Student Stars Central Plains Breanna Holmes, Trey Heitschmidt Peyton Broeker
Students and their families go through the dinner line March 24 at Chapman High School.
Chapman
Dakota Caldwell Adrian Fink Kaylen Gugler
Ell-Saline
Hunter Lindquist Justin Schmutz Garrett Schuman
Ellsworth Ty Nienke Laura Rankin Maycee Jones
Lincoln
Leah Schneider Kristina Behrens Jerod Obermueller Sawyer Pittenger
Little River/ Windom Skylar Johnston Kasey Zeller Trevor Smyres
Smoky Valley Anneliese Reinert Meagan De Vore Jenell Hulse
Southeast of Saline
Taylor Green Brett Nurnberg Jonathan Peuchen Cody Ptacek Benjamin Stutterheim
Sylvan-Lucas
Casey Ulrich Michaela Merchant Nick Lawson
Tescott
Amanda McCosh Shiland Fuller Jacob Falder Makayla Webb
Wilson
Janell Ptacek Dreamer Roberson Shania Steinke Note to Readers: We have tried to include as many 2014 Central Kansas All-Academic Team members as possible; however, several forms were not returned for inclusion in this year’s edition.
Thirteen high school seniors attended the first-ever Central Kansas Academic All-Stars Banquet at Chapman High School Monday, March 24. Pictured, back row, from bottom to top: Dakota Caldwell, Cody Ptacek, Jacob Falder, Brett Nurnberg, and Taylor Green and front row, from bottom: Laura Rankin, Makayla Webb, Shiland Fuller, Amanda McCosh, Sawyer Pittenger, Adrian Fink, Kaylen Gugler and Garrett Schuman. (Photo by Mark McCoy, Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter)
2014 Central Kansas All-Academic Team “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Nelson Mandela
T
his quote by late South African president Nelson Mandela could refer to the 37 standout students featured in this firstever Central Kansas Academic All-Stars publication provided by the Chapman & Enterprise News-Times, the Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter, the Lincoln SentinelRepublican, and the Marquette Tribune newspapers. The four papers partnered to recognize the top three graduating seniors from 11 different high schools in their coverage area and many of the students are profiled in the pages that follow. Three of the schools recognized ties in class rank, resulting in 37 total All-Stars from the following school districts: Central Plains, Chapman, Ell-Saline, Ellsworth, Lincoln,
Chapman superintendent Lacee Sell talks at the 2014 Central Kansas All-Academic banquet.
Little River-Windom, Smoky Valley, Southeast of Saline, Sylvan-Lucas, Tescott, and Wilson. “We are proud to provide this keepsake edition honoring the top students in our combined coverage area,” Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter publisher Linda MoweryDenning said. “The young people in our rural school districts are so talented and they deserve
to be honored for their efforts in the classroom.” The publication includes coverage of the first-ever Central Kansas Academic AllStar Banquet, hosted by USD #473 schools at the beautifully rebuilt Chapman High School building March 24, with profiles for each of the students who returned data forms by deadline. The profiles provide a closer
look at their academic achievements, their aspirations, and their future plans. Around 50 people, including 13 of this year’s All-Stars, their parents and several school administrators attended the banquet with a meal provided by Opaa! Food Management, the food service provider for USD #473. “Chapman has rebuilt their schools into a shining example of what can be done when a community is committed to providing an excellent education for its youth,” Chapman News-Times and Lincoln Sentinel publisher John Baetz noted. “Chapman used the devastating tornado of 2008 as a unifying event and the Chapman school system is leading a resurgence for a once shrinking small town. We are so thankful to Superintendent Lacee Sell and USD #473 for hosting this event and providing such a wonderful meal.”
Chapman-Enterprise News-Times • Lincoln Sentinel-Republican • Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter • Marquette Tribune