KU News Release

LAWRENCE — Students from six Kansas high schools will be honored Monday, Feb. 1, by the University of Kansas Alumni Association and KU Endowment.

A total of 45 seniors from high schools in Crawford County will be recognized for their academic achievements and named Kansas Honor Scholars at a 6:30 p.m. dinner program at Pittsburg State University’s Overman Student Center, 1701 S. Broadway.

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 Heath Peterson, assistant vice president for alumni programs at 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 $12 each.

Community volunteers collect reservations, coordinate details and serve as local contacts for the event. Nancy Hoff Scott and Michael Brewer, both of Pittsburg, will be the site coordinators. Rodney and Karen Odgers, of Pittsburg, will be county coordinators.

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

Frontenac High School: Emily Barto, Ben Gettler, Kevin McCollam, Matthew Reddick and Alyssa Snow

Girard High School: Gina Abati, Gannon Bauer, Brock Burnick, Katy Gorentz, Carly Lallemand, Austin Price, Sara Schifferdecker, Carly Twarog, Jared Twarog, Katie Viets and Maria Wilson

Northeast High School: Nicholas Popejoy, Makenzie Stansbury, Christopher Ward and Brandi Wiley

Pittsburg High School: David Beckenhauer, Kelly Clark, Jace Erwin, Hannah Hashman, Kaitlin King, Joanna Liu, Kirsten Nemecek, Jordan Patterson, Alison Percy, Daniel Phalen, Joshua Reed, Jacobi Spresser, Mollie Stephens, Jessica Wade, Kristina Willis, Blake Wilson and Hannah Wolgamott

Southeast High School: Ali Blanchard, Kayla Thompson, Lauren Thompson and Kathryn Ward

St. Mary's Colgan High School: Tyler Jeck, Katy Spence, Margaret Stuckey and Ashley Werner