KU to honor 50 high school seniors from 4 Central Kansas counties
LAWRENCE — Students from nine Kansas high schools will be honored Thursday, Oct. 6, by the University of Kansas Alumni Association and KU Endowment.
A total of 50 seniors from high schools in Ellis, Rooks, Russell and Trego counties will be recognized for their academic achievements and named Kansas Honor Scholars at a 6:30 p.m. dinner and program at Hays High School, 2300 East 13th St., Hays.
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.
Rob Walzel, dean of music 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. Jessica Younker, of Hays, is the site coordinator. Alan and Lori Moore, of Hays, are the Ellis County coordinators. Tom and Cassie Nuckols, of Plainville, are the Rooks County coordinators. Nancy Lane, of Russell, is the coordinator for Russell and Trego counties.
The Kansas Honors Program is made possible by KU Endowment and proceeds from the Jayhawk license plate program. The Class of 2017 scholars:
Ellis
Ellis High School
Lindsay Augustine – Ellis
Brittany Bollig – Ellis
Jessica Gamez – Ellis
Dalton Hensley – Ellis
Jasmyn Hernandez – Ellis
Lyla Meserve – Ellis
Derek Pfeifer – Ellis
Hays High School
Peyton Augustine – Hays
Jeanie Balzer – Hays
Shane Berens – Hays
Brianna Brin – Hays
Tanner Callis – Hays
Sam Crowley – Hays
Bryce Davidson – Hays
Sierra Eichman – Hays
Katelyn Fross – Hays
Zachary Hopp – Hays
Madisyn Keller – Hays
Payton Markley – Hays
Kohlton Meyers – Hays
Hannah Norris – Hays
Cassandra Quinby – Hays
Diana Rubio – Hays
Ethan Shippy – Hays
Tsz Hong Tam – Hays
Rachel Taylor – Hays
Hannah Thomasson – Hays
Conrad Vajnar – Antonino
Thomas More Prep-Marian High School
Raegan Billinger – Hays
Bridget Heimann – Hays
Alison Helget – Hays
Megan Koenigsman – Hays
Matthew Moeder – Hays
Victoria High School
Sienna Hockersmith – Victoria
Bryant Karlin – Victoria
Rooks
Palco High School
Taylor Keller – Palco
Plainville High School
Amy Casey – Plainville
Mykeltie Horting – Plainville
Claire McClellan – Plainville
Stockton High School
Hannah Wildeman – Stockton
Russell
Russell High School
Seth Boxberger – Russell
Maci Clark – Russell
Sheila Gulick – Russell
Cameron Kilian – Russell
Travis Ochs – Russell
Delainey Pospichal – Russell
Samantha Ptacek – Russell
Trego
Trego Community High School
Dean Barney – Wakeeney
Kacie Dunn – Wakeeney
Cheyenne Nickelson – Wakeeney .