Mount Oread scholars, including banner carriers Mark Hageman, left, Omaha, Neb., and Erik Hanssen, Louisville, Colo., trek up Campanile hill on Monday for the 11th annual walk for incoming freshman scholarship students. The students learned about KU history, landmarks and student traditions.

The 11th annual trek up Camponile Hill for Mount Oread Scholars is rerouted because of construction for the Anderson Family Football Complex at Kansas University on Monday, August 13, 2007 in Lawrence, Kan. Incoming freshman students were taught about campus history, campus landmarks and student traditions at KU on Monday morning.

Kristi Jensen started her trek up the hill Monday morning with a short, unplanned tour around Kansas University’s Memorial Stadium.

Because of construction near the stadium, the Hoisington freshman couldn’t find the starting point for the Mount Oread scholars’ annual walk up the hill, a symbolic journey resembling their graduation day walk down the hill in four years.

Sounds of the construction of a new football facility echoed across the hill as the scholars climbed toward Memorial Drive.

“I know a number of you had a long walk already,” said Emily Malin, director of the Mount Oread Scholars program. “We don’t usually start on this side of the stadium.

“By the time you graduate, we will be done with construction, and you will have a direct walk down the hill,” she promised.

More than 80 freshmen showed up at 8:30 a.m. to take part in the 11th annual walk, accompanied by various campus administrators, including Frank DiSalvo, Lori Reesor and Kathryn Nemeth Tuttle, the three associate vice provosts of student success. A total of 189 students are members of this year’s scholars program.

Tuttle, who served as tour guide for the walk, urged students to graduate in four years, be involved in campus and to leave KU “a greater, better and more beautiful place than it is today. Even though it may be hard to see the beauty over these mounds of dirt.”

Jensen and other students, including Emily Bergman, a freshman from St. Benedict, were somewhat less philosophical as they listened to Tuttle, Malin and other speakers.

They came with just one goal in mind.

“Food. Free food,” Bergman said.

Jensen agreed.

“That’s what Hawk Week is all about,” she said.

The scholars ended their walk with breakfast in the gallery of Kenneth Spencer Research Library, where they listened to other speakers talk about being a new student at KU.