Interaction design student named a 2026-2027 Self Memorial Scholar

LAWRENCE — Twenty-one students have been selected to receive the University of Kansas Madison and Lila Self Memorial Scholarship for the 2026-2027 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 2026 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, the Scholar Development Program and an opportunity to be a part of an interdisciplinary cohort of graduate students. 

The Scholar Development Program is a distinguishing feature of the Self Memorial Scholarship. This program provides general education and training in career development, communication and leadership to assist Self Memorial Scholars in their preparation for future leadership roles, complementing the specialized education and training provided in their graduate program.

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. 

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 130 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

The new Self Memorial Scholars for 2026-2027: 

• Sean Anderson of Manhattan: bachelor's degree in accounting and finance from KU; incoming master's student in accounting.
• Dominic Arbini of Fenton, Missouri: bachelor’s degree in architectural engineering from KU; incoming master’s student in civil engineering.
• Brett Cranor of Overland Park: bachelor’s degree in economics from KU; incoming master’s student in economics.
• Kendall Cranor of Overland Park: bachelor’s degrees in microbiology and chemistry from KU; incoming doctoral student in the interdisciplinary graduate program in biomedical sciences at KU Medical Center.
• Brooklyn Dickey of Cambridge, Minnesota: bachelor’s degree in speech-language-hearing from KU; incoming master’s student in speech-language pathology.
• Kundana Dongala of Overland Park: bachelor's degree in computer science from KU; incoming master’s student in business administration and business analytics.
• Taylor Doyle of Shawnee: bachelor’s degrees in political science, multimedia journalism and global & international studies from KU; incoming master’s degree in digital and integrated marketing communications.
• Maizie Ferguson of Olathe: bachelor’s degree in English from KU; incoming master’s student in English.
• Maia Flynn of Ainsworth, Nebraska: bachelor’s degree in speech-language-hearing from KU; incoming master’s student in speech-language pathology.
• Aleyna Hein of Olathe: bachelor’s degree in interaction design from KU; incoming master’s student in architecture and design.
• Caleigh House of Kansas City, Missouri: bachelor’s degree in accounting from KU; incoming master’s student in accounting.
• Gurvinder Kaur of Punjab, India: bachelor’s degree in accounting from KU; incoming master’s student in accounting.
• Komal Kaur of Olathe: bachelor's degree in political science from KU; incoming master’s student in public administration.
• Lottie Keating of London, England: bachelor's degree in accounting from KU; incoming master’s student in accounting.
• Allison Monteleone of St. Mary’s: bachelor’s degree in social work, minor in journalism from KU; incoming master’s student in social work.
• Navya Nittala of Overland Park: bachelor’s degree in computer science from KU; incoming master’s student in business administration.
• Kyron Saunders of Gardner: bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from KU; incoming doctoral student in aerospace engineering.
• Hunter Seamons of Thayne, Wyoming: bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from KU; incoming master’s student in aerospace engineering.
• Sasha Sharman of Spokane, Washington: bachelor’s degrees in behavioral neuroscience, data science and philosophy from KU; incoming master’s student in public administration.
• Nimra Syed of Overland Park: bachelor’s degree in computer science from KU; incoming master’s student in business administration and business analytics.
• Alivia Tolbert of Lee's Summit, Missouri: bachelor’s degree in architectural engineering from KU; incoming master’s student in civil engineering.