KU News Release

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

A total of 55 seniors from high schools in Linn and Miami counties will be recognized for their academic achievements and named Kansas Honor Scholars at a 6:30 p.m. dinner and program at the Mound City Elementary School, 531 Locust.

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 Anny Culnane, coordinator of alumni programs for the KU Alumni Association.

David Johnston, director of marketing and Internet services for the alumni association, 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 $9 each.

Community volunteers collect reservations, coordinate details and serve as local contacts for the event. Bob Nicholson will be the site coordinator and county coordinator for Paola County. Kenneth and Mary Asher and Janice Wurtz are coordinators for Linn County.

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

Jayhawk Linn High School: Micah Black, Taylor Dawson, Clayton Dierksen, Meriel Long, Jessie McGown, Kayla McGrew, Amory Miller and Chrisina Perkins

Louisburg High School: Christopher Agnew, Gwendolyn Baumgardner, Emily Bergman, C. Taylor Brown, Ashton Dover, J. Tyler Downs, Jordan Eggers, Gentry Griffin, Zachary Hill, Kelsey Keltner, Michael Powers, Rachel Rusk, Charity Sterling and Kaitlin Wertz

Osawatomie High School: Megan Bertone, Erika Davis, Matthew Dickinson, Julia Dorsett, Amanda Ellis, Samantha Ferrell, Sara Schwalm, Devan Smith and Brendan Soucie

Paola High School: Rachael Guenther, Katherine Kennedy, Kari Ludes, Timmie Morris, Briana Mueller, Alyssa Paul, Paige Queen, Michael Reynolds, Rachel Schmidt, Abigail Smith, Eric Timpe, Keelan Trull, Rebecca Ward, Brittany Weber and Allison Wood

Pleasanton High School: Felicia Mincks and Tyler Myrick

Prairie View High School: Sheila Bailey, Hannah Behm, Jennifer Clark, Michael Fraser, John Hatfield, Hayley Irwin, and Jessica Solo