Paul Bireta

School: Bishop Seabury Academy

Bireta

Grade-point average: 3.9

Class rank: School does not rank students

Parents: Rich and Jane Bireta, Lawrence

Honors, activities: AMC 12 School winner; Boys State; Washington and Lee Book Award winner; National Merit Commended Scholar; Theater; Band; Student Senate vice president; Seabury Outdoor Society, School Prefect; Varsity Basketball, captain; Varsity Soccer, captain; Church Youth Group, Church Bell Choir; Boy Scouts of America

College: University of Michigan, University of Illinois or University of Arizona

Career plans: Renewable energy

Major: Engineering

Jessica Blankenship

School: De Soto High School

Grade-point average: 4.0

Class rank: 1

Parents: Tim and Kim Blankenship, De Soto

Blankenship

Honors, activities: Excellence in Physical Science (9); Excellence in Biology (10); Excellence in Geometry (9); Excellence in Foreign Language (9-10); Principal’s Honor Roll (9-12); Kansas Honor Scholar (12); 2005 National Honor Roll; Band (9), Honor Band; Student Government (9-11), class president (9), class representative (10-11); Fellowship of Christian Athletes (10-12), Leadership Team (12); Teens as Teachers, Future Educators Assn. (10-12); National Honor Society (11-12); Volleyball (9-12), Gatorade Will to Win Athlete (11), captain (12), Best Team Player Award (12); Basketball (9-12), Trashcan Award (11); Soccer (11-12), captain (11-12); DHS Volleyball Camp for sixth-eighth graders (9-12); Winter Wildcat Basketball League (10-11); Winter Wildcat Basketball Camp (10-12); Relay For Life (9-12); Harvesters (12); Heart to Heart; Westside Family Church Thanksgiving dinner volunteer

College: Johnson County Community College and Mid-America Nazarene University or Ottawa University

Career plans: Physical education and math teacher

Major: Secondary physical education and math

Austin Bloss

School: Wellsville High School

Bloss

Grade-point average: 3.34

Class rank: 11

Parents: Ronald and Janice Bloss, Wellsville

Honors, activities: Scholars’ Bowl (11-12); Citizenship Award (10-11); FBLA (9-12), Recycling Committee (10-12); Fellowship of Christian Athletes (9-12); KAYS (10-12), officer (11), vice president (12); Student Council (10-12), vice president (10), president (11-12); National Honor Society (10-12), vice president (11); Drama Club (11-12); Football (9-12), lettered (9-12), captain (11-12); Basketball (9-12), lettered (10-12), captain (11-12); Track (9-11), lettered (9-11); Wellsville Joint Recreation Center (WJRC) Basketball Referee (9-12); WJRC Baseball Referee (9-12); WJRC Flag Football Referee (3 years); Wellsville Methodist Youth Group, president (3 years); Youth Bible Study

College: Pittsburg State University

Career plans: Undecided

Major: Undecided

Emelia Brooke

School: Lawrence Free State High School

Brooke

Grade-point average: 4.0

Class rank: 1

Parents: Jim and Lene Brooke, Lawrence

Honors, activities: Honor Roll (9-12); National Forensics League (10-12), level of distinction; National Honor Society (11-12); Kansas Honors Scholar (12); National Honor Roll (12); Who’s Who Among American High School Students (12); Principal’s Mark of Excellence (10-11); Outstanding Free State Student Leader nominee (11); Marching and Concert Band (9-12), Outstanding Junior in Marching Band (11); President’s Award for Educational Excellence (9); Citizenship Award (9); Student Council (11-12); Kansas District Key Club (11-12), Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF, Valentines for Veterans; Social and Political Awareness Club (11-12); Lawrence Interdenominational Nutrition Kitchen volunteer (9), LINK Mentor (12); Debate (10-11), lettered (10-11); Varsity Track (9-12), lettered (9-11), Third Place, high jump, state; Volleyball, lettered, (9); Lawrence Arts Center Ballet (9-11); Tae Kwon Do (9-10), 3rd degree black belt; Drama/Acting (9-10), lead and supporting roles, lettered with honors (9); Choir (9-10), Honor Choir (9); Habitat for Humanity recycling collector for Presbyterian Manor (11-12); Audio Reader volunteer (12); Presbyterian Manor volunteer (11); Great Green Help (11)

College: Midwest or East Coast college

Career plans: Undecided

Major: Business and Spanish

Kaylin Carter

School: Bishop Seabury Academy

Carter

Grade-point average: 4.08

Class rank: School does not rank students

Parents: Tye Carter, deceased, and Greta Carter-Wilson, Lawrence

Honors, activities: McDonald’s Scholarship Essay Contest winner (9); National French Exam, First Place Kansas, Sixth Place Nation (10); Smith College Book Award (11); Honor Roll (9-12); Seabury Scholar; Bishop Seabury Dance Team Captain and Choreographer; Competitive Dance Student; Student Senate President; Church Worship Committee; Lawrence Interdenominational Nutrition Kitchen volunteer

College: Haverford College

Career plans: Medical school and volunteer for MSF (French organization similar to Doctors Without Borders)

Major: French and premed

Jordan Crice

School: Lawrence High School

Crice

Grade-point average: 4.0

Class rank: 1

Parents: Thomas Crice, Lawrence, and Connie Adams, Lawrence

Honors, activities: National History Day competition, Senior Group Documentary: First Place District, Second Place State, National Participant (9); President’s Award for Academic Excellence (9); National Spanish Exam, Level III: First Place Kansas, Fourth Place Nation (10), Level IV: First Place Kansas; Le Concours National Competition (national French exam), Level II: First Place Kansas and Third Tier U.S. (11); Harvard Book Award (12); AP Scholar (12); National Merit Semifinalist (12); Scholars’ Bowl team member; Quest Team Captain; Young Democrats Club

College: Yale University or Harvard University

Career plans: Law school or atmospheric science/environmental applications

Major: Political science

Rachel Cunningham

School: Oskaloosa High School

Cunningham

Grade-point average: 4.0

Class rank: 1

Parents: Steven and Shelley Cunningham, Oskaloosa

Honors, activities: Principal’s Leadership Award (12); Kansas Honors Scholar (12); Academic Excellence Award (9-12); Delaware Valley League Academic Achievement Award (9-12); Precalculus Student of the Year (11); Distinguished Scholastic Achievement (10); Biology II Student of the Year (10); Algebra II Student of the Year (10); English II Student of the Year (10); Geometry Student of the Year (9); NFCA Academic All-American Athlete Scholar (9); FBLA (9-12), Vice President (10), Parliamentarian (11), Service Vice President (12); National Honor Society (11-12), Treasurer and Secretary (12); Softball (9-12); Volleyball (9-12); Basketball (9, 11-12); United Methodist Worship Choir (10-11)

College: Kansas State University or Baker University

Career plans: Medical school, pediatrician

Major: Biology and premed

Audrey Deeken

School: McLouth High School

Deeken

Grade-point average: 4.0

Class rank: 1

Parents: Rodney and Susan Deeken, McLouth

Honors, activities: Science Fair (9-10); FCCLA (9-12); Kansas Honors Scholar and Kansas University Freshman Honors Scholarship; Basketball (9-12); Volleyball (9-12); Student Council (9-12), Class President (11), Treasurer (11); Fellowship of Christian Athletes (9-12); Big Brothers Big Sisters volunteer (9-12); Freshman Mentoring Program (10-12), Leader (12); National Honor Society (10), President (12); McLouth Crackerjacks 4-H Club (9-12), various offices including President (12); McLouth United Methodist Church Youth Group

College: Kansas University

Career plans: Children’s doctor

Major: Premed

David Foltz

School: Perry-Lecompton High School

Foltz

Grade-point average: 3.99

Class rank: 1

Parents: Dan and Monica Foltz, Perry

Honors, activities: Presidential Scholarship, Baker University; Scholars’ Bowl (9-10); Math Team (9-11); Kansas Honors Scholar (12); Gold Honor Roll (9-12); .5 Academic Club (9-12); Letterman’s Club (10-12); Model U.N. (9-11); Student Council (10-12); Class President (10-12); Football (9-12); Basketball (9-12); Baseball (9-12); National Honor Society (10-12); International Club (9-12); Biology Club (9-11); Chess Club (10-11); Blue Krew Spirit Club (9-12); Fellowship of Christian Athletes (9-10); FCCLA (9-11); Church Youth Groups (9-12); Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Topeka volunteer (12)

College: Baker University

Career plans: Undecided

Major: Business

Rose Garrison

School: Baldwin High School

Garrison

Grade-point average: 4.0

Class rank: 1

Parents: Dave and Kelly Garrison, rural Lawrence

Honors, activities: Washburn Math Team; Scholars’ Bowl; Honor Banquet (9-11); Academic Letter; Student Council, Treasurer (12); National Honor Society (11-12); Band (9-12), Lettered (9-12), Drum Major, District Band and Secretary (10-12); Forensics (10-12), Lettered (2 years), Best Novice Award; Tennis (9-12), Lettered (3 years); Debate, Lettered (1 year); Vinland United Methodist Church member, Trustees Committee, Vacation Bible School teacher; Vinland Living Nativity volunteer

College: Baker University

Career plans: Teacher

Major: Secondary education

Evan Hilpman

School: Free State High School

Hilpman

Grade-point average: 4.0

Class rank: 1

Parents: Dwight and Peggy Hilpman, Lawrence

Honors, activities: Reusselaer Medal for Excellence, Science and Math; International Thespian Conference, Kansas representative; Kansas Honors Scholar (12); Principal’s Mark of Excellence (9-12); Superior and Excellent ratings at state and district music contests, violin (3 years); District Choir (11-12); State Choir (11-12); Performed violin on KPR (2004); Lawrence Arts Center Honors Recital (violin solo and quartet); SAI Honors Recital, violin (2003); Summa Cum Laude, National Latin Exam (2005); Chorale and Honor Choir (2002-2003); Men’s Choir, President (10); Chamber Choir (11-12); “What’s Up West” member (9); National Honor Society (10-12); Orchestra, Concert Master (9, 12); Thespian Club (9-12), President (9, 11-12), Sophomore Representative (10); Students Teaching Against Tobacco (10-12); LINK Mentor (12), volunteer (9-11); Student Council (9); Latin Club (11-12), Co-Secretary (11); Math Team, Co-Secretary (12); Boy Scouts of America Troop 59, held various leadership positions (9-12); PYJ and Senior Seminar Church groups; Trick-or-Treat so Kids Can Eat (2003-2006); Light the Night (11); Habitat for Humanity volunteer (9, 11); Community Drop-In Center volunteer (9)

College: Brown University or Washington University

Career plans: Undecided

Major: Biology and fine arts

Tess Ludwick

School: Ottawa High School

Ludwick

Grade-point average: 4.0

Class rank: 1

Parents: David and Pamela Ludwick, Ottawa

Honors, activities: Kansas State University Leadership Scholarship (12); Kansas Honors Scholar (12); Computer Based Laboratory Resource Development (12); National Honor Roll (12); High Honor Roll (9-12); Academic Letter (9-12); Top 5 percent of class (9-12); Who’s Who Among American High School Students (9-11); Bausch & Lomb Honorary Science Award (11); Frontier League Band (11); Writer’s Cafe Poem Contest (11); Presidential Physical Fitness Award (9); National Honor Society (11-12); Peer Counseling (10-12); Student Council (9-12), class representative (9-11), parliamentarian (10-11), vice president (12), public relations chair (12); Concert and Marching Band (9-12), Clarinet Section Leader (11-12); Pep Band (9-12); Key Club (9-12); Pep Club (9-12); French Club (9-10); School Play (9), Stage Crew (10); Volleyball (9); Basketball (9); Junior Angus Assn., National (10-12), Kansas (9-12), District 2 Director (12), Miss Kansas Angus Ambassador (12); 4-H (9-12), Kansas Youth Leadership Council Advisor (12), State Advisory Council (11-12), National Communications Director (11), National 4-H Youth Directions Council Kansas Representative (11-12), U.S. Representative to Canadian National 4-H Conference (11), Kansas 4-H Youth Leadership Council (11), County Program Development Committee (11-12), County Council (10-12), Citizenship, Washington Focus (2005), president (2005), National 4-H Conference Delegate (2004), Wisconsin Exchange Trip (2003-2004), parliamentarian (2003-2004), Community Basketball Coach (2004)

College: Kansas State University

Career plans: Graduate school, food and science

Major: Food science and industry, the College of Agriculture

Callahan McIver

School: Santa Fe Trail High School

McIver

Grade-point average: 3.902

Class rank: 3

Parents: Nolan and Tina McIver, Overbrook

Honors, activities: Scholars’ Bowl (11-12); Math Club (9-12), High School AMC Winner (9, 11); Spanish Club (9-11), First Place Skit Competition (11); Debate (10-12), Kansas 4A Fourth Place (12); Journalism Competition (10-11), Outstanding Young Journalist Award; Voice of Democracy VFW Contest, Second Place; Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Leadership Team (9-12); National Honor Society (11-12), President (12); Kansas Association for Youth (10-12); Renaissance Committee (9-12); GO! Youth Mexico Missions Trips (9-11); 4-H Summer Camp Counselor (10-11); Santa Fe Trail Fall Soccer League Coach (10-12)

College: Kansas State University and Manhattan Christian College

Career plans: Engineer and Christian youth speaker

Major: Electrical engineering and Bible studies

Guy Kirby Montgomery

School: Eudora High School

Montgomery

Grade-point average: 4.0

Class rank: 1

Parents: David Montgomery and Cindy Higgins, Eudora

Honors, activities: National Honor Society, Treasurer (11-12); Boys State (2004); Debate, founding member, Sixth Place region (10); FBLA, Communications Officer (9-10); District Spelling Relay, Fifth Place; District Vocabulary, Fifth Place; District Computer Applications, Ninth Place, Historian (11); Scholars’ Bowl (9-12), Lettered (11-12); EHS Newspaper and Yearbook Staff (11-12), Photographer (11), Newspaper Photo Editor (12); Chess Club (9); Johnson County Community College Honor Roll (21 hours); Who’s Who Among American High School Students (10-12); National Honor Roll (10-11); U.S. Achievement Academy National Honor Student Award (11); Wichita State University Presidential Scholar (11); Rockhurst Dean’s Scholarship; Kansas University Freshman Honor Scholar; Washburn Valedictorian Scholarship; University of Minnesota National Scholarship; Spanish Club trip to Ecuador (2006); LHS Europe and Spain trip (2004); Football (9-12), Provisional Letter (11), Lettered (12), All-League Defensive End (12); Basketball (9-12), Lettered (12); Tennis (10-12), Captain (12); Student Council (10-12), Class Representative (10), Class President (11), Treasurer, Fundraising Coordinator and Video Yearbook Coordinator (11), President (12); Drama Club (9-12), President (11-12); Video Yearbook Club (10-11), Founder (10), Editor and Filming Coordinator (11); School Plays (10-12), Lead (10-12), Supporting Actor (11); Environmental Club (9-12), Vice President (12); Fellowship of Christian Athletes (9-12); Students Against Destructive Decisions (10-12); Cardinal Club (9-12); Principal’s Senior Advisory Council (12); Homecoming King (12); Frontier League Art Show, First Place; Langston Hughes Poetry Contest, First Place; Boy Scouts, Eagle Scout; guitarist and songwriter “Undeclared” rock band; Basketball Referee, city of Eudora (2005-2006); Eudora Methodist Church member and volunteer “Institute” counselor (2004); Operation Wildlife (2003-2005); Habitat for Humanity (2003); Big Brothers Big Sisters volunteer (2005); Eudora Public Library volunteer; Holy Family Youth Group (2004-2005); Kids Voting (2003)

College: Kansas University, Washburn University, Wichita State University, University of Minneapolis-St. Paul, Rockhurst University or St. Louis University

Career plans: Legal or medical fields

Major: Prelaw or premed

Laura Parkinson

School: Lawrence High School

Parkinson

Grade-point average: 4.0

Class rank: 1

Parents: Wayne and Mary Parkinson, Lawrence

Honors, activities: National Merit Commended Scholar (12); Watkins Scholar (12); Kansas Honors Scholar (12); National Honor Society (11-12); National History Day in Washington D.C., Fourth Place (11); School Newspaper (9-12), Kansas Scholastic Press Assn. Competition, Second Place Layout (11), Arts and Entertainment Editor (11), Editor-in-Chief (12); LHS Literary Magazine Editor (10-12); National Spanish Exam, Ninth Place (11); National Honor Roll (11); Published Poem in Celebration of Young Poets (11); Who’s Who Among American High School Students (10-11); National Young Leaders Conference (10); President’s Award for Academic Excellence (9); KSHAA Citizenship Award, Honorable Mention (9); International Thespian Society, Three-Star (9); SWJHS Drama Department Best Female Thespian (9); Key Club (10-12), Secretary (12); Yearbook Editor (9); Band (9); Bel Canto (9); Drama Club (9-12); School Plays (9-11); LINK volunteer (12); Critic’s Corner (10-12); Youth in Local Government, President (11); KU Journalism Institute (11); Missouri Media Institute (12); Kansas Scholastic Press Assn. Student Board, Vice President; Lawrence Journal-World Youth Advisory Board, (9-12), Copy Desk volunteer (10); Lawrence Memorial Hospital volunteer (9-10, 12); Lawrence Arts Center volunteer (12); First Presbyterian Church, Vacation Bible School volunteer (9-12), Youth Deacon (9-10); Youth Leadership Team and Youth Committee (10); Summer Youth Theater (9-10)

College: University of Missouri, Kansas University, Pepperdine University, Northwestern University, Stanford University or New York University

Career plans: Editor of a young women’s magazine

Major: Journalism

Zack Pistora

School: Tonganoxie High School

Pistora

Grade-point average: 4.0

Class rank: 1

Parents: Joe and Peggy Pistora, Lawrence

Honors, activities: Student Council President (11-12); Homecoming King (12); Presidential Scholar; Kansas Honors Scholar (12); Wendy’s High School Heisman nominee; American Youth Foundation’s “I Dare You” Leadership Award; Principal’s Honor Roll; State Debate Champion; Forensics (9-12), State Team, League Champion and Runner-up Champion; Debate (9-12); South Leavenworth County Leadership Class; TV Show Host and Broadcaster; Band, Jazz Band (9); Dare Role Model (11-12); Science Club (10-12); SADD (10-11); Foreign Language Club (12); Letter Club (12); Basketball (9-12), Varsity (11-12), Captain (12); Golf (9-12), Varsity (10-12); Math Competition (10); Scholars’ Bowl (11-12); Extreme Ping Pong, Founder and President (11-12); FCCLA (9); Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence volunteer (12); THS Science Club highway cleanup; Elementary School Tutor; Student Representative Voting Awareness and School Bond Issue Campaign (11); Special Olympics Competition volunteer; soup kitchen volunteer

College: Kansas University, Kansas State University or American University

Career plans: Politics, policy analyst, TV broadcaster or newspaper editor

Major: Political science and journalism

Kevin Patrick Stewart

School: McLouth High School

Stewart

Grade-point average: 4.0

Class rank: 1

Parents: Christopher and Stacy Stewart, Lawrence

Honors, activities: National Honor Society, Vice President of Activities; Fellowship of Christian Athletes, M Club; Football, Delaware Valley All-League Running Back (11-12), All-League Free Safety (12), All-State Class 3A Running Back (12), Third Team All-State Selection and Second Team All-Metro Selection (12); Lawrence Journal-World Player of the Year (12); Basketball Delaware Valley All-League Point Guard (12); Baseball, Kansas City Metro All-Area (12); St. Theresa Catholic Church Annual Fall Bazaar volunteer; School Mentor Program for Incoming Freshmen; McLouth Youth Baseball Assn. Umpire and Field Preparation; McLouth Kiwanis BBQ Blowout volunteer

College: Undecided

Career plans: Undecided

Major: Undecided, plans to play college football

Micah Titterington

School: Tonganoxie High School

Titterington

Grade-point average: 4.0

Class rank: 1

Parents: Michael and Diane Titterington, Tonganoxie

Honors, activities: National Merit Semifinalist (12); National Honor Society (10-12); Kansas Honor Scholar (12); Educational Excellence Award (10, 11); Scholars’ Bowl (10-12), Regional Team (11); Debate (12), Second Place Four-Speaker Regionals, Second Place Four-Speaker State; Math Team (11); Soccer (9-12); Track (10-12); Band (9-12), Pep Band, Marching Band, Concert Band and School Musical, District Band (9, 11); Spanish Club (12); Boy Scouts (2002-2006), Life Scout; Church Youth Group (2002-2006), Leadership Team (2004-2006), Senior High Guys’ Bible Study (2004-2006), Mission trips (2003-2006); Soccer Referee (2002-2006)

College: Southwest Baptist University or Taylor University

Career plans: Religion or apologetics

Major: Religious studies or philosophy

Kyle Wright

School: Wellsville High School

Wright

Grade-point average: 3.86

Class rank: 1

Parents: Curtis and Sue Wright, Wellsville

Honors, activities: Government Congress Manual; USAA Government and History Academic Achievement Award; FBLA, Fellowship of Christian Athletes; Football (12); Basketball (9-12); Two-Time National Home School All-American; Multiple Tournament teams, Tournament MVP; State Representative Campaign volunteer; Church Worship Band; Bible Study; Referee: Soccer, Basketball and Flag Football; Special Olympics volunteer

College: A Kansas university

Career plans: Teacher, secondary education social studies

Major: Secondary education