A group of 37 Hutchinson High School seniors have been recognized by the Kansas Honor Scholars Program, which marks its 50th anniversary as a tradition of the University of Kansas Alumni Association and KU Endowment. In all more than 3,600 high school seniors throughout Kansas have been recognized for their academic excellence and achievement.
Since 1971 the program has honored more than 150,000 high school seniors from all 105 Kansas counties and approximately 360 high schools for ranking academically in the top 10 percent of their class. The program is made possible by KU Endowment, alumni donations and proceeds from the Alumni Association’s Jayhawk license plate program, and allows the University and the Alumni Association to create more scholarship opportunities for Kansas students.
In the past, the Association has hosted recognition ceremonies throughout Kansas, but because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, scholars were honored virtually this year. A special congratulatory video, featuring messages from KU Chancellor Doug Girod, Alumni Association President Heath Peterson and former KU basketball player and Kansas Honor Scholar Perry Ellis, is available for viewing at kualumni.org/khs. In addition, the Association mailed distinctive Kansas Honor Scholar medallions, certificates and letters of recognition to all high schools for distribution to the students.
In 2020, the Association raised more than $7,000 for one-time Kansas Honor Scholar Scholarships, funded entirely by alumni donations. In addition, two students will receive the $1,000 renewable four-year Herbert Rucker Woodward Scholarship, given annually for more than two decades to Kansas Honor Scholars. Since 1985, more than 18,000 Kansas Honor Scholars have enrolled as freshmen at KU.
Members of the HHS Class of 2021 who were recognized:
- Hannah Allen
- Jalen Barlow
- Ciandra Baxter
- Brooklyn Bleything
- Carter Booe
- Zachery Bryan
- Dakota Douglas
- Jonathan Fan
- Claire Fee
- Alyssa Field
- Grace Frager
- Brooklyn Friesen
- Kaitlynn Gibson
- Lance Goering
- Haden Green
- Joselyn Hallier
- Koby Harding
- Mabel Hirst
- Elyse Howard
- William Jackson
- Maritza Jimenez
- Wyatt Johnson
- Morgan Meier
- Jadyn Miller
- Aidan Minner
- Olivia Morgan
- Colleen Page
- Megan Pankratz
- Emilee Railsback
- Ashtyn Schreiber
- Kolton Sims
- Brock Southern
- Jacob Unruh
- Lindsey Unruh
- Faith Wells
- Kian Williams
- Carter Young