new demands this year—the South Dining Commons now serves old Oliver Hall and the soon-to-open Downs Hall. Dining is racing to get all the equipment, training and polish in place to welcome students in August. The Commons is bright, aery and comprehensive. The hall and fare will enrich campus and residential life and blow diets.

JJ O’TOOLE-CURRAN PROMOTED

JJ O’Toole-Curran has been promoted to Senior Associate Union Director/Director of Engagement and Strategic Planning, effective July 1, 2017.

“The KU Memorial Union has long benefitted from the talent and energies of JJ O’Toole-Curran, first as Union Programs Director, and recently as Director of Marketing/Media/Programs. Her ability to work across the organization, build campus connections and partner with student leaders has been exceptional. JJ merging program events with marketing/media efforts demonstrated imaginative orchestration that produced amplified results.”

- David Mucci, director of the KU Memorial Union In this capacity, she will continue her current work but assume additional responsibilities for strategic planning, IT, learning outcomes, assessment, diversity initiatives, youth camp recruitment and KU history/tradition projects.

“O’Toole-Curran has proven a dedicated and productive contributor to students, the Union and KU. We are pleased she will continue to make such contributions with this expanded and vital portfolio.”

- David Mucci

Prior to KU, JJ held similar positions at UMKC, Washburn, Texas A&M, and the The Bookstore is readying the new Chalmers Hall art/supply University of Tulsa. JJ has a doctorate of higher education administration from KU. convenience store for the fall.

The Bookstore provided $100,000 in funding augmented by $450,000 in student design and labor services. That combination of retail and creativity (in partnership with Architecture, Visual Design and the School of the Arts) transformed a bleak communal space into a bright commons for KU’s art community.

JJ O’Toole Curran, in her new role as Director of Engagement and Strategy, is leading the unions through a new strategic plan.

Ensuring the DeBruce open and the Burge’s arrival in April monopolized focus but now frees to us think more fully about next steps. Staff planners and field specialists will draw the board and campus into a full conversation that will define our future.

That future includes a new chancellor. We will stress the importance of the union as the campus community center and its role as essential service providers. Critical will be our advocacy for the student leadership and service experiences provided through the Corporation Board, SUA, The Big Event, KJHK and student employment opportunities.

Though the summer is not a beach party, it does prep for the high tide of the new school year. Surfs up.

- David Mucci

@KUunion Discover the Union online at

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