KU to honor 71 seniors from Marion, McPherson, Rice county high schools

LAWRENCE — Students from 14 Kansas high schools will be honored Wednesday, Sept. 24, by the University of Kansas Alumni Association and KU Endowment.

A total of 71 seniors from high schools in in Marion, McPherson and Rice counties will be recognized for their academic achievements and named Kansas Honor Scholars at a 6:30 p.m. dinner and program at the Holiday Manor Center, 2211 East Kansas, McPherson.

Since 1971, the Kansas Honors Program has recognized over 125,000 scholars who rank in the top 10 percent of their high school senior classes and are selected regardless of occupational plans or higher-education goals. Each year, the KU Alumni Association and its volunteers host 36 programs that reach all 105 counties across the state and include approximately 360 high schools.

During the ceremony, each student will receive a Webster’s New College Dictionary and a commemorative certificate.

Kevin Corbett, president of the KU Alumni Association, will speak to the students and their parents and guests.

Honored students will be guests of the alumni association and KU Endowment; parents and area alumni are welcome to attend at a cost of $15 each.

Community volunteers collect reservations, coordinate details and serve as local contacts for the event. Larry Chaney, of McPherson, is the site coordinator. Brett Reber, of McPherson, is the McPherson County coordinator. Jim Christensen and Martin Tice, both from Marion, are the Marion County coordinators. Audrey Edwards, of Sterling, is the Rice County coordinator. 

The Kansas Honors Program is made possible by KU Endowment and proceeds from the Jayhawk license plate program. The Class of 2015 scholars: 

Marion

Centre High School
Justin Bina - Marion
Nellie Kassebaum - Burdick
Shelby Makovec - Lost Springs
Erin Brubaker - Goessel

Goessel High School
Johanna Hastings - Hesston
Gentry Thiesen - Goessel
David Dick - Hillsboro

Hillsboro High School
Philip Ediger - Hillsboro
Jakob Hanschu - Hillsboro
Claire Heyen - Hillsboro
Emily Jost - Hillsboro
Karyn Leihy - Hillsboro
Juliana Sinclair - Hillsboro
Allison Weber - Hillsboro

Marion High School
Jacob Baldwin - Marion
Samantha Davies - Marion
Kaylie Waner - Marion

Peabody-Burns High School
Tracy Henry - Burns
Braxton Kyle - Peabody
Nicholas Preheim - Peabody

McPherson

Canton-Galva High School
Kathleen Diehl - Galva
Julia Gromley - Canton
Tanner Klingensmith - Canton

Inman High School
Blake Druecker - Inman
Krystal Miller - Inman
Ty Strange - Inman

McPherson High School
Makenzie Benson - McPherson
Riley Burghart - McPherson
Dakota Cavanaugh - McPherson
Stephanie Farney - McPherson
Sierra Gant - McPherson
Nicole Gieselman - McPherson
Mallory Harger - McPherson
Madison Hoffman - McPherson
Abigail Hughes - McPherson
Kyler Kinnamon - McPherson
Michael McKinney - McPherson
Laura Peck - McPherson
Rhianna Smith - Lindsborg
Levi Vu - McPherson
Jade Williams - McPherson

Moundridge High School
Cade Graber - Moundridge
Emily Knight - Moundridge
Erin Miller - Moundridge
Elizabeth Ratzlaff - Moundridge
Michelle Schrag - Moundridge
Bailey Strausz - Moundridge
Anna Stucky - Moundridge
Rebecca Ullom-Minnich - Moundridge

Smoky Valley High School
Clayton Couchman - Lindsborg
Jonathan Dahlsten - Lindsborg
Jarod DeMott - Lindsborg
Stephen Klaassen - Marquette
Hannah Lemen - Lindsborg
Nils Peterson - Lindsborg

Rice

Chase High School
Molly Root - Chase

Little River High School
Rebecca Arbuckle - Windom
Rebecca Hawkinson - McPherson
Chord Zeller - Windom

Lyons High School
Lauren Barker - Lyons
Spencer Head - Lyons
Matthew Konda - Lyons
Brenna McClure - Lyons
Abigail  Miller - Lyons
Rachel Minix - Lyons
Kayla Reid - Lyons

Sterling High School
Cameron Fair - Sterling
Andrew McPherson - Sterling
Kandra Pattison - Sterling
Brian Walker - Sterling
Henry Weiner - Sterling.