Students from nine area Kansas high schools were honored Oct. 13 by the University of Kansas Alumni Association and KU Endowment.

A total of 53 seniors from high schools in Ellis, Rooks, Russell and Trego counties were recognized for their academic achievements and named Kansas Honor Scholars at a 6:30 p.m. dinner and program at Hays High School.

During the ceremony, each student received a Webster’s New College Dictionary presented by Anny Culnane, coordinator of alumni programs for the KU Alumni Association.

Bernadette Gray-Little, Chancellor at the University of Kansas, was the featured speaker.

Community volunteers collect reservations, coordinate details and serve as local contacts for the event. Shiela Brening, of Hays, is the site coordinator. Tom and Cassie Nuckols of Plainville are the Rooks County coordinators. Nancy Lane of Russell is the Russell County coordinator. Jim and Kathy Cleland of WaKeeney are the Trego County coordinators.

The Kansas Honors Program is made possible by KU Endowment and proceeds from the Jayhawk license plate program. The Class of 2012 scholars are:

Kevin Arnhold, a Hays senior at Hays High School.

Madeline Curry, a Hays senior at Hays High School.

Xan Faber, a Hays senior at Hays High School.

Spencer Hitchcock, a Hays senior at Hays High School.

Tandra Johnson, a Hays senior at Hays High School.

Reagan Kleymann, a Hays senior at Hays High School.

Katlynn Krug, a Hays senior at Hays High School.

Zachary Kuntz, a Hays senior at Hays High School.

Alexyss Leiker, a Hays senior at Hays High School.

Paige Lunsford, a Hays senior at Hays High School.

Luke Madden, a Hays senior at Hays High School.

Laurissa Marcotte, a Hays senior at Hays High School.

Ashley Nease, a Hays senior at Hays High School.

Mariah Nebel, a Hays senior at Hays High School.

Jake Nelson, a Hays senior at Hays High School.

Maryam Ogunbiyi, a Hays senior at Hays High School.

Hanna Pfannenstiel, a Hays senior at Hays High School.

Jillian Taylor, a Hays senior at Hays High School.

Madeline Trout, a Hays senior at Hays High School.

Allison Vahling, a Hays senior at Hays High School.

Lakin Werth, a Hays senior at Hays High School.

Brett Chrisler, a Hays senior at Thomas More Prep-Marian High School.

Hannah Keil, a Hays senior at Thomas More Prep-Marian High School.

Michaela Kuhn, a Hays senior at Thomas More Prep-Marian High School.

Kassidy Stecklein, a Hays senior at Thomas More Prep-Marian High School.

Emilie Taylor, a Hays senior at Thomas More Prep-Marian High School.

Austin Werth, a Hays senior at Thomas More Prep-Marian High School.

Mikayla Gottschalk, a Ellis senior at Ellis High School.

Shelby Hollern, a Ellis senior at Ellis High School.

Amanda Braun, a Victoria senior at Victoria High School.

Katelyn Lang, a Victoria senior at Victoria High School.

Since 1971, the Kansas Honors Program has recognized over 114,000 scholars, who rank in the top 10 percent of their high school senior classes and are selected regardless of occupational plans or higher-education goals. Each year, the KU Alumni Association and its volunteers host 41 programs that reach all 105 counties across the state and include more than 360 high schools.