Ben Kirby knew that Kansas University administrators sometimes interrupted classes to give faculty members awards.

So he figured his religion professor, Tim Miller, was going to be honored when he saw two KU administrators flanked by media walking into his class Monday.

“I thought Dr. Miller was going to receive an award,” Kirby said. “I never thought it would be me.”

Richard Johnson, dean of students, instead announced that Kirby, a senior from Dallas, received one of this year’s nine Chancellor’s Student Awards.

Kirby received the Alexis F. Dillard Student Involvement Award, given to a student who has “unselfishly contributed to the university through campus involvement.” Kirby has been a student senator, involved in leadership with residence halls and his fraternity, and was coordinator and co-founder of the Freshman Leadership Council.

“I was very surprised,” Kirby said of the award. “I had no clue.”

This is the first year that KU administrators have presented the Chancellor’s Student Awards, which are the only universitywide awards given to seniors, during classes. In the past, seniors received a letter saying they’d won.

“We really wanted to recognize students in front of their peers,” Johnson said. “This personalizes it.”

Nine students received six different awards this year. Five of the nine were given Monday; the remaining awards will be given today.

In addition to Kirby, Monday’s winners were:

• Laura Dakhil, Wichita, Caryl K. Smith Student Leader Award. The award is given to a member of a fraternity or sorority who has “demonstrated commitment to the local chapter, the KU greek community, the university and the Lawrence community.”

Dakhil, a member of Kappa Alpha Theta, created the “Bringing Campus Home” program for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Wichita, which teaches children about higher education; co-founded the All-Greek Dinner Exchange Committee; and was the 2002 chairwoman of the homecoming steering committee.

• Sarah Feldt, Norman, Okla., Class of 1913 Award. The award is given to a senior man and a senior woman who have had “stellar academic records, plus have shown evidence of comprehensive intelligence, devotion to studies and personal character, and promise of usefulness to society.”

Feldt is a Goldwater scholar who has served as president of the Society of Physics Students.

• Travis Weller, Garden City, Class of 1913 Award.

Weller is men’s outreach coordinator for the Emily Taylor Women’s Resource Center, co-founder of KU Men Can Stop Rape and has been involved in the Center for Community Outreach.

• Jennifer Sweeton, Parkville, Mo., Agnes Wright Strickland Award. The award is given to a graduating senior man and senior woman “in recognition of his or her academic record, demonstrated leadership in matters of university concern, respect among fellow students and indications of future dedication to service to the university.”

Sweeton has worked as a research assistant in six laboratories, founded a school supply drive for foster children and was a Rhodes Scholar semifinalist.

Each award carries a cash prize except the Agnes Wright Strickland Award, which includes a lifetime membership to the KU Alumni Association.