Kansas Hillel student board members with their award: "Student Organization of the Year." 

The University of Kansas Hillel was named "Student Organization of the Year" by the Student Involvement and Leadership Center and Union Programs at KU's Student Leadership and Service Celebration on May 3.  Kansas Hillel was selected from over 500 student organizations, clubs and groups that operated on campus this year. At the ceremony, Kansas Hillel was also presented with an award for "Social Justice Program of the Year" for their Alternative Spring Break trip to help rebuild post-Hurricane Katrina Louisiana. Of the eight awards given to student organizations this year, two were awarded to Kansas Hillel, an unprecedented number. 

“I am so impressed with what our student leadership and program staff accomplished this year.  The strategic decisions to get more students involved in leadership roles and become more active throughout campus paid off.  I am thrilled the university recognized us for what we are doing for the KU Jewish community and the difference we are making on campus as a whole,” said Kansas Hillel Executive Director Jay Lewis.

The Kansas Hillel student board was able to share the awards with the rest of the community later that evening at Kansas Hillel's first Brenner Leadership Reception at the KU Adams Alumni Center. The program celbrated the more than 100 Jewish students that were involved in leadership positions this year in Kansas Hillel and throughout the university. The program was made possible by a generous endowment set up by a bequest from Daniel Brenner, a lifelong leader in the Kansas City Jewish community.

“We are so proud to have been chosen from the over 500 organizations and clubs at KU.  We really worked hard this year at having an impact on campus as well as getting more Jewish students involved.  It’s nice to be recognized,” said Kansas junior and Kansas Hillel student board member Liz Cohen.