KU News Release

KU to honor 31 high school seniors from five northwest Kansas counties April 9

LAWRENCE — Students from 10 Kansas high schools will be honored Thursday, April 9, by the University of Kansas Alumni Association and KU Endowment.

A total of 31 seniors from high schools in Graham, Norton, Osborne, Phillips and Smith counties will be recognized for their academic achievements and named Kansas Honor Scholars at a 6:15 p.m. reception and dinner at Dane G. Hansen Memorial Plaza, Community Room, 110 W. Main St., in Logan.

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 Michelle Miles, assistant director of Kansas programs for the alumni association.

Ken Audus, dean of the School of Pharmacy, 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 $12 each.

Community volunteers collect reservations, coordinate details and serve as local contacts for the event. Kevin Baughman and Tom Baumann II, both of Norton, will be Norton County coordinators. Philip Hardman of Osborne will be Osborne County coordinator. Dave Rankin and Rob Wenzl, both of Phillipsburg, will be Phillips, Graham and Smith county site coordinators. Carol Bales, Logan, will be Phillips and Graham county site coordinator.

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

Honorees are listed below by high school.

Hill City High School: Amanda Eckols, Christopher Miller, Wyatt Robinson and Seth Thompson

Lakeside High School: Olivia Aramendi, Sidney Doane and Laura Hofflinger

Logan High School: Carrie Brobst

Natoma High School: Michael Albert and Jodi Murphy

Northern Valley High School: Stanton Nelson

Norton Community High School: Ashley Colip, Amanda Delimont, Kara Jo Jones, Charli Lawson and Kyle Mindrup

Osborne High School: Christopher Eakin, Aaron Geist and Jenifer Wolters

Phillipsburg High School: Brendan Allen, Kathryn Hays, Alexandra Orr, Shayne Runnion and Ben Suchsland

Smith Center High School: Marshall McCall, April Rust, Courtney Strine and Trenton Terrill

Thunder Ridge High School: Rachelle Bose, Taylor Kuhlmann and Katie Larson

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