KU News Release

LAWRENCE — Students from six Kansas high schools will be honored Wednesday, Feb. 23, by the University of Kansas Alumni Association and KU Endowment.

A total of 50 seniors from high schools in Linn and Miami counties will be recognized for their academic achievements and named Kansas Honor Scholars at a 6:30 p.m. dinner and program at Paola High School, 401 Angela St.

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 Nikki Epley, director of reunions for the KU Alumni Association.

Provost Jeffrey Vitter 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. Bob Nicholson, of Paola, is the site coordinator and Miami County coordinator. Mary and Kenneth Asher and Janice Wurtz, of Mound City, are the Linn County coordinators.

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

Jayhawk Linn High School: Chelsea Beckman, Madison Bruner, Shelby Krull, Keylee Spencer and Leah Wood

Louisburg High School: Stacy Curtis, Ross Dvorak, David Embers, Kylie Geiman, Carlie Houchen, Christian Huffman, Cassie Hurst, Taylor Johnson, Kaleb Kasitz, Matthew Lyons, Caitlin Schneider and Woodrow Watson

Osawatomie High School: Daniel Dorsett, Zack Grimes, Seth Jones, Feng Lin, Jacy Lucas, Sarah Maddox, Kayleigh Shay and Hannah Waddle

Paola High School: Lauren Bandyk, Lyndsey Bandyk, Brianna Berner, Lauren Brodie, Erin Fuchs, Alicia Hampton, Veronica Hart, Rachel Hawes, Abbey Hennk, Courtney Johnson, Nathan Laudan, Esther Lovesee, Elizabeth Petelin, Sydney Peterson, Samuel Rourke and Garrett Stevenson

Pleasanton High School: Gannon Coffman and Johnnea Saulsberry

Prairie View High School: Dalton Gainer, Devon Morris, Katelyn Moylan, Emily Reynolds, Leilani Shalia Seaborn, Logan Smith and Candice Wilson