At the invitation of Kansas Governor Laura Kelly, 527 Kansas high school students were selected to attend the 43rd Annual Governor’s Scholars Awards Program on May 3, 2026, in Topeka.
The recognition ceremony honors the top academic 1% of Kansas high school seniors. Students are selected from accredited public and private schools in the state based on their academic achievements over the course of their high school years.
This program was hosted by Washburn University and coordinated for the Governor by the Confidence in Kansas Public Education Task Force. Sunday’s event prelude music and National Anthem was performed by student musicians from Lawrence Free State High School. Free State was honored as the 202526 KSHSAA Performing Arts School of Excellence Award winner. The event also featured remarks from 2026 Kansas Teacher of the Year Rachel Marlow from the Olathe School District.
Eureka High School senior Alaina Westerman attended the special ceremony.
Other area students invited to the award ceremony included: Hamilton High School’s Ethan Jones; West Elk High School’s Jared Tucker; and Madison High School’s Bayleigh Benjamin.
(Courtesy photo)
