KU News Release

Oct. 23, 2008
Contact: Lisa Pinamonti Kress, Office of Admissions and Scholarships, (785) 864-5421.

KU announces National Merit, National Achievement, National Hispanic scholars

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas Office of Admissions and Scholarships has announced the names of 53 KU students in three national scholarship programs: National Merit, National Achievement and National Hispanic.

Forty-five National Merit scholars, five National Hispanic scholars and three National Achievement scholars, a program for outstanding African-Americans, chose KU. Of these students, 40 National Merit scholars, four National Hispanic scholars and three National Achievement scholars are Kansans.

For fall 2008, the National Merit, National Achievement and National Hispanic scholars each received $10,000 scholarships. The scholarships are renewable.

With these 53 new scholars, KU enrolls more than 200 National Merit scholars, 20 National Hispanic scholars and nine National Achievement scholars. All will be recognized as part of Scholars Day at halftime in the KU-Texas football game Nov. 15 in Memorial Stadium.

The National Merit scholarship is widely regarded as the most prestigious national award bestowed upon high school seniors. Fewer than 10,000 students of the 1.2 million who compete for the award, or less than 1 percent, receive National Merit scholarships. Recipients are chosen based on their academic abilities and records and extracurricular activities.

The National Hispanic scholars and National Achievement scholars programs are the nation’s most prestigious competitive scholarships for minority students. National Achievement scholarships are provided through the National Merit Scholarship Corp. in Evanston, Ill. National Hispanic scholarships are coordinated through the National Hispanic Recognition Program, through the College Board offices in New York City.

KU enrolls more Kansas students than any other university or college in the state and encourages the state’s top scholars to come to KU and stay in Kansas as they begin their careers.

The new scholars are listed below by hometown, year in school, major, parents’ names and high school and scholarship.

COWLEY COUNTY
From Winfield 67156
Joel Thomas Finney, freshman in biochemistry, son of Susan and James Finney; Winfield High School; National Merit scholar.

DOUGLAS COUNTY
From Lawrence 66044
Mitchell Aaron Haverty, freshman in linguistics, son of Madeline Finch; Lawrence Free State High School; National Merit scholar.

From Lawrence 66044 and 66047
Xander Casad, freshman in music composition, son of Joseph Casad (66044) Barbara Dinneen (66047); Lawrence High School; National Merit scholar.

From Lawrence 66047
Joshua Evan Frederick, freshman in architecture, son of Joel and Diana Frederick; Lawrence Free State High School; National Merit scholar.

Stephanie Hu Jian, freshman in chemical engineering, daughter of Xiaolin Hu and Xiaodong Jian; Lawrence High School; National Merit scholar.

Erika Scarlette O’Shea, freshman in chemical engineering and pre-business; daughter of Michael and Regina O'Shea; Bishop Seabury Academy; National Merit scholar.

From Lawrence 66049
Laura Clare Drees, freshman in cognitive psychology, daughter of Paul and Karin Drees; Lawrence Free State High School; National Merit scholar.

DICKINSON COUNTY
From Herington 67449
Joshua Fox Patterson, freshman in computer science, son of Jeffrey and Delilah Patterson; Herington High School; National Merit scholar.

JOHNSON COUNTY
From Fairway 66205
Sarah Elizabeth McCandless, sophomore in engineering, daughter Elizabeth Waugh and Jeffry McCandless; Shawnee Mission East High School, Prairie Village; National Merit scholar.

From Leawood 66206
Patrick Michael Kennedy, freshman in engineering, son of Chris and Joan Kennedy; Shawnee Mission East High School; National Merit scholar.

Meredith Marie Pavicic, freshman preparing to study medicine, daughter of Kevin and Rita Pavicic; Saint Teresa’s Academy, Kansas City, Mo.; National Merit scholar.

From Leawood 66209
David Joseph Mattione, freshman in electrical engineering, son of Vincent and Marilyn Mattione; Rockhurst High School, Kansas City, Mo.; National Merit scholar.

From Leawood 66224
Oluwabunmi Fehintola Morohunfola, freshman preparing to study medicine, son of Kenny and Ajoke Morohunfola; Blue Valley High School, Stilwell; National Achievement scholar.

From Lenexa 66215
Megan Godsey, freshman in chemical engineering, daughter of Bruce and Janice Godsey; Shawnee Mission South High School, Overland Park; National Merit scholar.

Jessica Marie Lipp, freshman in English and theatre and film, daughter of Linda Lipp; Shawnee Mission West High School, Overland Park; National Merit scholar.

Dana Anne Meredith, freshman in journalism, daughter of David and Cheryl Meredith; Shawnee Mission West High School, Overland Park; National Merit scholar.

Stephanie Lynn Palmer, freshman in theatre and film, daughter of Stephen and Suzanne Palmer; Shawnee Mission West High School, Overland Park; National Merit scholar.

From Lenexa 66217
Jonathan Louis Shoulta, freshman in Germanic languages and literatures, son of Jeff and Leigh Shoulta; Saint Thomas Aquinas High School, Overland Park; National Merit scholar.

From Lenexa 66219
Kathleen Elizabeth O’Neill, sophomore preparing to study education, daughter of Kevin and Elizabaeth O’Neill; Shawnee Mission East High School, Prairie Village; National Merit scholar.

From Olathe 66061
Michael Anthony Noguera, freshman in environmental studies, son of Ruben and Jeanine Noguera; Saint Thomas Aquinas High School, Overland Park; National Merit scholar.

From Olathe 66062
Jacob Michael Adair, freshman in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, son of Richard and Shari Barr; Olathe South High School; National Merit scholar.

Levi Theodore Dermyer, freshman in architectural engineering, son of Dan and Jane Dermyer; Olathe South High School; National Merit scholar.

From Overland Park 66204
Elizabeth Christine Jaimes, freshman in biology, daughter of Mark and Jayne Jaimes; Shawnee Mission West High School; National Hispanic scholar.

From Overland Park 66209
Erin Ellen Diel, freshman in chemical engineering, daughter of Ellen Beedle and Bruce Diel; Blue Valley North High School; National Merit scholar.

Tyler Scott James Holmes, freshman in political science, son of Roger and Katherine Holmes; Blue Valley North High School; National Merit scholar.

From Overland Park 66212
Micah Solomon Margolies, freshman in engineering, son of Deborah Salkov and Daniel Margolies; Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy; National Merit scholar.

Elizabeth Anne Riedel, freshman in civil engineering, daughter of Charlie and Denise Riedel; Shawnee Mission West High School; National Merit scholar.

From Overland Park 66213
Stephanie Marie Claar, sophomore in chemical engineering, daughter of Mark and Joan Claar; Blue Valley Northwest High School; National Merit scholar.

From Overland Park 66221
Alexander Jay Davidson, freshman in theatre and film, son of Jay and Valerie Davidson; Saint Thomas Aquinas High School; National Merit scholar.

Jessica Leigh Ludwig, freshman in business administration, daughter of William and Ann Ludwig; Blue Valley West High School; National Merit scholar.

From Overland Park 66221 and Kansas City, Kan. 66109
Madeline Grace Schuman, freshman in biochemistry preparing to study medicine, daughter of Craig Schuman of Overland Park and Vanessa Schuman of Kansas City, Kan.; Piper High School, Kansas City, Kan.; National Achievement scholar.

From Overland Park 66223
Mary Tepera Anderson, sophomore in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, daughter of Timothy and Nancy Anderson; Blue Valley West High School; National Merit scholar.

Jeremy Hopper Ims, sophomore in astronomy and theatre and film, son of Teresa Hopper and John Ims; National Merit scholar.

Miguel Carlos Miranda, freshman in chemical engineering, son of Michael and Haydee Miranda; Blue Valley Northwest High School; National Merit scholar.

Maria Gabriela Moran, freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences, daughter of Giuseppina Cappello and Atilio Moran; Blue Valley Northwest High School; National Hispanic scholar.

From Prairie Village 66207
Kelly Ann Tankard, freshman in chemical engineering, daughter of James and Susan Tankard; Shawnee Mission East High School; National Merit scholar.

From Shawnee 66217
Dimitrios Alexandros Zaharopoulos, sophomore preparing to study medicine, son of Julia Crain and Efthimios Zaharopoulos; Shawnee Mission West High School, Overland Park; National Merit scholar.

From Stilwell 66085
Hilary Amber Schloemer, sophomore in psychology and sociology, daughter of David and Gayle Schloemer; Blue Valley High School; National Merit scholar.

LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
From Lansing 66043
Harold Allaire Laurence, freshman in chemical engineering, son of Harold and Karen Laurence; Lansing High School; National Merit scholar.

RENO COUNTY
From Hutchinson 67502
Keri Beth Kenning, freshman in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, daughter of Gerald and Margaret Kenning; Trinity Catholic High School; National Merit scholar.

RILEY COUNTY
From Manhattan 66502
Brian James Sultana, freshman in fine arts/music and English, son of Peter and Monica Sultana; Manhattan High School; National Hispanic scholar.

SEDGWICK COUNTY
From Wichita 67206
Brian J. Klager, freshman in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, son of Vance and Lana Klager; Wichita High School East; National Merit scholar.

From Wichita 67207
Christopher Warren Brito, freshman in business administration, son of Raul and Suzanne Brito; Wichita Collegiate School; National Hispanic scholar.

From Wichita 67208
Anastasia Kara Metzger, freshman in Slavic languages and literatures, daughter of Nancy Trier-Metzger and Daniel Metzger; Wichita High School East; National Merit scholar.

From Wichita 67212
Michael Eugene Reynolds, sophomore in chemical engineering, son of Randy and Kang Sun Reynolds; Wichita High School East; National Merit scholar.

SHAWNEE COUNTY
From Topeka 66614
Benjamin Michael Goering, freshman in computer science, son of Michael and Lyn Goering; Washburn Rural High School; National Merit scholar.

WYANDOTTE COUNTY
From Kansas City 66109 and Overland Park
Madeline Grace Schuman. See JOHNSON COUNTY

From Kansas City 66112 and Staines, Middlesex, England
Cherae Lichelle Clark, freshman in journalism, daughter of Rachel Hill of Staines, Middlesex, England and Cedric Clark of Kansas City, Kan.; The American School in England, Thorpe, Surrey, England; National Achievement scholar.

ILLINOIS
From Peoria 61614
Michael Andrew Shook, freshman in atmospheric science, son of Tina and Stephen Shook; Peoria Notre Dame High School; National Merit scholar.

MINNESOTA
From Burnsville 55337
Dana Jo Wible, freshman preparing to study social welfare, daughter of Scott and Kay Wible; Burnsville Senior High School; National Merit scholar.

MISSOURI
From Belton 64012
Sheridan Alexander Stewart, freshman in philosophy and pre-law, son of David and Carolyn Kirkham; Belton High School; National Merit scholar.

From Wildwood 63011
Jared Daniel Legenzoff, sophomore in chemical engineering, son of Kevin and Terri Legenzoff; Lafayette High School, Ballwin, Mo.; National Merit scholar.

From Wildwood 63038
Michael Robert Rudd, freshman in civil engineering, son of David and Daina Rudd; Lafayette High School, Ballwin, Mo.; National Merit scholar.

TEXAS
From Dallas 75229
Shannon C. Murray, freshman preparing to study medicine, daughter of David and Suzanne Murray; Ursuline Academy; National Hispanic scholar.

ENGLAND
From Staines, Middlesex, and Kansas City, Kan.
Cherae Lichelle Clark. See WYANDOTTE COUNTY

-30-

The University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university. University Relations is the central public relations office for KU's Lawrence campus.

kunews@ku.edu | (785) 864-3256 | 1314 Jayhawk Blvd., Lawrence, KS 66045