KU director of graduate military programs receives award for volunteer service

Mike Denning, the director of Kansas University's Office of Graduate Military Programs. Photo courtesy of KU.

The Kansas University Alumni Association named Mike Denning, a 1983 KU graduate who now serves as director of the KU Office of Graduate Military Programs, as its volunteer of the year.

The association gave Denning the Dick Wintermote award for public service for his work with the KU Veterans Alumni Chapter. Under Denning’s leadership, the organization has established a 5K run and the Chancellor John Fraser Distinguished Military Graduate Award and has helped support the Wounded Warriors Scholarship Fund.

Denning himself entered the Marine Corps after graduating from KU. During his 27 years in the Marines he served three tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. He took over as director of graduate military programs in 2011.