KU News Release

LAWRENCE — Students from 13 Kansas high schools will be honored Wednesday, Sept. 29, by the University of Kansas Alumni Association and KU Endowment.

A total of 130 seniors from high schools in Harvey and Reno counties will be recognized for their academic achievements and named Kansas Honor Scholars at a 6:30 p.m. dinner and program at the Grand Prairie Hotel and Convention Center, 1400 N. Lorraine, Hutchinson.

The Kansas Honors Program celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. Since 1971, the program has recognized 114,000 scholars, who rank in the top 10 percent of their high school senior classes and are selected regardless of occupational plans or higher-education goals. Each year, the KU Alumni Association and its volunteers host 41 programs that reach all 105 counties across the state.

During the ceremony, each student will receive an American Heritage Dictionary, in both hardback and electronic versions, presented by Marcus Hicks, coordinator of alumni programs for the KU Alumni Association.

Kevin Corbett, president of the KU 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 $15 each.

Community volunteers collect reservations, coordinate details and serve as local contacts for the event. Jeff and Marla Eriksen of Hutchinson are the site coordinators and Reno County coordinators. Sue Ice of Newton is the Harvey County coordinator.

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

Buhler High School: Caroline Berblinger, MacKenzie Bohren, Emily Calvert, Madison Caywood, Clarissa Corkins, Colton Easdon, Garrett Foster, Trenton Gilkey, Adam Horton, Diosha Johnson, Nathan List, Ayesha Naveed, Ryan Schmidt, Brent Weaver, Parker Wedel and Travis West

Burrton High School: Kailey Gardner and Jessica Hurst

Fairfield High School: Amanda Buckwalter and Baley Schweizer

Halstead High School: Gentry Heimerman, Andrew Johns, Kathryn Major, Crystal Maurath, Chelsea Nemeth, Collin Rupp and Dakota Warren

Haven High School: Jonathan Beachy, Julie Eash, Sage Ezell, Kayla Kauffman, Rachel Miller, Alyssa Parks, Rachel Reichenberger, Carolyn Roederer, Brendan Stade and Marilyn Yoder

Hesston High School: Matthew Geidel, Keenan Jensen, Emily Juhnke, Keegan Kendrick, Ashley Martin, Rachelle McGehee, Mollie Nebel, Taylor Redding, Alyssa Rychener, Emily Schadler, Shelby Spencer, Courtney Unruh, Jesse Voth-Gaeddert, Madelyn Weaver and Matthew Weaver

Hutchinson High School: Ashley Athavichitchanyaraks, Elias Birzer, Jaden Bowman, Anna Boyd, Maria Brockman, Daniel Eckhoff, Tiffany Ehrlich, Jake Frondorf, Matthew Galliart, Jalen Getting, Erica Gianakon, Caleb Gimar, Patrick Hawn, Katherine Horning, Estefania Lopez, Cortland Mahoney, J.D. Mckee, Joshua Mendoza, Ashton Pfannenstiel, Mallory Powell, Isaac Roehm, Eric Schmidt, Rachel Seitz, Emilie Stafford, Aryn Taylor, Zachary Van Dyke, Casey Walker, Jonathan Whitlow, Madison Wiles, Morgan Wiles, Taylor Yingling, Emily Yoder and Brieanna Zerger

Newton High School: Angelina Adame, Alexis Coffey, Jessica Crumrine, Brittney Dymnioski, Joanna Epp, Brielle Hennes, Dylan Jantz, Maria Jantz, Luis Miguel, Olivia Miller, Ashley Murrell, Alexis Nachtigal, Maggie Porter, Kyle Preston, Erin Regier, Lindsey Regier, Timothy Regier, Hannah Schrag, Mollie Schwabauer, Samuel Smucker, John Stucky, Bryce Volk, Bethanie Wedel and Chandler Williams

Nickerson High School: Trevor Hampton, Aubrey Hook, Brandy Mader, Austin Schweizer, Sarah Slifer, Tiffany Willbanks, Evan Wilson and Roy Wise

Pretty Prairie High School: Katie Graber and Alex Helfrich

Sedgwick High School: Megan Cordell, Morgan Giffin, Elli Kingsley, Jessica Lovett and Zach Willems

Trinity Catholic High School: Peter Calvillo, Victoria Hale, Kaylin Labenz and Jessica Shea