2024 Induction Program

In the vast expanse of time, where stories unfold, In realms of dreams and legends told, There lies a tapestry, rich and deep,
Of love and loss, where dark memories sleep.

From ancient shores to modern days, The human spirit finds its ways,
To soar above the earthly plain, 

And touch the stars, beyond the earth rain.

In every heart, a yearning burns, For love that lasts, for lessons learned, Through trials fierce and battles won, We journey on until life is done.

In fields of gold and forests green, The beauty of the world is finally seen, Yet shadows lurk in corners dark, Where fear and doubt leave their mark.

But in the depths of darkest night, There shines a beacon, burning bright, A love that's steadfast, strong, and true, Guiding us to all that we do.

For love is more than words can say,
It lights the path, it leads the way, Through valleys low and mountains high, It whispers hope beneath the sky.

So let us cherish, let us hold,
The love that warms us when we're cold, For in its embrace, we find our peace, A sanctuary that will never cease.

Though storms may rage and winds may howl, And thunder roll and lightning scowl, Love stands firm, a rock, a shore,
A refuge in the tempest's roar.

In moments sweet and memories dear, Love's gentle touch is always near,
A hand to hold, a heart to share,
A bond that nothing can compare.

So let us honor, let us praise, The love that brightens all our days, For in its grace, we find our light, A beacon shining through the night.

And though the road may twist and turn, And bridges fall and bridges burn, Love bridges gaps and spans divides, Uniting souls on both sides.

For love knows neither space nor time, It transcends the mortal clime, And in its depths, we find our worth, A treasure of infinite birth.

So let us love with all our might,
With every breath, with all our sight, For in the end, when all is said,
Love is the legacy we leave behind, unread. 

If you're not from Kansas 

           You don't know Heat

           You can't know Heat 

          The sun shines down from the sky, radiating deadly rays 

          Soon to damage, both human skin and hair 

          Such heat gives no warning, roasting everything in its path

         Unstoppable terrestrial force, that can destroy life as fast and it can nourish it 

 If you’re not from Kansas 

You don’t know heat

 If you're not from Kansas 

           You don't know fields 

           You can't know fields 

          Endless green fields flat and lonesome 

          Blank country canvases, laid and paved to grow crop

          Rows of corn that are as tall as skyscrapers 

          Large, prosperous pastures; the country equivalent of a gold mine

 If you’re not from Kansas 

You don’t know fields 

If you're not from Kansas 

           You don't know boring 

           You can't know boring 

          A land that is bare with nothing to offer 

          Cities full of copious amounts of banks and gas stations

          Searching for entertainment is like finding a needle in a haystack 

          Boring is an inescapable energy that radiates through Kansas

 If you’re not from the islands 

You don’t know boring 

If you're not from Kansas 

           You don't know KU Basketball  

           You can't know KU  Basketball 

          The sport of Kansas that puts our state on the map

          A team of superb athletes jumping, shooting, and blocking

          Army that has one mission to secure a national championship 

          The Jayhawks give the people of Kansas hope 

If you’re not Kansas 

You don’t know KU basketball 

           If you're not from Kansas 

           You don't know me,

           You just can't know me.

           You see,                      

           My hair is brown, with mild waves like the oceans low tide      

           My eyes brown and glow as the hold energy from the sun       

           My skin is white but tinted from the time spent in the sun          

           My lips are pink, spouting out corny jokes for the ear to hear          

           I've laid on fields and heard the cows, chickens and sometimes planes 

           I've stared at the sky, watched as the midwestern sunset lit up the earth

           I've seen bare landscape that has nothing to offer besides cattle and crops

           My home is Kansas and I am unique because of it