KU to honor 35 high school seniors from Jackson and Nemaha counties

LAWRENCE — Students from seven Kansas high schools will be honored Wednesday, Feb. 25, by the University of Kansas Alumni Association and KU Endowment.

A total of 35 seniors from high schools in Jackson and Nemaha counties will be recognized for their academic achievements and named Kansas Honor Scholars at a 6:30 p.m. dinner and program at the First United Methodist Church, 1401 W. Fourth St., Holton.

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.

Rick Ginsberg, dean of education at the University of Kansas, 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. Matt and Paula Taylor, of Holton, are the site coordinators and Jackson County coordinators. Erika Buessing, of Beattie, is the Nemaha 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:
Jackson

Holton High School
Garett Beecher - Soldier
Tori Bontrager - Whiting
Ashley Cook - Mayetta
Dean Klahr - Holton
Kelcie Matousek - Holton
Madison Reith - Holton
Trey Tanking - Circleville
Taryn Weilert - Holton
Karl Wilhelm - Holton

Jackson Heights High School
Aidan Allen - Soldier
Jessica Keehn - Wetmore
William Patterson - Holton

Royal Valley High School
Hannah Beam - Hoyt
Brandon Broxterman - Hoyt
Kassidy Dahl - Hoyt
Leanna Just - Mayetta
Leslie Schuetz - Hoyt
Brooke Slayton - Holton
MaRyka Smith - Hoyt

Nemaha

Centralia High School
Peyton Bowers - Corning
Jennifer Crowther - Centralia

Nemaha Central High School
Nicole Fangman - Seneca
Nicole Haug - Baileyville
Mikayla Peterson - Seneca
Bailey Schmitz - Baileyville
Trent Schulte - Seneca
Samantha Wessel - Baileyville

Sabetha High School
Heidi Heiniger - Fairview
Jacob Leuthold - Bern
Alexa Menold - Hiawatha
Treavor Schmelzle - Sabetha
Ryan Strahm - Sabetha
Erica Tangeman - Sabetha

Wetmore High School
Alisha Heitz - Wetmore
Keri Pfrang – Goff.