KU News Release

KU to honor 19 seniors from high schools in Atchison County on March 25

LAWRENCE — Students from three Kansas high schools will be honored Wednesday, March 25, by the University of Kansas Alumni Association and KU Endowment.

A total of 19 seniors from high schools in Atchison County will be recognized for their academic achievements and named Kansas Honor Scholars at a 6:30 p.m. dinner program at the Atchison Heritage Conference Center, 710 S. Ninth St.

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 Marcus Hicks, coordinator of alumni programs for the KU 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 $13 each.

Community volunteers collect reservations, coordinate details and serve as local contacts for the event. Chad and Carri Ball of Atchison are site coordinators.

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

Honorees’ names are listed below by high school.

Atchison County Community High School: Michael Brown, Allegra Gigstad, Gentry Linscott and Mary Schletzbaum

Atchison High School: Derek Bauman, Daris Calhoon, Lillian Cooper, Margaret Denton, Kyle Downing, Jordan Hefner, Devvon Ochoa, Christian Payne and Nathaniel Pickman

Maur Hill — Mount Academy: Zhangxiaowen (Andy) Gong, Misha Irfan, Megan Klebba, Amelia Lutz, Laura Prohaska and Makinzie Vowels

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