Former Class President makes gift to honor Class of 1980, Dole Institute

July 2, 2026

This year, Greg Schnacke made a gift to the Dole Institute of Politics that honors his own personal connection to Sen. Bob Dole and his graduating Class of 1980. It also rectifies an absence that has long weighed on his mind.

Schnacke, class president, and his classmates were proud to make a senior class gift to the university: a multi-panel aerial photo of Lawrence installed in Burge Union. When the Burge Union was razed and rebuilt in 2016, the aerial photo panels were lost in the shuffle. Ever since, Schnacke mulled ideas for a replacement Class of 1980 gift that would be visible, useful and permanent. He arrived at the idea of a stone bench that was recently installed outside of the Dole Institute.

The bench is made of locally sourced limestone and rests by the reflecting pool known as Polly’s Pond, named for the late donor Polly Bales. It features a bronze plaque inlaid on the top inscribed “Class of 1980,” with a Jayhawk in the center.

“The Dole Institute is proud to be the new home of the gift of the Class of 1980,” said Audrey Coleman, the Dole Institute’s director. “This generation of Jayhawks left their nest in Lawrence to change the world in their own way, many in leadership and business development, government, and public service. Thanks to Greg’s leadership and his ongoing support for the Dole Institute, this spirit lives not only in new generations of KU students but also is embodied permanently on our beautiful grounds.”

Schnacke’s gift also rectifies another absence: While Polly’s Pond has long been a beloved feature of the Dole Institute, it has never had a dedicated area for visitors to sit and enjoy the scenery.

“Now you have a place to sit. I am excited we came up with something nice that matched the limestone of the Dole Institute and other stone buildings at KU that have stood the test of time,” Schnacke said of his gift. “Absent a Kansas tornado event, it should be there for a while,” he added.

Schnacke and his wife Layla, who graduated with a degree in applied behavioral science in 1983, both worked closely with Dole over many points of his career. Greg served on Dole’s senior staff both in Kansas and in Washington, D.C., holding several positions including legislative director and deputy administrative assistant. He later worked as an energy consultant and was the chief executive of the Colorado Oil & Gas Association. He retired as vice president of governmental relations at Denbury Inc., an oil recovery company in Plano, Texas. He and Layla now live in Colorado.

He looks back fondly on his time with the senator and was happy to enhance the landscape of the institute dedicated to him.

“It’s the perfect spot to put it, and it was our privilege to make that happen,” he said. “And now I get to scratch off my list something that’s been bugging me for a decade.”

By happy coincidence, some of the original aerial photo panels were rediscovered in university storage shortly after the new bench was installed. They have damage from the razing and relocation, and efforts are underway to explore restoration if possible.

Schnacke hopes his gift of the first bench might inspire other donors to follow suit—two other sites along the path have been designated for similar benches, ready for other donors to step in and add more opportunities for reflection and remembrance at Polly’s Pond.

For information on making a such a gift, contact Emily Hane, Senior Donor Engagement Officer, at [email protected] or 913-562-2714.

KU Endowment is the independent, nonprofit organization serving as the official fundraising and fund-management foundation for KU. Founded in 1891, KU Endowment is the first foundation of its kind at a U.S. public university.

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July 2, 2026