Three people with ties to the Kansas University Endowment Association have been honored with awards from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.

CASE is a professional organization for higher education alumni, fundraising and public relations organizations. The recognitions for KU Endowment were given among schools in KU’s district, which include an eight-state region.

Kurt and Sue Watson, of Andover, received the Volunteers of the Year Award, and Judy Wright, of Lawrence, received the Virginia Carter Smith Recognition Award.

The Watsons are serving as chairs of KU’s fundraising campaign, Far Above: The Campaign for Kansas. Wright retired from KU Endowment Association on Dec. 22. She had been serving as assistant vice president and director of the Chancellors Club.

Dale Seuferling, president of KU Endowment, said he thought it was “a tremendous point of pride for the entire KU community” to have the association receive two awards, given at the CASE District VI conference in Denver on Monday.

Seuferling said the Watsons were nominated based on their work for the campaign. Wright’s award, he said, was for a person who had recently retired and served CASE in the past.

Kurt Watson is president and chief operating officer of IMA Financial Group in Wichita, and both he and his wife have degrees from KU.

Wright was active in the CASE organization throughout her 17-year career at KU Endowment, serving as the chair of the district conference and on the district board of directors, along with many other contributions of her time.