In the 55 years since she graduated from the UW, Kay Larson's sleeves have been rolled up in service to her alma mater. In addition to her four-year term and vice presidency with the UWAB in the 1970s, Kay has found countless opportunities to assist the UW.
Need an alumna adviser for the UW's Kappa Kappa Gamma chapter? She'll do it, and eventually serve as international president, too. Need someone to help field phone calls in the Tyee office, including at the height of a busy Rose Bowl season? Help gathering classmates for the 25th and 50th reunions of the class of 1954? Participating in various duties for UW's Panhellenic organization?
Kay has done it all—and more. This year, the UW Alumni Association recognized her as its Distinguished Service Award recipient, the highest honor bestowed upon UWAA volunteers and members.
Today, Kay continues to volunteer for the UW from her home in Rancho Mirage, Calif. She recently served as the volunteer coordinator for the Chow Down to Washington dinner banquet, part of Dawg Days in the Desert featuring UW President Mark Emmert and head football coach Steve Sarkisian. Her idea to raise funds for UWAB scholarships has grown into the annual Coffee and Conversation luncheon there, with all proceeds funding the group's full-tuition awards.
"Just like I always knew I wanted to go to the UW, I always knew I would be a volunteer afterward," Kay says. "I want people to feel good about the University. I want to be that connection for them."
Husky connections seem to be Kay's specialty. Who else could help create a grassroots scholarship fund-raiser a thousand miles from Seattle, and build it from 14 attendees to more than 100 in four short years? "I am just thrilled with what we're doing here," Kay says. So is her alma mater.
Photo by Mark Cieslikowski
