HAYS — Local scholars are among the nominees for two top student awards from the Fort Hays State University Alumni Association. 

Thirty-five graduating seniors have been nominated for the 2019 Torch Award, the highest student honor, and 12 graduate students who will complete their degrees this spring were nominated for the association’s Lighthouse Award to honor the outstanding student completing graduate studies. 

Torch Award and Lighthouse Award candidates are nominated by members of the faculty on the basis of classroom excellence, participation in professional organizations and involvement in student, civic or research activities. 

Area recipients include: Claflin: Katie Hipp, completing a Master of Science in speech language pathology. She is a Lighthouse Award nominee. Great Bend: Kaylan Lagerman Garcia, majoring in psychology, is a Great Bend High School graduate. She is a Torch Award nominee; Kiley Heine, majoring in sociology, is a Great Bend High School graduate. She is a Torch Award nominee. Larned: Jessica Johnson, completing a Master of Science (health and human performance). She is a Lighthouse Award nominee; Marley Palmer, majoring in nursing, is a Larned High School graduate. She is a Torch Award nominee. Lyons: Kayla Reid, a double major in communication sciences and disorders and organizational leadership, is a Lyons High School graduate. She is a Torch Award nominee. Russell: Roy Koech, majoring in criminal justice, is a Creek Valley High School graduate. He is a Torch Award nominee.