If I were to ask a handful of KU former student-athletes to tell me about their most "exciting" collegiate experience I am confident that I would hear tales of particular games, meets, regattas and matches. Their eyes would shine with the memories of points, plays and performances.

If I were to ask these same former student-athletes to cite their most "gratifying" experience, I am absolutely confident that they would tell me about the day they "walked down the Hill."

One of KU's most treasured traditions is the "walk down the Hill" that graduating students take for the middle-of-May Commencement exercises. It is a glorious event, full of families, friends and celebration. The last steps down the Hill, from the Campanile bell tower to the football stadium, complete the journey that these same students began just a few short years ago.

The Mission of the KU Athletics Department is to develop both the student and the athlete of each young person we recruit to join the Jayhawk family. While we certainly wish to seriously compete in (and win!) all of our contests, we are even more determined to do whatever is possible to give student-athletes every opportunity to walk down the Hill.

In the pages that follow you will read about the Athletics Department's office of Student Support Services. This unit provides academic counseling, tutoring and career development services for the 550 student-athletes who walk through our doors each week. Rather than tell you about the commitment and dedication of our staff and the potential impact which we can have in students' lives, I decided to ask current and former student-athletes to reflect upon their academic experience at KU and share that with you in their own words.

While I've watched hundreds of games, matches, meets and regattas, if I were asked to cite my most "gratifying" experience as a member of the Student Support Services staff, I would easily respond with: a glorious day in the middle of May . . . . every year.

Paul Buskirk
Associate Athletics Director/Student Support Services