photo by: Courtesy: Dole Institute

The Dole Institute of Politics on the West Campus of the University of Kansas.

The Dole Institute of Politics will award its top leadership prize to the late Sandra Day O’Connor, the first female justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, at a public program next month.

It is the first time the Dole Institute has honored a recipient posthumously. Scott O’Connor, the late justice’s eldest son, and Louise Dubé, chief executive officer of iCivics, will accept the award and join Dole Institute Director Audrey Coleman for a conversation on the late justice’s life and legacy.

“In honor of Constitution Day, we’re proud to announce that the Dole Institute is honoring Justice O’Connor with the Dole Leadership Prize for her lifetime of service to the country,” Coleman said. “Through iCivics, she ensured that her commitment to civics education continues in perpetuity for the benefit of future generations of Americans.”

The Dole Leadership Prize is a bipartisan award presented to an individual or nonprofit whose public service leadership demonstrates the importance of and inspires others to be engaged in political and civic affairs. O’Connor, the Supreme Court’s first female justice, will be honored for her legacy of leadership and her advocacy in spurring civic and government involvement, notably through her nonprofit organization iCivics.

Former U.S. Sen. Bob Dole was a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee during O’Connor’s historic confirmation process in 1981; her nomination was confirmed unanimously by the U.S. Senate. The justice visited the Dole Institute of Politics, in coordination with the KU School of Law, in 2010.

The public program is set for 7 p.m. on Oct. 24 at the Dole Institute of Politics on the University of Kansas’ West Campus. The free public program also will be livestreamed on the institute’s website and YouTube channel.