KU News Release

LAWRENCE — Students from 15 Kansas high schools will be honored Wednesday, Oct. 6, by the University of Kansas Alumni Association and KU Endowment.

A total of 81 seniors from high schools in Clark, Comanche, Ford, Gray, Hodgeman, Kiowa, Meade and Ness counties will be recognized for their academic achievements and named Kansas Honor Scholars at a 6:30 p.m. dinner and program at Dodge City Community College, Student Union Ballroom, 2501 N. 14th Ave.

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 Michelle Miles, assistant director of Kansas programs for the KU Alumni Association.

Paul Buskirk, associate athletics director, will speak to the students and their parents and guests.

Honored students will be guests of the KU 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. Carson Ballard of Dodge City is the site coordinator and coordinator for Ford and Ness counties. Jon Bigler of Ashland is the Clark County coordinator. Liz and Chris Ballard of Haviland are coordinators for Comanche and Kiowa counties. Philip and Patricia Ridenour of Cimarron are Gray County coordinators. Richard Sorem of Jetmore is the Hodgeman County coordinator. Lynn Chance of Fowler is the Meade County coordinator.

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

Ashland High School: Cole Gardiner, Ranson Gardiner and Kayla McKinney

Bucklin High School: Melinda Davis

Cimarron High School: Spence Byer, Woofter Genare, Kate Lock and Charles Shaughnessy

Dodge City High School: Bryan Armenta, Max Bencomo, Kyelee Buehne, Luke Bunker, Rachel Crockett, Aaron Delzeit, Justin Dewell, Matthew Esquibel, Kaytlin Fairclough, Kaitlyn Genereux, Joshua Ginther, Jared Helfrich, Hannah Hoskinson, Blaise Jensen, Danielle Jones, Miguel Lopez Ortiz, Hayley Lowery, Miriam Macedo, Leann Manriquez, Ismael Maravilla Contreras, Zoe Mariche, Courtney McDaniel, Stephanie Mejia, Shannon Mitchell-Mann, Brittiny Moore, Kylie Newton, Rebecca Oberley, Emilyjane Pyle, Mallory Ratts, Ethan Reimer, Blake Rumbaugh, Garrett Salem, Kenzie Schlegel, Taelyn Schuckman, Friyana Shah, Sophie Shaull, Rachel Smith, Jared Stremel Jesse Trent and Mikeyla Wilson

Fowler High School: Alexis Lundeen and Jeremy Milford

Hodgeman County High School: Gregory Bradford, Kileigh Cure, Lisa Phethchada, Mitchell Rucker and Mallorie Salmans

Ingalls High School: Kaleb Batman, Gena Benton and Kayla Wehkamp

Kiowa County High School: Morgan Fulton, Ty Schaef, Morgan Tyree and Peyton Wade

Meade High School: Adam Gleason, Alissa Harshberger, Kyre Larrabee and Britney Reimer

Minneola High School: Jennifer McKissick and Kasuandra Ptacek

Ness City High School: John Clarke, Sarah Flax, Riley Klitzke and Evan Lane

South Central High School: Lauren Herd and Lauren Jarnagin

South Gray High School: Austin Love, Alex Pena, Kiefer Titus and Cori Watts

Spearville High School: Shelby Durler and Rebecca Hornung-Heeke

Western Plains High School: Dakota Foos