KU News Release

Michael Scott Agre

Qi Chen

Michael Robert Erickson

Gavin Keith Hanson

Samuel Y. Ho Jr.

Alex M. Johnson

Chris Ouyang

Jerrica Lynn Washburn

Ryan Charlie Xiao

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More Information

• Office of Admissions

LAWRENCE — A record-setting nine freshmen with perfect scores on their college entrance exams enrolled this fall at the University of Kansas.

“Nine is twice the number that enrolled last year,” said Lee Furbeck, senior associate director of KU’s Office of Admissions. “More top scholars than ever before are choosing KU based on academic quality and value.”

Each of the nine students has received KU’s Perfect Achievement Scholarship, a four-year scholarship for Kansas residents that covers tuition, fees and room and board, valued at $16,000 a year.

KU’s newest Perfect Achievement Scholars are

— Michael Scott Agre, Overland Park
— Qi Chen, Overland Park
— Michael Robert Erickson, Olathe
— Gavin Keith Hanson, Salina
— Samuel Y. Ho Jr., Topeka
— Alex M. Johnson, Wichita
— Chris Ouyang, Overland Park
— Jerrica Lynn Washburn, Wichita
— Ryan Charlie Xiao, Lenexa

Ho has the distinction of earning perfect scores on both the ACT and SAT. KU accepts both. Furbeck noted that it is not uncommon for incoming students to take both exams but that it is rare for a student to earn perfect scores on both.

Five of the new scholars earned enough academic credit hours from advanced placement or international baccalaureate courses to enroll with sophomore status although they are in their first year at KU.

“I congratulate these outstanding new students for their remarkable achievement on their entrance exams,” said Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little. “They represent some of the finest students in our state.”

With this fall’s nine recipients, a total of 17 Perfect Achievement Scholarships have been awarded since they were first offered in 2005. In 2009, a Missouri high school graduate with a perfect score received a KU scholarship valued at $10,000 a year for up to four years.

“The University of Kansas continues to be the top choice for academically talented students in Kansas,” said Lisa Pinamonti Kress, director of admissions. “Once students learn about the opportunities available here for top students, KU is an option that is too good to pass up for many.

“Some of this year’s scholars were admitted to other schools, including Ivy League institutions, but felt more welcome at KU. They all visited KU and spent time with the faculty in the academic programs that interested them. They looked at opportunities open to them as undergraduates as well as the potential for graduate opportunities once they have earned a bachelor’s degree.”

The Perfect Achievement Scholarship covers the cost of tuition for 30 credit hours a year for up to four years for Kansas residents with perfect scores on college entrance exams. Eligible students must choose KU right after high school graduation and remain enrolled at KU. The scholarship also provides housing in a traditional residence hall with a full meal package and an allowance for books. Recipients must maintain a 3.255 GPA and may also qualify for other KU scholarships and awards.

The scholarship funds are managed by KU Endowment, the official fundraising and fund-management foundation for KU. Founded in 1891, KU Endowment was the first foundation of its kind at a U.S. public university.

The new scholars are listed below by their hometowns and brief descriptions of their approaches to preparing for college entrance exams.

JOHNSON COUNTY
From Lenexa 66215
Ryan Charlie Xiao (pronounced “shaw”), a freshman in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, is the son of Jean Chen and a Rockhurst High School graduate. The University Honors Program first attracted Xiao to KU, but learning about the Perfect Achievement Scholarship through the admissions office was a major incentive in his decision to enroll. “Aside from the scholarship, however, I was attracted to KU’s prestigious honors program and the university’s reputation as a research institution.” To prepare for the SAT and ACT, “I checked out some test prep books from the library and worked through some of the sections. Nothing too intensive really; it’s just good to get some preparation going into those kinds of things.” For now, his long-range goal is to become a physician or surgeon, “but I'm just a freshman so things could change later on.”

From Olathe 66062
Michael Robert Erickson, a sophomore in mathematics, is the son of Mark and Barbara Erickson and an Olathe South High School graduate. Erickson used practice test books to prepare for both the SAT and ACT. “I considered KU before learning about the scholarship, but the scholarship was definitely a big incentive. The strong engineering program and sense of community also attracted me to KU.” He learned about the scholarship online. After he graduates from KU, Erickson plans to seek a graduate degree or a medical degree.

From Overland Park 66210
Michael Scott Agre, a sophomore majoring in mathematics, is the son of Scott and Elizabeth Agre and a Blue Valley North High School graduate. In high school, Agre had considered KU, but when he learned of KU’s Perfect Achievement Scholarship, he began to look at KU seriously. He learned about the scholarship through his own research of scholarship opportunities. Agre prepared for the ACT by taking Advanced Placement classes “which, I truly believe, helped on certain sections of the exam. After the first time I took it, I took a bunch of practice tests and then achieved my 36.” After his graduation from KU, he might enter the job market or consider a graduate degree.

From Overland Park 66213
Qi Chen, a sophomore in engineering, is the son of Rongying Wu and Guozhu Chen and a Shawnee Mission East High School graduate. In addition to getting a good night’s sleep and eating breakfast, Chen recalls that he prepared for the SAT by answering an SAT Question of the Day e-mailed to him daily for many weeks. He learned about the Perfect Achievement Scholarship through KU’s Office of Admissions website. KU was on his list of potential universities. “Living in Overland Park, it is difficult not to take KU into consideration — everywhere you look, you can find the Jayhawk logo. KU meant flexibility to me. With the number of AP and IB transfer credits that I have, I can afford to take a semester off if needed for an internship and study abroad without having to worry about delaying graduation. I could also pick up a couple minors or expand the scope of my extracurricular activities.” For now, his career goals following graduation from KU are to attend graduate school or find a management position in an engineering firm.

Chris Ouyang (pronounced ooy-yang), sophomore in petroleum engineering, is the son of Hong Li and Hui Ouyang and a graduate of Blue Valley Northwest High School. He approached the ACT and SAT methodically considering knowledge needed and time allotted to answer. “If you cannot do the problems with an infinite amount of time, then you have a problem. If you cannot do the problems within the time constraints, you have another issue. I studied that way, making sure my knowledge was sound and that I could perform under the time constraints. I used a practice test to help me.” He learned about the scholarship through his father, a programmer with KU’s Information Technology staff, and his brother, Kelly, also a chemical engineering sophomore. Ouyang said that beyond the credit he received for advanced placement classes and the Honors Program, student activities like the Mock Trial and Student Senate, attracted him to KU. After earning a bachelor’s degree, he plans to continue his education in graduate school or possibly law school.

SALINE COUNTY
From Salina 67401
Gavin Keith Hanson, a freshman in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, is the son of David and Janet Hanson and a graduate of Sacred Heart Junior-Senior High School. KU was among the universities Hanson was considering when he learned about the Perfect Achievement Scholarship. A friend had told him “that a high ACT score could get me a full ride.” He took a few SAT subject tests to prepare. In his visits to KU, Hanson found “KU is a good quality research university, so I’ll have opportunities there, and many of my friends are at this school as well.” He plans to determine an undergraduate major later and ultimately wants to continue his education beyond a bachelor’s degree.

SEDGWICK COUNTY
From Wichita 67203
Alex M. Johnson, freshman, is the son of William and Theresa Johnson and a graduate of Bishop Carroll High School. Johnson said he didn’t make any special preparations before taking the ACT. A Jayhawk fan from childhood, Johnson notes, “The two major reasons I decided to attend KU were the athletics (I am a life-long Jayhawk basketball and football fan) and the law program, which is one field I have been considering as a profession. If I major in political science, I hope to attend law school, most likely here at KU. If I major in German, I hope to study and live in Germany for a year or two.” He applied only to KU and learned about the Perfect Achievement Scholarship after applying.

From Wichita 67205
Jerrica Lynn Washburn, freshman in chemical engineering, is the daughter of Matthew and Laurisa Washburn and is a Maize High School graduate. She recalls working her way through an ACT test review book about a week in advance of taking the exam. Washburn had her test scores sent to KU and the Admissions office then contacted her about the Perfect Achievement Scholarship opportunity. Both parents had attended KU and it was among the universities Washburn was considering. “It has a gorgeous campus, a solid engineering program that can help me stay on the track I want to be on, and it's nice to have the opportunity of returning home every once and a while without it being too much of a hassle,” Washburn said. She is currently planning to study medicine, but recognizes that her career plans could change in the next four years.

SHAWNEE COUNTY
From Topeka 66614 and 66615
Samuel Y. Ho Jr., a sophomore in chemical engineering, is the son of Dr. Samuel Ho and Jennifer Ho and is a Washburn Rural High School graduate. He has “been an avid KU fan my entire life and have been coming to campus for football and basketball games since as long as I can remember.” His father, a KU medical school alumnus, learned about the Perfect Achievement Scholarship when browsing the KU admissions website. To prepare for both exams, Ho remembers, “I worked through the nonmath sections in the Princeton Review books for the SAT and ACT and took the corresponding nonmath practice tests in each book in preparation for the tests. I felt that KU offered just as comprehensive a program in the sciences and engineering as any university in the United States. Therefore, with my family ties to the university and the generous scholarship offers, it was a no-brainer to come to KU.” His future plans are to attend medical or graduate school after completing a bachelor’s degree.