School of Engineering to dedicate memorial highlighting contributions of Madison 'Al' and Lila Self

Thu, 09/29/2022

Cody Howard

LAWRENCE — A memorial commemorating the life and legacy of two of the largest benefactors to the University of Kansas will be unveiled in a ceremony later this month at the KU School of Engineering.

Corey Behrens, Self Engineering Leadership Fellows director, worked with a group of Self Program alumni to create and install a memorial honoring Al and Lila Self. The memorial will be dedicated at 3 p.m. Sept. 30 at the engineering courtyard near Eaton Hall, Learned Hall and Spahr Library. The memorial honors Madison “Al” and Lila Self. In 2007, the couple established the Self Engineering Leadership Fellows Program, which seeks to identify and develop students who have a passion for leadership, business and engineering and possess a "fire in the belly" mentality.

Prior to the SELF Program at the engineering school, the Selfs established the Madison and Lila Self Graduate Fellowship in 1989 to support exceptional doctoral students in business, economics, engineering and mathematics and the biological, biomedical, pharmaceutical, bioinformatic and physical sciences.

“Fellows involved in the programs established by the Selfs distinguish themselves as leaders during their time at KU and after graduation,” said Corey Behrens, director of the Self Engineering Leadership Fellows Program. “It is fitting this memorial was made possible by the vision and generosity of alumni Fellows.”

The memorial includes photographs and biographical information about the Selfs, as well as details about the programs they established at KU. It will be dedicated at the engineering courtyard terrace near Eaton Hall, Learned Hall and Spahr Library at 3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30.

Al Self graduated from KU in 1943 with a degree in chemical engineering. He was a successful businessman and a recipient of the school's Distinguished Engineering Service Award in 2000. The Selfs, both native Kansans, met at KU.

Al and Lila each passed away in 2013. Their total lifetime giving to KU totals more than $108 million.

Photo: Corey Behrens, Self Engineering Leadership Fellows director, worked with a group of Self Program alumni to create and install a memorial honoring Al and Lila Self. The memorial will be dedicated at 3 p.m. Sept. 30 at the engineering courtyard near Eaton Hall, Learned Hall and Spahr Library.