KU News Release

LAWRENCE — Students from 10 Kansas high schools will be honored Thursday, April 8, by the University of Kansas Alumni Association and KU Endowment.

A total of 32 seniors from high schools in Graham, Norton, Osborne, Phillips and Smith counties will be recognized for their academic achievements and named Kansas Honor Scholars at a reception and dinner program at 6:30 p.m. at the Dane G. Hansen Memorial Plaza Community Room, 110 W. Main St., in Logan.

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 Danny Lewis, assistant director of alumni programs for the KU Alumni Association.

Bernie Kish, director of facilities and lecturer in the School of Education, 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. Dave Rankin, Phillipsburg, will be the site coordinator for Graham, Phillips and Smith counties. Rob Wenzl, Phillipsburg, and Carol Bales, Logan, are the county coordinators for Graham, Phillips and Smith counties; Kevin Baughman and Tom Baumann, both of Norton, are the Norton County coordinators; and Philip Hardman, Osborne, is the Osborne Country coordinator.

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

Hill City High School: Justin Helberg, Clinton Johnson, Megan Kennedy and Lewen Ninemire

Lakeside High School: Rachel Renken and Jonathan Trotter

Logan High School: RaeAnn Pinkerton

Natoma High School: Mason Angel and Eastin Casey

Northern Valley High School: Samual Field and Amber Sheley

Norton Community High School: JoAnna Cummings, Kendra Englebert, Marcus Herman, Matt Miller and Bethany Roy

Osborne High School: Jocelyn Conway, Paige Noel, Taylor Thibault and Emily Wolters

Phillipsburg High School: Dustin Aherin, Jennifer Bilby, Chris Ceman, Garrett Kennedy, Sydnie Olliff and Kalynda Pack

Smith Center High School: Gretchen Albert, Karli Kattenberg, Jamie Strine and Alexis Wingerson

Thunder Ridge High School: Trent Ferguson and Ryanne Rahjes