KU News Release

KU to honor top seniors from Barton, Rush counties on Feb. 7 in Great Bend

LAWRENCE — Students from six Kansas high schools will be honored Wednesday, Feb. 7, by the University of Kansas Alumni Association and KU Endowment.

A total of 41 seniors from high schools in Barton and Rush counties will be recognized for their academic achievements and named Kansas Honor Scholars at a 6:30 p.m. dinner program at The Club at StoneRidge, 1438 24th St., Great Bend.

The Kansas Honors Program began in 1971 and will honor its 100,000th student this year. Scholars rank in the top 10 percent of their high school senior class and are selected regardless of curricula, majors, occupational plans or higher-education goals. Honorees’ names are listed below.

During the ceremony, each student will receive an American Heritage Dictionary in hardback and CD versions, presented by Jennifer Sanner, senior vice president for communication for the KU Alumni Association.

Leonard Krishtalka, director of the Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Research Center, will speak to the students, 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 $13 each.

Community volunteers collect reservations, coordinate details and serve as local contacts for the event. Bill and Mary King, Great Bend, will be the site coordinators and county coordinators for Barton County. Other Barton County coordinators are Perry and Krista Smith, Great Bend. Rush County coordinator is Mary Barrows, LaCrosse.

The Kansas Honors Program is made possible through the KU Endowment and proceeds from the Jayhawk License Plate program.

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