photo by: Andy White, KU Marketing

The Marching Jayhawks perform at a University of Kansas football game against Iowa State on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022.

The University of Kansas honored the 2026 recipients of the Fred Ellsworth Medallion and announced other 2026 Homecoming award winners at the KU/Baylor football game on Saturday

KU honored three Fred Ellsworth Medallion recipients this year, as well as alumni, volunteers, faculty and students recognized for their leadership, service and commitment to KU.

The Fred Ellsworth Medallion has been honoring individuals since 1975. The honor is bestowed on those “who have provided unique and significant service to the University,” according to KU Alumni.

Here are the 2026 Fred Ellsworth Medallion recipients, as well as the other Homecoming honorees.

Fred Ellsworth Medallion recipients

Marvin Motley: Served two terms on KU Alumni’s national board of directors and led the organization as chair. He is a KU Endowment trustee and serves on the board of trustees’ executive committee and as chair of the audit committee.

Winifred Pinet: Pinet is the immediate past co-chair of KU’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences advisory board and served on the search committee that hired Provost Arash Mafi as the College’s dean in 2023.

Todd Slawson: Along with his two brothers, Slawson made the lead gift for the construction of Slawson Hall, opened in 2018. Slawson Hall is part of KU’s Earth, Energy & Environmental Center, a hub for interdisciplinary research and education on the Lawrence campus.

Wintermote National Volunteer of the Year Award winner

Doug Gardner: A longtime volunteer with The Villages Jayhawk Alumni Network in The Villages, Florida.

Clodfelter Regional Volunteer of the Year Award winner

James Elliott: Former president of the Greater Kansas City Alumni Network. Also known for serving as a liaison between KU and the military to organize flyovers for Kansas Athletics events.

Judy & Rich Billings Spirit of 1912 Award winner

Mark Mears: Author, speaker and business leader. Mears has spent nearly 40 years building brands such as PepsiCo/Pizza Hut, McDonald’s, JCPenney, NBCUniversal and The Cheesecake Factory. He serves as founder and chief growth officer of LEAF Growth Ventures.

Sorority & Fraternity Life’s Legacy of Leadership Award winners

Sara Bedwell: KU alumna and member of Alpha Delta Pi, Bedwell has dedicated more than two decades to mentoring collegiate members, leading alumnae organizations and supporting nonprofit initiatives.

John Yorke: KU alumnus and member of Alpha Kappa Lambda, Yorke has dedicated more than four decades to rebuilding and strengthening his fraternity, including leading its rechartering, restoring chapter housing and mentoring generations of members.

Faculty awards: Honor for Outstanding Progressive Educator (HOPE) Award winner

Courtney Summers: Pediatric speech-language pathologist and multi-term lecturer with the Department of Speech-Language-Hearing in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Student awards: Excellence in Community, Education, & Leadership (ExCEL) Award winner

Ashton Barker: Senior, Overland Park, marketing.

Addison Murdock: Senior, Woodbine, Iowa, accounting.