KU News Release

KU to honor high school seniors in Marion, McPherson and Rice counties on Sept. 24

LAWRENCE — Students from 15 Kansas high schools will be honored Wednesday, Sept. 24, by the University of Kansas Alumni Association and KU Endowment.

A total of 74 seniors from high schools in Marion, McPherson and Rice counties will be recognized for their academic achievements and named Kansas Honor Scholars at a 6:30 p.m. dinner program at the Holiday Manor Convention Center, 2211 E. Kansas Ave., McPherson.

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 Danny Lewis, assistant director of alumni programs, and Stefani Gerson, student programs coordinator.

A KU official 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 $13 each.

Community volunteers collect reservations, coordinate details and serve as local contacts for the event. Mary Kornhaus, McPherson, is the site coordinator. County coordinators are Lawrence Chaney of McPherson for McPherson County; Jim Christensen and Martin Tice, both of Marion, for Marion County; and Audrey Edwards of Sterling for Rice County.

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

Honorees from Marion, McPherson and Rice counties are listed below by high school.

Canton-Galva High School: Kaitlyn Bressie, Kaitlin Dailey and Tyler Wedel

Centre High School: Kirsten Johnson and Iva Kirkland

Chase High School: Anna Malone and Lina Malone

Goessel High School: Amy Brubaker, Anthony Esau, Austin Unruh and Chrystiana Voth

Hillsboro High School: Kelsey Bartel, Cody Blackketter, Benjamin Gottsch, Cassie Kroeker, Clayton Shewey and Danielle (Jet) Skiles

Inman Jr./Sr. High School: Toby Flaming, Nathan Isom, Scott Morrow and Seth Tolle

Little River High School: Danielle Dougherty and Jessica Gadberry

Lyons High School: Merideth Cline, Makenzie Kirkhart, Jennifer Lecklider and Vance Stegman

Marion High School: Louisa Collett, Andrew Kelsey, Adam Regnier and Matthew Thierolf

McPherson High School: Amber Anderson, Stacy Blagg, Carolyn Bruns, Kristine Clark, Margaret Davidson, Jamie Frye, Chantalle Hanschu, Gavin Harvey, Hanna Heidebrecht, Kathleen House, Courtney Huber, Aaron Koehn, John Krehbiel, Joseph Martin, Jamie McVicker, Alena Morrow, Ryan Morse, Kaci Norman, Kristen Reith, Clarissa Sents, Taylor Stevens, Natasha Orpin, Sabrina Reynolds, Natalie Stucky and Katie Vogts

Peabody Burns High School: Bayleigh Clark, Alexandra Holm-McDowell and Joseph Zappone

Quivira Heights High School: Will Habiger and Katharine Phelan

Smoky Valley High School: Lars Berggren, Nickolas Carlson, Brandon Carlson, Sarah Gross, Ashley McGinnis, Cooper Nickel, Maggie Pihl and Eric Swenson

Sterling High School: Bailey Burgess, Christian Eckert, Jamie Gellerman, Samuel Leake and Jordan Robson

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