KU announces new 2025-2026 Self Memorial Scholars

LAWRENCE – Twenty students have been selected to receive the University of Kansas Madison and Lila Self Memorial Scholarship for the 2025-2026 academic year.   

The Self Memorial Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship that is awarded to outstanding seniors from KU who will be transitioning into their first year of a master’s or doctoral program at KU in the fall 2025 semester. Students who were selected demonstrated achievement in leadership and scholarship, capable of envisioning and attaining goals that require energy and tenacity.

The Self Memorial Scholarship provides each recipient with a $10,000 scholarship award, $1,000 professional development award, leadership and career development training, and an opportunity to be a part of an interdisciplinary cohort of graduate students. The leadership and career development training, the Scholar Development Program, complements the specialized education and training provided by the graduate programs. 

Madison and Lila Self were deeply motivated by the idea that developing and investing in young leaders was vital for a successful future. The Selfs began their legacy of supporting graduate students in 1989 with the establishment of the Madison and Lila Self Graduate Fellowship.  Since 1991, the Self Graduate Fellowship has supported over 220 doctoral students.

The Self Memorial Scholarship was launched and permanently endowed in 2014.  The first Scholars were awarded in 2018. Since 2018, the Self Memorial Scholarship has supported nearly 100 graduate students. The overall mission of Self Graduate Programs is to provide funding and development opportunities for exceptional graduate students who demonstrate the promise to make significant contributions to their field of study and society as a whole.
  

The new Self Memorial Scholars for 2025-2026: 

• Adam Baruth of De Soto: bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from KU; incoming master’s student in aerospace engineering.
• Jenna Ghannam of Louisburg: bachelor’s degree in speech-language-hearing from KU; incoming master’s student in speech-language pathology.
• Archisa Ghimire of Olathe: bachelor’s in speech-language-hearing from KU; incoming master’s student in speech-language pathology.
• Bhavik Goplani of Dubai, United Arab Emirates: bachelor’s degree in computer science, minor in math from KU; incoming master’s student in computer science.
• Trent Gould of Overland Park: bachelor’s degree in computer science from KU; incoming master’s student in business administration and business analytics.
• Rachael Hampton of Lawrence: bachelor’s degree in sociology and applied behavioral science from KU; incoming master’s student in sociology.
• Sian Helfrich of Pratt: bachelor’s degree in architectural engineering from KU; incoming master’s student in structural engineering.
• Jolie Hilgedieck of Columbia, Illinois: bachelor’s degree in accounting from KU; incoming master’s student in accounting.
• Edona “Donna” Kraja of Bar, Montenegro: bachelor’s degree in accounting and international business from KU; incoming master’s student in accounting.
• Lakyn Leupold of Hiawatha: bachelor’s degree in atmospheric science pollution from KU; incoming master’s student in atmospheric science.
• Max Linares of Fayetteville, Arkansas: bachelor’s degree in organ performance and church music from KU; incoming master’s student in music (organ and church music).
• Jake Makela of Lindenhurst, Illinois: bachelor’s degrees in English and women, gender & sexuality studies from KU; incoming doctoral student in women, gender & sexuality studies.
• Maddie Peterson of Edmond, Oklahoma: bachelor’s degree in speech-language-hearing from KU; incoming master’s student in speech-language pathology.
• Chase Perkins of Topeka: bachelor’s degree in ecology & evolutionary biology from KU; incoming master’s student in ecology & evolutionary biology.
• Casey Queen of Omaha, Nebraska: bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from KU; incoming master’s student in aerospace engineering.
• Christopher Raithel of McLouth: bachelor’s degree in accounting, minor in business analytics from KU; incoming master’s student in accounting.
• Maria Luisa Segares of San Jose, Costa Rica: bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from KU; incoming master’s student in electrical engineering.
• Daisy Torres of Kansas City, Kansas: bachelor’s degree in speech-language-hearing from KU; incoming master’s student in speech-language pathology.
• Megan Tucker of Plano, Texas: bachelor’s degree in speech-language pathology from KU; incoming master’s student in speech-language pathology.
• Holly Wilson of Kansas City, Missouri: bachelor’s degree in social work from KU; incoming master’s student in social work.