KU News Release

KU to honor 135 high school seniors from Harvey, Reno counties on Sept. 23

LAWRENCE — Students from 14 Kansas high schools will be honored Tuesday, Sept. 23, by the University of Kansas Alumni Association and KU Endowment.

A total of 135 seniors from high schools in Harvey and Reno counties will be recognized for their academic achievements and named Kansas Honor Scholars at a 6:30 p.m. dinner program at the Grand Prairie Hotel and Convention Center, 1400 N. Lorraine, Hutchinson.

The Kansas Honors Program began in 1971 and has honored more than 100,000 students. Scholars rank in the top 10 percent of their high school senior classes and are selected regardless of curricula, majors, occupational plans or higher-education goals.

During the ceremony, each student will receive an American Heritage Dictionary in hardback and CD versions, presented by KU Alumni Association representatives: Mike Davis, senior vice president of alumni programs, and Nikki Epley, director of reunions.

Lisa Pinamonti Kress, director of the Office of Admissions and Scholarships, 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. Jeff and Marla Eriksen of Hutchinson are the site coordinators. Sue Ice of Newton is coordinator for Harvey County.

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

Honorees from Harvey and Reno counties are listed below by high school.

Buhler High School: Sarah Carr, Jessica Gee, Erin Heizelman, Adam Holmes, Kenny Hubbel, Jessica Miller, Julie Miller, Kelsey Pond, Parker Rayl, Bethany Slack, Trenton Stringer, Kara Stucky, Elise Wedel, Tillie Wilbeck and Jaclyn Willse

Burrton High School: Mackenzie Allen, Kara Boelk, Brady Critchfield and Erin Haas

Central Christian High School: Kevin Ensz

Fairfield High School: Josian Ridge and Brenda Zongker

Halstead High School: Andrea Gundy, Emily Gundy, Murphy Kaufman, Carissa Morgan, Katie Nightingale, Abram Rodenberg and Jessica Warren

Haven High School: Kai Ezell, Samuel Fishburn, Lacey Howard, Randi Morris, Trent Rhodes and Erin Schmidt

Hesston High School: Phillip Bastow, Joel Boettger, Joshua Collins, Emily Dyck, Chelsea Estep, Trevor Kaufman, Megan Leatherman, Audra Miller, Taylor Nebel, Jeffrey Norris, Amber Prieb, Alex Roth, Steven Waruhiu, Miranda Weaver and Elliot Wilder

Newton Christian High School: Niki Meier

Newton High School: Leah Bartel, Phillip Bradshaw, Milissa Crawford, Lauren Dunn, Mollie Emerson, Rebecca Epp, Andrew Esau, Chelsea Gronau, Natalie Hagman, Clay Jarrell, Nathaniel Martens, Nathan Murphy, Emily Palan, Emma Regier, Krista Saylor, Lydia Seger, Shae’la Sterling, Kathryn Stiffler, Cole Stucky, KaeCee Terry, Ronny Tozier, Lindsay Wissink and Laurel Woodward

Sedgwick High School: Carly Adams, Travis McDaniel, John Mitchem and Shelby Thompson

Hutchinson High School: Kathryn Arnold, Elliott Bowen, Manuel Brockman, Jarrod Cullan, Erin Dirks, Bo Fairbank, Brett Fast, Casey Freeman, Emily Galliart, Christopher Givan, Marshall Haden, Tyler Heeney, Kali Henson, Kinsley Hilst, Christie Holland, Mayra Lopez, Tracy Marshall, Kristen McKenna, Chelsea Morey, Michael Pritchett, Graham Ray, John Reinert, Brandon Ricke, Kelly Roberts, Rachel Shannon, Rubea Stouppe, Caitlin Sturgeon, Sarah Swearer, Kalynn Vibbert, Brett Wedel and Benjamin Whitlow

Nickerson High School: Chelsea Childs, Sarah Denny, Joshua Dohrmann, Eric Schrag, Danielle Schweizer, Heather Slifer and Rachel Willbanks

Pretty Prairie High School: Andrea Markel, Monica Schultz and Kevin Zerger

Trinity Catholic High School: Ryan Flynn, Emily Hickman, Andrew Labenz, Michaela May and Emily Perser

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