KU to honor 33 high school seniors from Jackson, Nemaha counties

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

A total of 33 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.

Bernie Kish, director of facilities & lecturer for the School of Education, 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 2016 scholars:

Jackson

Holton High School

Joshua Bjelland - Holton

Alexandria Bontrager - Whiting

Kaden Brandt - Holton

Madeline Foster - Holton

Abigail Heitzman - Holton

Shari Riley - Holton

Sonora Sheldon - Holton

Hayley Thompson - Holton

Jackson Heights High School

Joel Nelson - Soldier

Jonathan Reiff - Netawaka

Logan Rethman - Netawaka

Royal Valley High School

Johnathan Beckerman - Hoyt

Kate Hanson - Hoyt

Brittany Lake - Hoyt

Derek Linn - Hoyt

Macy Putnam - Hoyt

Noah Rottinghaus - Topeka

Nemaha

Centralia High School

Chelsea Huerter - Corning

Drew Kramer - Corning

Mayda Stallbaumer - Centralia

Nemaha Central High School

Cheyanne Davis - Goff

Paul Deters - Baileyville

Jenna Macke - Baileyville

Micah Meyer - Bern

Karen Rivera-Cobian - Seneca

Keegan Schmelzle - Seneca

Sabetha High School

Nolan Brey - Fairview

Mariah Huneke - Sabetha

Jordan Longabaugh - Sabetha

Alexis McAfee - Sabetha

Lindsay Meyer - Sabetha

Jena Winkler - Wetmore

Wetmore High School

Elizabeth Hutfles – Netawaka.