Students from 13 Kansas high schools will be honored Oct. 13, by the University of Kansas Alumni Association and KU Endowment.
A total of 97 seniors from high schools in Ellsworth, Lincoln, Ottawa and Saline counties will be recognized for their academic achievements and named Kansas Honor Scholars at a 6:30 p.m. dinner and program at the Salina Country Club, 2101 E. Country Club Road.
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 Jamie Winkelman, assistant director of alumni programs for the KU Alumni Association.
Steve Hawley, professor of physics and astronomy and former NASA astronaut, 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. Pat Thompson of Salina is the site coordinator. Jim and Joyce Trower of Salina are the Saline County coordinators. Dr. G. Derril Gwinner of Ellsworth is the Ellsworth County coordinator. Bob and Sharron Hamilton of Salina are the coordinators for Lincoln and Ottawa counties.
The Kansas Honors Program is made possible by KU Endowment and proceeds from the Jayhawk license plate program.
Local students honored include: Jordann Bell, Natasha Bruning, Rochelle Hass, Emily Kralik and Sydni Parsons of Ellsworth High School; Bryant Lovin, Brittyn Naylor and Danielle Pounds of Sylvan-Lucas High School; and Justine Dlabal and Lacey Major of Wilson High School.