Kansas University has honored a Free State High School educator with a teaching award.

John Olson, a FSHS physics teacher, has won one of the first four KU Wolfe Teaching Excellence Awards, said Joe Snyder, FSHS principal.

Candidates for the awards were nominated by former students and selected by a panel of faculty, administrators and students from KU’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and KU’s School of Education.

Olson will receive a $3,000 cash award, and Free State receives $1,000 in his name, Snyder said. Olson also will be honored during KU’s graduation weekend, May 19-20.