KU News Release

LAWRENCE — Students from 15 Kansas high schools will be honored Wednesday, Sept. 30, by the University of Kansas Alumni Association and KU Endowment.

A total of 71 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 Center, 2211 E. Kansas, McPherson.

The Kansas Honors Program began in 1971 and has honored more than 107,000 students. Scholars rank in the top 10 percent of their high school senior classes and are selected regardless of occupational plans or higher-education goals. Honorees are listed below.

During the ceremony, each student will receive an American Heritage Dictionary, in both hardback and electronic versions, presented by Jamie Winkelman, assistant director of alumni programs for the alumni association.

Jonathan Earle, associate professor of history and associate director for programming at KU’s Dole Institute of Politics, 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. Lawrence Chaney of McPherson will be the site coordinator. Mary Kornhaus of McPherson will be McPherson County coordinator. Jim Christensen and Martin Tice, both of Marion, will be Marion County coordinators. Audrey Edwards of Sterling will be Rice County coordinator.

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