Every year since 1997, the Journal-World has invited administrators and counselors from public and private high schools in the Lawrence area to nominate their most outstanding seniors for the Journal-World’s Academic All-Star team.

As in previous years, a panel of three judges reviewed applications for the award and $500 scholarship. The top 10 All-Stars are chosen based on their strong academics, extracurricular involvement and essays. The honor is meant to recognize some of the most promising area high school seniors.

Here are the nine runners-up for the Class of 2019, along with some accomplishments, aspirations and some items of note, as taken from their application materials.

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Ella Blake

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Ella Blake

School: Bishop Seabury Academy

Parents: Dr. Avi Blake and Dr. John Blake

Highlighted accomplishments: National Merit Finalist; Kansas Honor Scholar; honor roll through all four years; ranked first in her class; Smith College Book Award winner; swimming team captain (and 2017 Class 5-IA state champion in 200-yard freestyle, according to Journal-World archives)

Aspirations: Wants to major in physics, but was undecided on which college to attend as of her March application

Of note: Ella uses visual arts to express herself, from her idle thoughts to her deepest emotions. “My drawings and prints change with me, so my expression is central to my permanent sense of self that is outside of time,” she writes.

She writes that her physics teacher inspired her “ever-deepening interest” in the subject, and because she didn’t want the class to end after her junior year, the school now has an advanced class for seniors that allows students to choose their direction of study.

• • •

Sara Haggard

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Sara Haggard

School: Perry-Lecompton

Parents: Calla Haggard and Kelly Haggard

Highlighted accomplishments: Has accumulated 230 hours of dental shadowing and held dental internship positions; ranked first in her class all four years; Kansas Music Educators Association All-State Honor Band member (trombone); Governor’s Scholar; Kansas Honor Scholar; qualified for state in forensics in multiple years and events

Aspirations: Will attend Kansas State University to double major in biochemistry and Spanish, with a focus in predentistry; then dental school at the University of Missouri-Kansas City

Of note: Sara was inspired to go into dentistry after her cousin suffered a serious brain injury due to lack of oxygen during her wisdom teeth removal surgery. Sara writes that the Hippocratic oath to “first, do no harm” is very personal to her, and she will strive to uphold that oath every day in her career.

Sara writes that her father, a high school biology teacher, helped shape her passion as a student. She wants to learn as much as possible and “to never let my education remain stagnant,” she writes.

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Cody Murphy

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Cody Murphy

School: De Soto

Parents: Sally Murphy and Michael Murphy

Highlighted accomplishments: Team captain of a Scholars Bowl team that took first place in four tournaments; Rocket Club president; medaled in Science Olympiad; ranked first in his class; Kansas Honor Scholar; co-created a podcast as a journalist for his school newspaper

Aspirations: Plans to attend Kansas State University to study computer science and biology

Of note: Cody writes that he’s interested in using computers and data science to help solve biological problems, though he hasn’t yet decided the exact route he wants his career to take. He’s also interested in artificial intelligence and psychology.

The most important event in Cody’s life was winning the 5A Scholars Bowl Championship in 2018, he writes. “I was with a great team of people that worked incredibly hard throughout the season to truly become the best they could be, myself included,” he writes, noting that the win was a significant reason he’s pushed himself to achieve more and dream bigger.

• • •

Vera Petrovic

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Vera Petrovic

School: Lawrence High

Parents: Zina Petrovic and Uros Petrovic

Highlighted accomplishments: Student body co-president; World Schools Debate Top Speaker Award; Kansas Honor Scholar; AP scholar with distinction; Kansas Debate Classic Top Speaker; participant in LINK Crew Leadership Program, which mentors incoming freshmen; ranked first in her class by weighted GPA; National Honor Society executive board member

Aspirations: Plans to attend Harvard College and study psychology with a secondary concentration in English

Of note: Vera has worked as a research assistant for LiKEN, the Livelihoods Knowledge Exchange Network, which is an environmental and indigenous policy institute committed to combining Western science and traditional indigenous knowledge to build adaptive solutions to climate change, she writes. She has also volunteered for the Willow Domestic Violence Center.

Vera writes that her mother is the most meaningful person in her life. Zina came to the United States in 1995 as a refugee from the former Yugoslavia, “barely a woman,” Vera writes. “… I am still amazed, years later, at the life my mother built for herself after she was uprooted from her home.”

• • •

Blake Phillips

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Blake Phillips

School: Tonganoxie

Parents: Tonya Phillips and Shawn Phillips

Highlighted accomplishments: Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) STAR Event national champion; ranked first in his class; Governor’s Scholar; Kansas Honors Scholar; qualified for state in debate in multiple years and events; team and individual state champion in Science Olympiad

Aspirations: Plans to attend Kansas State University and major in computer engineering

Of note: In his future career, Blake hopes to help develop technology that will benefit those in need, “as well as make the world a more seamless place to live,” he writes.

Under hobbies, Blake lists 3D printing and ping pong, among other activities. Blake participates in Tots Needing Teens, a group of teenagers at church who serve as role models to the younger kids, he writes. He also participates in Leadership Southern Leavenworth County, which aims to improve different aspects of the area by creating service projects and presenting ideas for improvement to various groups.

• • •

Jayden Pierce

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Jayden Pierce

School: Eudora

Parents: Julie Pierce and Jeff Pierce

Highlighted accomplishments: Student body vice president; Outstanding Math Student Award; placed in regional and state Science Olympiad; president of choir; ranked first in his class; Wendy’s High School Heisman state finalist; Kansas Honors Scholar; Eudora Pitcher of the Year; multiple lead roles in musicals

Aspirations: Plans to continue his academic and baseball career at Northwest Missouri State University; will study secondary science education to become a teacher

Of note: Jayden writes that the most important event in his life would be his baptism. “My faith has been a part of me and always will be, so I chose this event because it truly shaped who I am today,” he writes.

Jayden writes that he’s a competitive person, and he enjoys playing pickup sports with his friends. He’s also worked as a camp counselor at a science camp for elementary kids for four years.

• • •

Morgan Waterman

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Morgan Waterman

School: Ottawa

Parents: Leslie Waterman and Doug Waterman

Highlighted accomplishments: National Honor Society member; ranked first in her class; spirit team scholarship winner; dance team captain; varsity track athlete; academic letter all four years; “Most Dedicated” award for dance

Aspirations: Plans to attend Kansas State University to study business

Of note: Morgan writes that she has always been drawn to business and has always wanted a business of her own. She’s worked at Mug Shot Coffee in Ottawa for more than two years, which has allowed her to form relationships with clients and pitch new ideas. It’s also given her insight into how small businesses are run, she writes.

Even though she writes that most of her peers find math to be monotonous, Morgan has an affinity for numbers. She finds challenges appealing. “I don’t ever set limits on myself and want to live my life helping and inspiring others to go after their dreams,” Morgan writes.

• • •

Haylee Weissenbach

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Haylee Weissenbach

School: McLouth

Parents: Jennifer Weissenbach and Scott Weissenbach

Highlighted accomplishments: Class valedictorian; Kansas Honor Scholar; Emporia State University Honor College Student and winner of multiple scholarships; sophomore class president; senior class vice president; yearbook editor; workforce tutor for eighth grade classes

Aspirations: Plans to pursue nursing degree at Emporia State University, then go on to graduate school to become a nurse practitioner

Of note: Haylee writes that she started clinicals on her 16th birthday in order to become a certified nursing assistant as soon as she was able. She’s been working at F.W. Huston Medical Center in Winchester since July 2017. Once she finishes graduate school, she writes, she wants to open her own practice in her hometown, alongside a doctor, “to give back to the community that raised me.”

Haylee is also a versatile athlete — she’s played volleyball, basketball and softball, and she’s participated in dance and cross-country. She also enjoys singing, and she’s been in choir all four years of high school.

• • •

Samantha Worthington

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Samantha Worthington

School: Perry-Lecompton

Parents: Donna Worthington and Mitchell Worthington

Highlighted accomplishments: Honor roll all four years; student council class president all four years; National Honor Society member; Kansas Honor Scholar; qualified for state in tennis three times; played lead in “Shrek the Musical”; participated in the Blue Crew school spirit club; played basketball and softball and was involved with track and field

Aspirations: Plans to attend Hastings College in Hastings, Neb.; will play tennis and major in psychology, with a minor in Spanish

Of note: Samantha is a nursery leader and Sunday school teacher at Perry United Methodist Church. She’s also served as a vacation Bible school volunteer since 2015, she writes.

The most meaningful person in Samantha’s life is her best friend, she writes, in part because of her faith and love for others. “She has been there for me in all of my endeavors and we work very well together,” Samantha writes.