KU News Release

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas Office of Admissions and Scholarships has announced the names of 50 new KU students in three national scholarship programs: National Merit, National Achievement and National Hispanic.

Forty-six National Merit scholars, one National Achievement scholar and three National Hispanic scholars chose KU. Forty-one of the 50 new scholars are Kansans.

For fall 2009, the National Merit, National Achievement and National Hispanic scholars each received $10,000 scholarships. The scholarships are renewable.

With these 50 new scholars, KU enrolls 219 students with either National Merit, National Achievement or National Hispanic scholarships.

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, for African-American students, are provided through the National Merit Scholarship Corp. in Evanston, Ill. National Hispanic scholarships are coordinated through the National Hispanic Recognition Program and the College Board offices in New York City.

Support for the scholarships comes from the National Merit Corporation and private scholarships through KU Endowment, the official fundraising and fund-management foundation for KU.

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

CRAWFORD COUNTY
From Pittsburg 66762
Nina Mathew, freshman in College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; daughter of Dr. Boban and Merly Mathew; Pittsburg High School; National Merit Scholar

DOUGLAS COUNTY
From Lawrence 66044
Timothy Steven Clark, freshman in physics, son of Steven and Elizabeth Clark; Lawrence Free State High School; National Merit Scholar

From Lawrence 66046
Jeff Leland Miller, freshman in anthropology, son of Byron and Ann Miller and Byron and Cathryn Miller; Bishop Seabury Academy; National Merit Scholar

From Lawrence 66047
Rebekah Noelle Curry, freshman in classical languages, daughter of Kevin and Beverley Curry; home schooled in Kansas; National Merit Scholar

JoAnn Christine Doll, freshman in flute, daughter of David and Victoria Doll; Lawrence High School; National Merit Scholar

From Lawrence 66049
Rodolfo Matias Torres, freshman in chemistry, son of Estela Gavosto and Rodolfo H. Torres; Lawrence Free State High School; National Merit Scholar

JOHNSON COUNTY
From Lake Quivira 66217
Peter William Whitaker, freshman in biology, son of Byron and Sandra Whitaker; Saint Thomas Aquinas High School; National Merit Scholar

From Leawood 66206
Ian James Schoeck, freshman in engineering, son of Robert and Nancy Schoeck; Rockhurst High School, Kansas City, Mo.; National Merit Scholar

From Leawood 66209
Glenn Richard Dunne, sophomore in pre-medicine, son of Christine Dunne; Blue Valley North High School; National Merit Scholar

From Lenexa 66216
Owen Robert Martin, freshman in mechanical engineering, son of Francis and Christine Martin; Shawnee Mission Northwest High School; National Merit Scholar

From Lenexa 66217
Dane Christopher Mitchell, freshman in computer engineering, son of Margaret and Dennis Mitchell; Shawnee Mission West High School; National Merit Scholar

From Lenexa 66215 and Overland Park 66221
Zach Chais Poskin, sophomore in chemical engineering, son of David Poskin of Lenexa and Joan Poskin of Overland Park; Rockhurst High School, Kansas City, Mo.; National Merit Scholar

From Merriam 66203
Matthew Kyle Sullivan, freshman in physics, son of Frank and Elizabeth Sullivan; Shawnee Mission North High School; National Merit Scholar

From Olathe 66062
Dakota Henke, freshman in electrical engineering, son of Darrell and Janice Henke; Olathe Northwest High School; National Merit Scholar

From Overland Park 66210
Lauren Joann Beesley, sophomore in English, daughter of Kari and Darin Beesley; Blue Valley Northwest High School; National Merit Scholar

Joseph Silvano Vusich, freshman in computer science, son of Joseph and Gioia Vusich; home schooled in Kansas; National Merit Scholar

From Overland Park 66212
Austin Christopher Moss, freshman in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, son of Mary Apprill; Saint Thomas Aquinas High School; National Merit Scholar

Blake Patrick Saffels, freshman in business administration, son of James and Susan Saffels; Shawnee Mission South High School; National Merit Scholar

From Overland Park 66213
Nathan Isaac Hoffmann, sophomore in violoncello, son of Sharon and Reed Hoffmann; Blue Valley Northwest High School; National Merit Scholar

Natasha Rohit Kothari, freshman in pre-medicine, daughter of Rohit and Pallavi Kothari; Blue Valley Northwest High School; National Merit Scholar

Michael Andrew Virgo, sophomore in business administration, son of Sally and John Virgo; Blue Valley Northwest High School; National Merit Scholar

From Overland Park 66221
Harrison Cody Haynes, freshman in anthropology, son of Patricia and Martin Thomas; Blue Valley Northwest High School; National Achievement Scholar

From Overland Park 66223
Whitney Noel Kleinmann, sophomore in pre-medicine, daughter of Calvin and Lesa Kleinmann; Blue Valley West High School; National Merit Scholar

From Prairie Village 66208
Daniel Gritz, freshman in engineering, son of David and Ligaya Gritz; Shawnee Mission East High School; National Merit Scholar

From Roeland Park 66205
Erin Annette Reid, freshman in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, daughter of David and Ronda Reid, Shawnee Mission North High School; National Merit Scholar

From Shawnee 66216
Bailey Reimer, freshman in linguistics, daughter of Jami Reimer; Shawnee Mission Northwest High School; National Merit Scholar

LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
From Lansing 66043
Jenny Lynn Curatola, freshman in psychology, daughter of John and Debra Curatola; Lansing High School; National Merit Scholar

MCPHERSON COUNTY
From McPherson 67460 and Tulsa, Okla.
Connor Mark Blankenship, freshman in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, son of Kenneth Blankenship of McPherson and Kari Blankenship of Tulsa, Okla.; Cascia Hall Preparatory School, Tulsa, Okla.; National Merit Scholar

RENO COUNTY
From Hutchinson 67501
Benjamin Mollett Whitlow, freshman in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, son of William and Jane Whitlow; Hutchinson Senior High School; National Merit Scholar

RILEY COUNTY
From Manhattan 66502
Emily E. Parsons, freshman in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, daughter of Patricia and Timothy Parsons; Manhattan High School; National Merit Scholar

SALINE COUNTY
From Salina 67401
Michael James Claman, freshman in film and media studies, son of John and Cheryln Claman; Salina High School Central; National Merit Scholar

SEDGWICK COUNTY
From Colwich 67030
Joseph Allan Stuever, freshman in music education, son of Robert and Lisa Stuever; Bishop Carroll High School; National Merit Scholar

From Wichita 67205
Christina Marie Brummett, freshman in music education, daughter of John and Rebecca Brummett; Bishop Carroll High School; National Merit Scholar

From Wichita 67206
Rebecca Lynn Mandelbaum, freshman in English, daughter of Susan Mandelbaum; Independent High School; National Merit Scholar

From Wichita 67209
Ethan William Locke, freshman in linguistics, son of Kenneth and Angie Locke; Goddard Senior High School; National Merit Scholar

From Wichita 67226
Alex Charles Applegate, freshman in business administration, son of Charles and Joanne Applegate; Wichita High School East; National Merit Scholar

From Wichita 67230
Kyra Rebecca Hagan, freshman in pre-pharmacy, daughter of Megan Wright-Hagan and Stephen Hagan; Andover High School; National Merit Scholar

Matthew Ryan Werner, sophomore in electrical engineering, son of Brian and Mary Werner; Independent High School; National Merit Scholar

SHAWNEE COUNTY
From Topeka 66604
Michael Martin Myers, freshman in mechanical engineering, son of Bruce and Kathleen Myers; Topeka High School; National Hispanic Scholar

From Topeka 66617
Evaleena Marie Struttman, freshman in biology, daughter of Mary and Albert Struttman; Seaman High School; National Merit Scholar

WYANDOTTE COUNTY
From Kansas City 66104
Christopher Michael Cole, freshman in chemical engineering, son of Michael Cole; Sumner Academy of Arts and Science; National Hispanic Scholar

ALASKA
From Anchorage 99511
Molly Marie Biegel, freshman in psychology, daughter of Shelley and David Biegel; South Anchorage High School; National Merit Scholar

MISSOURI
From Blue Springs 64014
Alexandra Nicole Free, freshman in English, daughter of Karen and Rolando Aguilera; Blue Springs High School; National Merit Scholar

From Columbia 65203
Christopher Mark Novosel, sophomore in aerospace engineering, son of Deborah and Davor Novosel; Hickman High School; National Merit Scholar

From Gladstone 64118 and North Kansas City 64116
Chelsea Lynn Steel, freshman in biochemistry, daughter of Tamara Steel of Gladstone and David Steel of North Kansas City; Winnetonka High School, Kansas City, Mo.; National Merit Scholar

From Kansas City 64151
Joseph David Sandt, sophomore in mechanical engineering, son of Mary and John Sandt; Park Hill Senior High School; National Merit Scholar

From Kirkwood 63122
Robert Warren Healey, sophomore in architectural engineering, son of Julie and Steven Healey; Kirkwood High School; National Merit Scholar

From Raytown 64138
Christos Michael Romanas, freshman in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, son of John and Maria Romanas; Lee’s Summit Community Christian School; National Merit Scholar

From Springfield 65809
Natalie Sung Ae Pak, freshman in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, daughter of Lora Schauer and Ronald Pak; Glendale High School; National Merit Scholar

OKLAHOMA
From Tulsa 74104 and McPherson, Kan.
Connor Mark Blankenship. See MCPHERSON COUNTY

TEXAS
From Dallas 75205
Katherine Maria Restrepo, freshman in pre-business, daughter of Allan and Kathy Restrepo; Highland Park High School; National Hispanic Scholar