KUCIMAT Fall 2007 Newsletter

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President's Message

The application essays have long since been written, interviews have been conducted, tuition has been paid, and we’re finally enrolled! The class of 2009 is here, and we are thrilled! Professors Frederickson and Marlowe succeeded in breaking us into the program through their summer courses, and we’re ready to delve into the fall schedule.

Members of the MPA Class of 2009 come from a variety of backgrounds and interests including non-profit, economics, urban planning, and the ever popular political science. While most of our class hails from the Midwest, we appreciate the diversity of a few students coming from the east and west coasts and our two international students, joining us from Croatia and Ukraine. Regardless of where we’ve come from, we’re all thankful to call the greater Lawrence area home—at least for the next year.

If I could sum up in one word what our class as a whole feels so far about this program, it would have to be appreciation. We all realize what we’re getting into and what it has taken to get here. We know the work and the accomplishment of those before us that have made this program the best there is for local government management, and we are appreciative for the opportunity to continue that achievement. We realize the long hours put in by faculty and staff dedicated to our development, and the time spent by KUCIMATs in making us feel welcome in the organization. We are fully aware that our bosses aren’t forced to participate in the internship program, but they choose to for the sake of the profession. It’s truly humbling to recognize how many people there are supporting us, striving with us for success.

To date, our class has taken the opportunity to get to know one another through several gatherings hosted by both the department and classmates. We played many hours of tennis and accepted the challenge of participating in a kickball tournament over the summer—no need to divulge the results! For the future, we plan to continue our friendly athletic endeavors as well as participate in events and programs that can help in furthering the department. One idea brought by a member of our class is a mini library added to the student resource room in Blake that would contain media suggested by professors and practitioners for supplemental learning. Another is to create a website that our class can use as both an internal communication tool and as a service to prospective students in learning about the program on a student-to-student basis. I am proud to serve classmates who think up and have the capacity to carry out so many great initiatives, and I have no doubt that there will be many more in the months to come!

With appreciation,

Jenny Hesseltine