So, what does it take to be among the best and brightest high school students?

Brains and the ability to put them to good use, says Andy Tompkins, former Kansas education commissioner, who last week helped honor the 10 members of the Journal-World’s 2007 Academic All-Star Team.

“It is a matter of effort,” Tompkins said. “It is not just having the connections. It is actually doing something with it. They work hard.”

This is just the beginning for these youngsters. For a glimpse of what the future holds for them, the Journal-World checked in on the 1997 Academic All-Star Team to see what they are up to now. The academics now approaching their 30s have a lot of advice to offer today’s teenagers.

Jennifer Crawford

Jennifer Crawford. School: Bishop Seabury Academy; Grade-point average: 4.16; Parents: Ronald and Carolyn Crawford, Lawrence.

If Jennifer Crawford gets it right, a few years from now there should be fewer cases of odontophobia.

The Bishop Seabury Academy senior says she’s interested in becoming a pediatric dentist.

And if she can provide children with good experiences, she can cut down the number of people who have irrational fears of going to the dentist later in life.

“I have one friend who absolutely hates the dentist,” Crawford said.

Crawford said she’s currently looking at studying pre-dental biology classes next year.

“I haven’t decided where I’m going. Right now it’s narrowed down to Creighton University in Omaha or KU,” she said.

“I don’t want to go somewhere where people are competing against each other for the top grade,” she said. “I want to go where people are there because they want to learn and are nice, helpful and very friendly.”

Originally, she had been thinking about a career in medicine. Then her father reminded her that her uncle in Goodland was a dentist.

She went out to job shadow her uncle and the dentist he works with.

“I was absolutely fascinated by it,” she said. “A lot of people don’t like to go to the dentist, but I thought it was fascinating.”

Honors, activities: AMC Math Contest (2005, 2007); National German Exam (2007); National Merit Commended Scholar (2006); Kansas Honor Scholar (2006); valedictorian; Student Senate, class representative (2006), class president (2007), prefect (2007); basketball (2003-07), captain (2007), lettered (2003-06); cross country (2005-06), Most Improved Runner (2005), lettered (2005); theater (2003-07), lettered (2003-06); chorus (2003-07), Most Valuable Student Award (2003-06); journalism (2003-06), photography editor (2005-06); forensics (2004-07), state competition qualifier and lettered (2006); 4-H (1995-2007), president (2006-07), Douglas County ambassador (2004-06)

College: Creighton University or Kansas University

Career plans: Pediatric dentistry

Major: Biology and pre-dentistry

Emily Krysztof. School: Baldwin High School; Grade-point average: 4.0; Class rank: 1; Parents: Steve and Lori Krysztof, Baldwin City.

Emily Krysztof

Considering her 4-H background, it might seem Emily Krysztof would consider a career closer to the physical world.

After all, she was raised on a farm. And in 4-H, she excelled at showing cattle and at making foods and woodworking projects.

But the Baldwin High School senior is looking at a career in the virtual world. She’s interested in computer programming and computer graphics.

Krysztof, who is first in her class, plans to enter Pittsburg State University’s graphics and imaging technologies and computer science programs next year.

“I’ve also been accepted into their honors college,” she said. “I’m really excited about that.”

Krysztof said she was unsure what she’ll want to do when she gets out of college.

“I do a lot in school with multimedia,” she said. “And I really enjoy it.”

She has made audio podcasts and videos using multimedia software, such as the highlight video for Baldwin’s boys basketball team that she created using such software tools as Final Cut Pro and Garage Band.

That meant taping at least 10 of their basketball games, editing the footage, then adding type, special effects and music.

“I do it all,” she said.

Honors, activities: National Honor Society Blood Drive Committee, co-chairman (11-12), Relay for Life fundraising chairwoman (12); Kansas Honor Scholar (12); 4.0 Honor Roll (9-12); Who’s Who Among American High School Students (10-12); KSPA, second place feature story regional contest (11), third place feature story state contest (11); newspaper staff writer, All-Kansas Award (11); third place Emporia State Geometry Test (10); honorable mention Emporia State Trigonometry Test (11); 100 percent Kansas State Math Assessment (10); Principal’s Leadership Scholarship nominee (12); class president (12); class vice president (9-11); Student Council (9-12); Fellowship of Christian Athletes vice president (11-12); Winner’s Circle, Drug-Free Athletes (9-12); Lettermen’s Club (11-12); journalism staff (11-12), newspaper business manager, yearbook and sports program (12), sports program editor (12), video yearbook staff co-editor (12); softball (9-12); tennis (10-12); basketball (9-12); football statistician (11-12); Prom Committee chairwoman (11); Adopt-a-Family chairwoman (12); Big Brothers Big Sisters (10-11); Palmyra 4-H Club (9-12), president, vice president, treasurer, Woodworking Junior Project leader (9-12), Rock Springs 4-H camp counselor (10); Douglas County 4-H (11-12); Photography Judging Team Kansas State Fair, Douglas County (12), Douglas County Fair Arden Booth Good Manners Award nominee and Beef Herdsmanship Award (11-12)

College: Pittsburg State University or Kansas State University

Career plans: Information technologies

Major: Computer science, graphics and imaging technologies or computer science engineering

Charles Mersmann. School: Eudora High School; Grade-point average: 4.0; Class rank: 1; Parents: Walter and Martha Mersmann, Eudora.

Charles Mersmann

Some business majors dream of climbing the corporate ladder. Others think about making their way on Wall Street.

And still others get the itch to be an entrepreneur.

Charles Mersmann might find himself in the latter category a few years from now.

“One of my dreams or goals is to possibly own a sporting goods store,” the Eudora High School senior said.

Mersmann, one of nine children, is ranked first in his class of 108.

At Eudora High, he played football and baseball and is now on the track team. He also likes to hunt and fish and enjoys browsing the outdoors sections at sporting goods stores.

His plan is to attend Kansas State University in the fall, where he’ll follow two family members: a brother, who will be on campus, and a sister, who is studying abroad.

“I like the environment up there. I really like the school and the people there,” Mersmann said.

Not to mention KSU gave him an incentive – tuition and books as a Putnam Scholar.

“I’ll probably end up studying some field of business. That I’m not sure of yet,” Mersmann said. “I like finance, so that’s where I might end up, in the finance department.”

After getting a master’s degree, he’ll look into opening his own sporting goods store.

“I think it would be fun,” he said. “I can incorporate my own enjoyment for sports and business at the same time.”

Honors, activities: Wichita State University Clay Barton Scholarship Finalist (12); FBLA (11-12), state qualifier (11-12); Kansas State University Henry J. Putnam Scholar (12); National Honor Society (11-12); Outstanding Math Student (11); Spanish Student of the Year (9-10); 4.0 Honor Roll (9-12); USAA All-American Scholar (12); USAA National Honor Roll (12); Who’s Who Among American High School Students (10-12); baseball (9-11); SADD (10); class treasurer (11-12); Student Council (11-12); Environmental Club (11-12), president (12); Fellowship of Christian Athletes (9-12), president (11-12); football (9-10); International Club (9-10, 12); Principal’s Advisory Committee, vice chairperson (12); LINK (11-12)

College: Kansas State University

Career plans: Graduate school, own a sporting goods store

Major: Business, finance or management

Amber Peterman. School: Perry-Lecompton High School; Grade-point average: 4.0; Class rank: 1; Parents: Mark Peterman, deceased, and Debbie Thompson, Oskaloosa.

Amber Peterman

Chances are, a few years from now, you might come across Amber Peterman working as a registered nurse.

Most likely, she will have a professional demeanor. But there will be something different about her you might not notice.

“It’s a silly, trivial thing, but I believe one of the most unique things about me is my socks,” Peterman wrote in her J-W Academic All-Star application.

She explained that since elementary school, she has had pairs of socks with animals, wild designs and even some that glow in the dark.

And all those wacky socks have allowed Peterman to be an individual in a quiet way as she went through Perry-Lecompton High School.

Not that she needed the socks to stand out; she earned the top rank at her school as of last semester.

And as a ninth-grader, she had a short biographical essay read on National Public Radio. Her hobbies also include writing short stories, running and playing with her two rats, Augie and Zorb.

Peterman said for next year, her college plans aren’t yet finalized.

She’s still considering several schools, including Creighton University in Omaha, Baker University and Kansas University.

“I’ll be in just the general studies in my first two years, and then after that I’ll plan on going into nursing,” she said.

Peterman said she became interested in medicine a few years ago when a relative was taken to Children’s Mercy Hospital for a brain aneurysm.

“They took really good care of him, and while I was there I liked it, I loved it and thought it was amazing, under the circumstances,” she said.

Honors, activities: Kansas Honor Scholar (12); National Honor Society (10-12); gifted program (9-12); honor roll (9-12); yearbook editor (12); spring drama productions (9-12); Drama Club (10-12); FBLA (10-12); International Club (11-12), Biology Club (11-12); math team (9-11); FCCLA (10)

College: Creighton University, Baker University or Kansas University

Career plans: Graduate school for nursing, possibly geriatrics

Major: Nursing

Andy Petz. School: Free State High School; Grade-point average: 4.0; Class rank: 1; Parents: Thomas and Susan Petz, Lawrence.

Andy Petz

Andy Petz likes to swing for the fences in everything he does.

The Free State senior ranks first in his class of 363 seniors.

An accomplished pianist, he also has received a perfect “1” rating at the Kansas State High School Activities Association’s regional and state piano festivals.

Last fall, he showed off his athletic prowess: a linebacker for the 9-0 Firebirds, he was named to the Greater Kansas City Football Coaches Association scholar-athlete team.

But academics, music, and football aren’t Petz’s true love.

His heart belongs to baseball.

“My ultimate goal is to play Division I (college) baseball,” he said.

Petz has signed to play at Cowley County Community College in Arkansas City next year.

“There is still a possibility I could go to a Division I school if the opportunity and the right scenario came about,” he said.

Petz has other options if baseball doesn’t work out for him.

“I am strong in math and science,” he said. “I’ve always liked to build things. So I think I’m going to go into an engineering field.”

He’s considering either civic engineering or aerospace engineering.

“Those are two areas that have kind of sparked an interest with me, but I’m kind of hoping I can figure it out as I go,” he said.

Honors, activities: Wendy’s High School Heisman state semifinalist (12); School Spirit Award (2004); Kansas Honor Scholar (12); Coca-Cola Scholarship semifinalist (12); Greater Kansas City Football Coaches Association Academic All-Star Team (12); Principal’s 4.0 Honor Roll (2004-07); Student Council (9-12), class treasurer (12), Leadership Committee chairman (11); class president (10); Peer Education Board (2004-07), chairman (2005-07), “1” Rating KSHSAA state piano competition (2006); orchestra (2003-05); Lawrence Youth Symphony (2003-05); football (3 years), lettered (3 years), First Team All-Sunflower League/Honorable Mention All-State linebacker (11-12); baseball (9-12), lettered, honorable mention All-Sunflower League catcher (11), Kansas 6A state champions; summer baseball, catcher, American Legion Raiders; For Your Information Club leader (2004-07); Prison Ball Club president (2005-07); Youth Baseball Camp instructor (2004-06)

College: Cowley County Community College, then to Division I school

Career plans: Aerospace or civic engineer

Major: Engineering

Alexandra Prosser. School: De Soto High School; Grade-point average: 4.0; Class rank: 1; Grandparents: Stephen and Nancy Prosser, De Soto.

Alexandra Prosser

To say Alexandra Prosser was busy this week is an understatement.

The De Soto High School senior was out visiting several colleges, trying to determine where she wants to attend next fall.

For that reason Prosser was unable to attend the honors luncheon last week for the Journal-World’s Academic All-Stars – and the reason she wasn’t in the photo.

“I have applied to eight schools around the country,” Prosser wrote in her Academic All-Star application.

Those included Washington University in St. Louis, the University of Chicago and Duke University.

Wherever she decides to go, her goal is to study biological sciences and then pursue a career in a scientific field.

Prosser, who finished first in her senior class of 109 students, has made an impression on Cindy Crabtree, her high school counselor.

“She is a phenomenal young lady,” Crabtree said. “She is very dedicated. She is, of course, very accomplished in music. She’s an excellent tennis player. She’s very, very self-disciplined – you can tell by all she’s accomplished.”

Those accomplishments include playing the flute and being named to the Kansas Music Educators Association All-State Band.

“She’s just plain nice,” Crabtree said. “She’s just a lovely young lady.”

Prosser said her mother died when she was 3 years old and she has been raised by her grandparents, Stephen Prosser, a courier, and Nancy Prosser, a homemaker.

Honors, activities: Commended National Merit Scholar; Kansas Honor Scholar; Principal’s Honor Roll (9-12); Wellesley College Book Award (11); KCATM Math Contest (10), third place team (10), second place trigonometry (11); Shooting Stars Scholarship Competition nominee (12); band (9-12), lettered (3 years); KMEA All-State Band, fourth chair (12); KMEA District Band, third chair (10), first chair (11), second chair (12), KSHSAA Solo and Ensemble State Medalist, solo, flute choir and woodwind quintet (11); KSHAA Piano State (9, 11); choir, lettered (3 years); Madrigal Singers (11-12); KSHAA Solo and Ensemble Medalist (11); tennis, lettered (9-11), National Honor Society (11-12), president (12); Olathe Area Symphony (11-12)

College: Washington University, University of Chicago or Duke University

Career plans: Scientific field

Major: Biological sciences

Justin Smith. School: Tonganoxie High School; Grade-point average: 4.0; Class rank: 1; Parents: Frank Smith, Tonganoxie, and Jeanne Smith, Tonganoxie.

Justin Smith

Don’t be surprised if Justin Smith can get more done in a day than most high school students.

One reason is because the Tonganoxie senior has figured out how to give himself more time – by figuring out a way to function with less sleep.

Smith is tied for first place with several other top students in his school.

Besides excelling in academics, he also participates in cross country and track and is involved in debate and forensics.

And recently, he began using a polyphasic sleep schedule designed to give him several extra hours of time a day.

“It’s something a couple of friends and I are doing. It’s working out kind of rough, I guess,” Smith said, admitting it’s difficult to deprive yourself of sleep. “The trick is to make sure you don’t sleep through your alarm.”

The idea is to divide your day up where you can take a series of short naps, rather than one long period of sleep.

A typical day would be going to bed to get “core sleep” between 2:30 a.m. and 5:30 a.m., then getting a nap of 20 minutes or so at 12:30 p.m. during lunch, then another 20 to 30 minutes at 5:30 p.m., then another 20 to 30 minutes at 10:30 p.m.

“In theory, it should work that way,” he said. “I’ve got a ways to go before I can stand going through that all the way.”

If he does adjust, he will take his polyphasic sleep schedule with him next fall to Kansas University, where he plans to study chemical engineering.

“While I’m not sure what I want to do, that sounds like an interesting and really stable field,” he said. “I’m pretty open to doing a lot of different things. As of right now, that’s the thing I’ve settled on.”

Honors, activities: Cross country, lettered (9-12); track, lettered (9-11); debate, lettered (9-12); forensics (9-12), lettered (9-11); National Honor Society (11-12); FBLA (12); Science Club (11-12), Foreign Language Club (12); Student Council, representative (9-12); Philosophy Book Club (11); math tutor (11)

College: Kansas University

Career plans: Engineering or economics

Major: Chemical engineering or economics

Shiv Subramaniam. School: Bishop Seabury Academy; Grade-point average: 4.14; Parents: Bala and Aruna Subramaniam, Lawrence.

Shiv Subramaniam

Some students heading off to college might have their entire career mapped out ahead of them.

But Shiv Subramaniam is taking a different approach – he’s going to discover what he wants to do along the way.

“I’m pretty sure that I want to earn a Ph.D, and I want to become an academic in whatever field I eventually pursue,” he said.

The Bishop Seabury Academy senior said his top choices for colleges now are the University of Chicago and the University of Pennsylvania.

“I’ve visited quite a few schools. Those two are my favorite campuses,” he said.

He also likes Chicago because it has a “quirky, academic atmosphere in which learning was a collaboration as opposed to a fierce individual competition.”

Both schools also have a wide curriculum, which would allow him to take a number of different paths, he said.

“I’m interested in a lot of things, and I don’t really know what I would want to pursue,” he said.

Subramaniam said he was planning to study Latin, classical studies, history, Sanskrit and biology.

Besides academics, Subramaniam also played tennis for his school team.

“I also learned traditional South Indian classical music. It’s called Carnatic music,” he said. “I’ve learned it since I was 3.”

Honors, activities: National Honor Society (11-12); AP Scholar with Honor (2006); National Latin Exam, summa cum laude (2003, 2004, 2006); Cleveland National Carnatic Music Competition winner (2006); Champions of Choice inductee (2006); National History Day documentary project; Student Vestry, school prefect; tennis, ranked 1; choir

College: University of Chicago or University of Pennsylvania

Career plans: Graduate school

Major: Classics, South Asian languages and civilizations, molecular biology or combination

Amanda Vander Tuig. School: Baldwin High School; Grade-point average: 4.0; Class rank: 1; Parents: Paul and Sheila Vander Tuig, Baldwin City.

Amanda Vander Tuig

It might not be glamorous. It might not be trendy. But Amanda Vander Tuig says it’s the one attribute she has that has helped her through her high school years – hard work.

And it seems to have paid off.

Vander Tuig is first in her 118-member senior class at Baldwin High School.

She also has excelled in sports, winning letters in cross country, basketball and track – even after a painful knee injury.

“I do believe that hardships are there to teach you something about yourself, something about your abilities in order to help you succeed in the future,” she said. “Every experience, good or bad, is an opportunity to learn something.”

After going to New Jersey on a church mission trip this summer through the Worden United Methodist Church, Vander Tuig plans to attend Pittsburg State University in the fall.

“I got accepted into the honors college there, and I’m receiving a Presidential Scholarship, so it’s really a good opportunity for me,” she said.

She plans to take pre-med classes.

“I would like to be a pediatrician. At this point, that’s my plan,” she said. “I’ve always had a passion for children, I guess. And I would like to give something back. So I think that would be a great way to combine those endeavors.”

If she doesn’t become a pediatrician, she plans to stay in the health field and might consider being a physical therapist, a physician’s assistant or a registered nurse.

“I’m not really sure where I want to end up in the scheme of things, but that’s my general goal for now,” she said.

Honors, activities: 4.0 Honor Roll (9-12); Kansas Honor Scholar (12); Wendy’s High School Heisman Award finalist (12); Honor’s Banquet honoree (9-11); Margaret Boyd Maple Leaf Scholarship (11); journalism regional competition, third place cutline writing (11); Student Council (9-12), vice president (12), secretary (9-11); Fellowship of Christian Athletes (10-12), president (12), vice president (11); National Honor Society (10-12); journalism co-editor and business manager (11-12); prom and winter formal committees, co-chairwoman (9-11); Winner’s Circle (10-12); Letterman’s Club (10-12); cross country, lettered (9-12), Ottawa Herald All-Area Team (9-12), second team All-League (2 years), honorable mention All-League; basketball, lettered (3 years); track, lettered (3 years), fourth place state 4×800, sixth place state high jump, league champ 800 run, school and meet records in 4×800, 4×400, 4xMile and distance medley relay teams; Adopt-a-Family (12)

College: Pittsburg State University

Career plans: Medicine

Major: Premed

Baoquing Zhou. School: Lawrence High School; Grade-point average: 4.0; Class rank: 1; Parents: Zhongyuan Zhou and Jun Wang, Lawrence.

Baoquing Zhou

Baoquing Zhou says others might see her as something of a paradox.

She loves the sciences.

But she also has a solid Christian faith – something the Lawrence High School senior developed after family arrived in America five years ago.

“In China, we don’t know about Christianity,” she said. “We know there is someone named Jesus.”

However, when her parents brought her to Lawrence from northeast China, she developed her faith through the Lawrence Chinese Evangelical Church.

“We thought as a family it was a very solid, moral system that transcends time and history,” Zhou said.

Gaining religion was only one change she made after arriving; she also had to start from square one learning English as a seventh-grader.

But coming to a new country and learning a new language didn’t slow her down. If there’s one word that describes Zhou, it’s “determined.”

“If I decide that I’m going to do something, I do it,” she said. “I’m committed.”

She is now first in her class of 432 at Lawrence High School.

She’s not sure what she wants to study or where she will go to college. She hopes to make a decision in April.

“I do know I want to go into a field of science,” she said. It will probably be theoretical research in physics or chemistry, she said.

Honors, activities: Scholars Bowl (10-12), captain (12); Science Knowledge Bowl (10-12); National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist (12); Siemens Award for Advanced Placement (12); AP Scholar with Distinction (12); National Honor Roll nominee (12); Who’s Who Among High School Students nominee (12); USAA Leadership nominee (12); Governor’s Honor Scholar (12); Kansas Honor Scholar (12); International Library of Poetry Editor’s Choice Award for poetry (12); Mount Holyoke Book Award (11); American Mathematics Competition 12-State Honor Roll (10-11); American Mathematics Competition 12-School Winner (10-11); American Mathematics Competition 10-School Winner (10); American Invitational Mathematics Examination Qualifier (9-11); KU Math Awareness Month competition, second place senior high division (10); Chess Club (9, 11-12), president (11); Swing Club (11); International Club, secretary (12); Key Club (11); First Friends Outreach Program for transfer students (12); Link crew (11); Cultural Heritage panelist (10-12); school literary magazine “Graffiti” (10); tennis (10); Symphonic Band (9-12), section leader (11-12), principal flute (11-12), outstanding woodwind (11); Symphonic Orchestra (10-12), principal flute (11-12); KMEA District Band (11-12)

College: Undecided

Career plans: Scientific research

Major: Scientific research

Elizabeth Bartlow

Elizabeth Bartlow

School: Veritas Christian School

Grade-point average: 4.0

Class rank: 2

Parents: Michael and Melanie Bartlow, Baldwin City

Honors, activities: Academic and music festivals, first- and second-place awards for piano solos, dramas and math team; district and regional academic and writing festivals, first-place medals and ribbons for short stories, poems and essays; student council, secretary (9-12); cheerleader (10-12), co-captain (10), captain (11-12); chorus (9, 10, 12); Lawrence Dazzlers Christian dance team (9-12)

College: Kansas University, Baker University

Career plans: Elementary or middle school education

Major: Elementary or middle school education

Academic All-Stars nominees

Alex Boss

Alex Boss

School: Santa Fe Trail High School

Grade-point average: 4.0

Class rank: 1

Parents: Larry Boss, Scranton, and Anne Boss, Carbondale

Honors, activities: Sixth place, FBLA Nationals computer applications test; Kansas Honor Scholar; gifted education program; KAY (9-12), president (12), student board (12); Fellowship of Christian Athletes, leadership team (9-12); FBLA (9-12), treasurer (12); National Honor Society (11-12), treasurer (12); SADD (9-12); student council (9-10); Renaissance (9-12), committee chairman (11-12); PAC (11-12); football (9-12), honorable mention, All-County Defensive Linebacker; basketball (9-12); track and field (9-12), Kaw Valley League triple jump champ (11), state qualifier 4×100 (11)

College: Kansas University

Career plans: Computer programming

Major: Business

Amanda Cain

Amanda Cain

School: McLouth High School

Grade-point average: 3.96

Class rank: 3

Parents: Ivan and Shirley Cain, McLouth

Honors, activities: Queen of Courts (12); Homecoming candidate (12); Who’s Who Among American High School Students (11-12); Principal’s Honor Roll (9-11); Scholars Bowl (11-12); band (9-12), section leader (12); Art Club, secretary (12); cheerleader (9-12), captain (11-12); basketball, leadership award (10); track (9-11), manager (11); forensics (11-12), state festival medals holder (11); Student Council, female representative (9-12); freshman mentor (11-12); National Honor Society; FCCLA; 4-H Crackerjacks (9-12), secretary (9-12)

College: Kansas University

Career plans: Physical therapy

Major: Pre-med or biology

Kylie Campbell

Kylie Campbell

School: McLouth High School

Grade-point average: 4.0

Class rank: 1

Parents: Mitchel and Shawnda Campbell, McLouth

Honors, activities: Principal’s Honor Roll; Kansas Honor Scholar; ACTS Club (9-12), vice president (10), president (11-12); National Honor Society (11-12), president (12); football manager (10-12), head manager (11-12); boys basketball manager (9-12), head manager (10-12); band (9-11), drum major (11), section leader (11); chorus (10-12); section leader (11-12); FCCLA (12); class president (10-11); freshman mentor (11-12); 4-H Crackerjacks (9-12), vice president (11), president (12)

College: Baker University

Career plans: Physical therapy

Major: Athletic training and physical therapy

Mary Cox

Mary Cox

School: Eudora High School

Grade-point average: 4.0

Class rank: 1

Parents: David and Jodi Cox, Linwood

Honors, activities: District journalism contests (2005-06), yearbook layout and design honorable mention and yearbook copy writing (2005), first place yearbook copy writing, second place advertising (2006); state journalism contest, honorable mention yearbook copy writing, third place advertising; FBLA district conference (2004, 2006), third place, Introduction to Business (2004), second place, Accounting I (2006); FBLA state conference, ninth place, Accounting I (2006); Scholars Bowl (9-10); Kansas Honor Scholar; Principal’s Leadership Award nominee (2006); Straight-A Honor Roll (2004-06); Senior Advisory Council chairwoman (11-12); National Honor Society treasurer (11-12); Fellowship of Christian Athletes, huddle leader (2006-07); Student Council reporter (2006-07); class president (2003-05); magazine newspaper editor (2005-07); yearbook editor (2006-07); junior varsity soccer team captain (2006); SADD secretary (2005-06); International Club vice president (2005-06); co-ed soccer, lettered (9-12); Environmental Club (2004-06); FBLA (2004, 2006); FCCLA (2005-07); school play, “You Can’t Beat the House” (12); Eudora 4-H (9-12), Douglas County 4-H, council (2004-06), ambassador (2004-06)

College: Kansas University

Career plans: Undecided

Major: Undecided

Christina Davis

Christina Davis

School: De Soto High School

Grade-point average: 4.0

Class rank: 1

Parents: Charles and Pamela Davis, De Soto

Honors, activities: Kansas Honor Scholar (12); Who’s Who Among American High School Students (11-12); National Honor Roll (11-12); Principal’s Honor Roll (9-12); USAA International Foreign Language Award (10); Kansas State Alumni Association Scholarship (12); volleyball (9-12), lettered (11-12); basketball (9-12), lettered (10-12); track (9-11), lettered (10-11); Madrigal Singers (10-12); school musicals (9-12); Teens As Teachers (9-12), activities coordinator (10-11); Future Educators Association (10-12), president (12); newspaper reporter and photographer (11); Leaders in Teen Education (9-10); Fellowship of Christian Athletes (9-12); sophomore class vice president (10); class president (11); class representative (12); National Honor Society (11-12); Student Council (9-12), secretary (11), vice president (12)

College: Kansas State University

Career plans: Chemical engineer

Major: Chemical engineering

Aileen Doll

Aileen Doll

School: Veritas Christian School

Grade-point average: 4.0

Class rank: 1

Parents: David and Vickie Doll, Lawrence

Honors, activities: Blue Ridge Academic Meet (9-11), superior rating original short story (10), excellent rating piano solo and piano duet (10), first place piano solo (11), superior rating original short story and watercolor (11), excellent rating black and white drawing (11); Heartland Music Festival, superior rating piano solo (10-11); student council treasurer (9-12); volleyball (9-12), varsity (10-12); Girl’s Ensemble (10); basketball (9-11), varsity (10-11); varsity basketball manager (12); cheerleader (11-12); choir (9, 12)

College: Kansas University

Career plans: Own an interior design business, write books and create art

Major: Interior design

Anthony Frei

Anthony Frei

School: Lawrence High School

Grade-point average: 3.94

Class rank: 23

Parents: Mark and Brenda Frei, Lawrence

Honors, activities: National Merit Finalist (12); Columbia Book Award (11); Kansas Honor Scholar (12); AP Scholar with Honor (11); National Spanish Exam, state third place (10); State History Day finalist (10); Principal’s Honor Roll (9-12); American Mathematics Competition (10-12), scored above 90 (10-11); National Forensics League Degree of Distinction (11); Science Knowledge Bowl (10-12), region fifth place (11), region eighth place (12); Young Democrats Club (10-12), vice president (12); Model United Nations (9-12), honorable mention (12); varsity tennis (9-12), lettered (9-11); Youth In Local Government co-president (11); Robotics Club treasurer (11); debate (10-11); Scholars Bowl (12); Link Crew (11); Key Club (10); KU SOMA (11-12)

College: Kansas University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology or Stanford

Career plans: Chemical engineering

Major: Chemical engineering

Brittney Ann Graff

Brittney Ann Graff

School: Eudora High School

Grade-point average: 4.0

Class rank: 1

Parents: Darren and Pam Graff, Eudora

Honors, activities: Straight-A Honor Roll (9-12); Kansas Honors Scholar, All-State All-Academic Cross Country Award (10-12); Spanish Speaking Student of the Year (10-11); National Honor Society (10-12); Student Council (10-12), president (12); International Club (9-12), treasurer (12); Fellowship of Christian Athletes (9-12); Environmental Club (9-12); prom committee (11); senior advisory committee (12); theater (10, 12); track and field (9-11), captain (11), MVP (9-11); cross country (9-12), captain (11-12), MVP (9-12); basketball (9-11)

College: Missouri State University, Wichita State University or Pittsburg State University

Career plans: Nurse practitioner

Major: Nursing

Claire Hinrichsen

Claire Hinrichsen

School: Perry-Lecompton High School

Grade-point average: 4.0

Class rank: 2

Parents: Douglas and Margie Hinrichsen, Lecompton

Honors, activities: Scholars Bowl (10-12); National Honor Society (10-12); Gold Honor Roll (9-12); Point Five Club (10-12); Kaw Excel (10-12); KU Watkins-Berger Scholar (12); tennis, junior varsity and varsity (2003-2006); band (9-12), jazz band (9-12); Student Council, vice president (12); FCCLA (9-12), secretary (11), president (12); Youth Against Drugs and Alcohol (2004-2007); SADD (2005-2007), vice president (11), secretary (12); Biology Club (9-12); International Club (9-12), Book Club (9-12); Drama Club (9-12); Blue Krew (9-12); theater stage crew and set designer (2004-2007)

College: Kansas University

Career plans: Medical school for pediatric medicine

Major: Biology or biochemistry with pre-med emphasis

Cassandra Hopkins

Cassandra Hopkins

School: Ottawa High School

Grade-point average: 4.0

Class rank: 1

Parents: Kim Hopkins, Ottawa

Honors, activities: Governor’s Honor Scholar (12); Kansas Honor Scholar (12); Top 5 percent of class (9-12); 4-H (9-12), Key Award (12), Glen Hayward Leadership Award (12), Miss 4-H Franklin County (12), I Dare You Leadership Award (10), county president (12), county secretary (11), club president (11), club secretary (10), day camp counselor (9-12); FCCLA (9-12), president (12), treasurer (11), national, state and district Star Event gold medalist (11), state, district Star Event silver medalist (10); President’s Volunteer Award (10-11); Youth Action Council (9-12), vice president (11-12), treasurer (10), Most Volunteer Hours Award (11), leadership retreat activity leader (12); National Honor Society (11-12); Student Council representative (12); peer counseling (10-11); freshman mentor (10-11)

College: Wichita State University

Career plans: Graduate school, physical therapy

Major: Exercise science

Amy Hughes

Amy Hughes

School: Wellsville High School

Grade-point average: 3.78

Class rank: 9

Parents: Clay and Candy Hughes, Wellsville

Honors, activities: Homecoming queen candidate (12); Citizenship Award nominee (10); cross country (9-12); basketball (9-12); FBLA (9-12), historian (10-12); Kansas Association of Youth (9-12); Fellowship of Christian Athletes (9-12); track (10-12); SADD (10-12); National Honor Society (11-12); Eagle Lift-Off Mentor (11-12); Drama Club (12); Eagle Cry Offices (12)

College: Washburn University

Career plans: Psychology field

Major: Psychology

Samuel Clowes Huneke

Samuel Clowes Huneke

School: Lawrence High School

Grade-point average: 4.0

Class rank: 1

Parents: Craig Huneke and Edith Clowes, Lawrence

Honors, activities: National History Day Competition (9-12), sixth place nationals (10), 2006 Jamestown Award winner-nationals (11), first place state (10-11), first place district (10-11); Model United Nations, University of Chicago (10-12), honorable mention Security Council (12), Honorable Mention Historical Security Council (11), Outstanding Delegate DISEC (10); National Merit Semifinalist, National Merit Finalist; Governor’s Honor Scholar; Advanced Placement Scholar; National Honor Society (11-12), historian (12); honor roll (9-12); Harvard Book Award; Scholars Bowl (11); Science Knowledge Bowl (10, 12); American Mathematics Competition (10-11), outstanding recognition (10); German: two-time medalist, KATG Schulerkongress (10); national medalist, National German Exam (11); Model United Nations Club, LHS (9-12), vice president (9, 11-12); Young Democrats of America (10-12), vice president (11), co-president (12); marching band (9-12), concerto auditions (10-12), woodwind quintet (10-11), horn quartet (10-11), Lawrence Youth Symphony, superior ratings state and district French horn solo and woodwind quintet (10-11), mellophone (10-12), section leader (12), show soloist (11-12), Symphonic Band first chair (9-12); Orchestra first chair (10-12), All-State Honor Orchestra (11-12), Regional Honor Band (11-12); Youth in Local Government, student representative, Lawrence Library Board (11); tennis (9-10)

College: Harvard University, Amherst College, Princeton University, Columbia University, Swarthmore College, Brown University, University of Pennsylvania, Middlebury College, Trinity College or Kansas University

Career plans: Law

Major: History, philosophy or environmental studies

Kezia Sage Huseman

Kezia Sage Huseman

School: Tonganoxie High School

Grade-point average: 4.0

Class rank: 1

Parents: Brian and Terri Huseman, Tonganoxie

Honors, activities: Scholars Bowl (10-12); Science Olympiad (12); math team (9-12); Kansas State Leadership Scholarship (12); Hy-Vee Scholar Athlete nominee (12); I Dare You Leadership Award (12); Excellence Award (10-12); National Honor Society (10-12), secretary/treasurer (12); Science Club (10-12), president (12); Student Council class representative (12); class secretary (12); Foreign Language Club (10-12); Book Club (9-12); Girls Letter Club (2004-07); cross country (2003-06), lettered (2006); basketball (2003-05); track (2004-07); band (2003-06), section leader (2004-06); Jazz Band (2004-06); drama and theater (2004-07)

College: Kansas State University

Career plans: Medical school, coroner

Major: Biology or chemistry

Andrew Linenberger

Andrew Linenberger

School: Santa Fe Trail High School

Grade-point average: 3.965

Class rank: 3

Parents: Cletus and Marta Linenberger, Carbondale

Honors, activities: Scholars Bowl (10-12), captain (12); Kansas Honor Scholar (12); FBLA (9-12); Student Council, representative (11), vice president (12); SADD (9-12), vice president (11), president (12); National Honor Society (11-12), Student Council representative (12); band (9-12), section leader (10-12); PAC (11-12); cross country (9-11); theater (9-12)

College: Baker University

Career plans: Secondary education

Major: Psychology and secondary education, social science

Brett Lundmark

Brett Lundmark

School: McLouth High School

Grade-point average: 4.0

Class rank: 1

Parents: Rob and Debbie Lundmark, Lawrence

Honors, activities: Regional music solo competition (10-12); science fair (10); Boys’ State, attorney general position candidate, Supreme Court position; band (9-12), section leader (11-12), jazz band (9-12); National Honor Society (11-12), treasurer (12); Scholars Bowl (9-12), captain (11-12); class president (12); track (9-12); Fellowship of Christian Athletes (10-12); forensics (11-12); choir (11-12); FCCLA

College: Kansas University

Career plans: Undecided

Major: Business management and leadership, study abroad

Lindy Marks

Lindy Marks

School: Wellsville High School

Grade-point average: 3.94

Class rank: 3

Parents: Russell and Marcia Marks, Wellsville

Honors, activities: Scholars Bowl (2006); Kansas State Activities and Leadership Scholarship; Who’s Who Among American High School Students (2006); yearbook editor (12); Kansas Honor Scholar (12); newspaper editor (12); Citizenship Award (2005-06); Homecoming queen (12); FBLA (9-12), treasurer (11), editor (12), public relations officer (12), district and state competitions, first place job interview (11), second place job interview (12), sixth place Ms. FBL interview (12), second place desktop publishing (12), fourth place database design and applications (12); Honor Roll (9-12); High Honor Roll (2004-07); class president (9-12); National Honor Society (10-12); Student Council (9-12), treasurer (11), president (12); Kansas Association for Youth (9-12); dance team (9-12), captain (12); volleyball (9-12); fall musical (2005); City Chamber meeting representative (12)

College: Kansas State University

Career plans: Internship for NASA to perform various tests

Major: Human factors psychology

Craig Moore

Craig Moore

School: Wellsville High School

Grade-point average: 4.0

Class rank: 1

Parents: Scott and Kim Moore, Wellsville

Honors, activities: Citizenship Award (10-11); High Honor Roll (9-12); first place Algebra Division II Emporia Math Relays; FBLA (9-12), first place district current events and banking and financial systems; National Honor Society (9-12); Scholars Bowl (9-12), first place Wellsville Invitational; Kansas Board of Regents Curriculum Scholar; newspaper staff (3 years), sports editor (1 year), editor (1 year); Fellowship of Christian Athletes Leadership Team (9-12); mentor (two years); math team, president (11-12); Student Council class representative (10-12); KAYS (three years); drama club (four years); choir; National Honor Society (10-12); math seminar teacher (three years); cross country (9-12); basketball (9-12)

College: U.S. Naval Academy

Career plans: Engineer

Major: Engineering

Victor Ojeleye

Victor Ojeleye

School: Ottawa High School

Grade-point average: 4.0

Class rank: 1

Parents: Ernest and Temitope Ojeleye, Ottawa

Honors, activities: National Honor Society (11-12); Student Council, class president (11-12); Key Club (11-12); soccer (9-11); basketball (9-12); site council vice president (11-12); Kansas State High School Activities Association (11-12)

College: Undecided

Career plans: Engineer

Major: Engineering

Elizabeth Orzulak

Elizabeth Orzulak

School: Free State High School

Grade-point average: 4.0

Class rank: 1

Parents: Tom and Pat Orzulak, Lawrence

Honors, activities: Principal’s Honor Roll (9-12); Principal’s Mark of Excellence Award (11); National Honor Society (12); KU Watkins-Berger Scholarship; Symphonic Band, first chair (10-12); marching band, section leader (11-12); KMEA Northeast District Honor Band (10-12); KMEA All-State Full Orchestra (12); Top Auditioned Choir (11-12), Chamber Singers (11-12); basketball (10); intramural basketball (11-12); junior varsity and varsity track (11); math team (11-12)

College: Kansas University

Career plans: National Weather Service research, forecasting or storm chaser

Major: Atmospheric science major, music minor

Jordan Smith

Jordan Smith

School: De Soto High School

Grade-point average: 4.0

Class rank: 1

Parents: Murray and Donna Smith, Shawnee

Honors, activities: National Commended Scholar (12); Kansas Honor Scholar (12) National Honor Society (11-12); LITE Team (11-12); baseball (9-12); basketball (9-10, 12); football (9-12); tennis (2004); track (2005); junior varsity baseball coach

College: University of Notre Dame

Career plans: Business

Major: Business and Spanish

This file photo from 2007 shows Journal-World Academic All-Star Judges, from left, Rand Ziegler, Baker University dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; Austin Turney, former Lawrence school board member; and Robert Harrington, Kansas University professor in the department of psychology and research in education.

Journal-World 2007 Academic All-Star Team members are, back row from left, Charles Mersmann, Eudora High; Emily Krystof, Baldwin High; Amanda Vander Tuig, Baldwin; Jennifer Crawford, Bishop Seabury; Amber Peterman, Perry-Lecompton; and Shiv Subramaniam, Bishop Seabury. Front row, from left, are Justin Smith, Tonganoxie; Baoqing Zhou, Lawrence High; and Andy Petz, Free State High. Not pictured, Alexandra Prosser, De Soto High School.