Source: James Hohenbary, 785-532-6904, e-mail jimlth@k-state.edu
News release prepared by: Cheryl May, 785-532-6415

Saturday, December 7, 2002

OLATHE RESIDENT BEN CHAMPION WINS RHODES SCHOLARSHIP

MANHATTAN -- Ben Champion, Olathe, is the seventh Kansas State University student since 1986 to win a Rhodes Scholarship.

Champion, a Kansas State University senior in chemistry, natural resources and environmental sciences with minors in Spanish and political science, interviewed today in St. Paul, Minn. Rhodes officials announced this evening that Champion is one of four winners in the district -- two of whom are from Kansas. There were 32 winners nationwide for 2003. District finalists from Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Oklahoma competed in Minnesota today. The Rhodes scholarship provides $40,000 to $60,000 to support two years of study at Oxford University.

K-State President Jon Wefald said, "Ben is truly an outstanding individual and very deserving of a Rhodes scholarship. He will represent Kansas and the United States very well in his studies at Oxford University. The Rhodes scholarship will provide him with the opportunity to pursue a doctorate in chemistry at one of the world's great universities.

"With Ben's win, K-State remains in second place among public universities in Rhodes scholarship competition since 1986," Wefald said.

K-State scholar adviser James Hohenbary said, "I have known Ben for several years and am elated that the Rhodes Trust has awarded him this honor. He has been both an outstanding student and an outstanding leader at Kansas State, and I think it is fair to say that the Rhodes confirms his place among the very finest college seniors in America. I am thrilled to see him succeed in this competition."

Champion was an intern for Rep. Dennis Moore in summer 2002. He was a Udall Scholarship winner in 2000. He also was a finalist in the 2002 Truman scholarship competition. He is an Eagle Scout, a Kansas Honors Scholar, a K-State Putnam Scholar, a Howard Hughes Undergraduate Research Scholar, as well as winner of June Hull Sherrid Biology Scholarship. He has been an environmental director on his residence hall floor and president of Students for Environmental Action at K-State. He is a member of Alpha Chi Sigma chemical fraternity and Golden Key National Honor Society. He has been a soccer referee for the Johnson County Soccer Association. The son of Mike and Paula Champion, Olathe, he is a 1998 graduate of Olathe South High School.

Kansas State University students are second in the nation among public universities in the number of Rhodes Scholarship winners since 1986. K-State also is the only public university over the past 15 years to rank among the top 10 of all U.S. schools for all five of these major scholarship programs: Rhodes, Marshall, Truman, Goldwater and Udall.

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