Why Tony's a Hawk to Watch:

Why Kelly's a Hawk to Watch:

Kelly Houghteling is always up for an adventure. When she's off the clock, you can expect to find her outdoors hiking, biking, and fly-fishing in the Rocky Mountains, which she calls home. She even made the trek up to the 19,341-foot summit of Africa's highest mountain, Mt. Kilimanjaro, once during a trip to Tanzania.

In the School of Public Affairs and Administration, students from every background are shaped into exceptional leaders for public service who provide solutions to the most pressing community challenges at all levels of governance. Ph.D student D'Arlyn Bell is currently working to strengthen the voices of lower income communities to offer diversity, resilience and knowledge where it's needed most.

Growing up in Kansas City, Courtland Triplett always knew he wanted to bring positive change to the world but struggled to find the right path to achieve that goal. After carefully considering his options, he found that path in government, and at KU, he discovered a program and people dedicated to equipping him with the tools necessary to tackle real-world problems faced by communities at home and across the globe.

Why David's a Hawk to Watch:

Serious issues call for serious action. And David Toland has long been guided by the philosophy that real-world results are best achieved through a willingness to roll up one's sleeves and work collaboratively to put concrete plans in motion, or as he aptly put it, "stop talking about it -- get up from behind your desk and make it happen."

What’s the foundation of a city? For urban planner Ward Lyles, the spaces we inhabit are defined as much by an approach to life, and the people we encounter, as they are by the systems and physical structures that make up a sound infrastructure. The way he sees it, the true bedrock of a strong community lies in a simple, yet immensely powerful, guiding principle: compassion.