TOPEKA–Melinda Cross, Russell, was honored and congratulated Tuesday, Feb. 24, by the Kansas House of Representatives for her recognition by the Kansas High School Activities Association for being named the 2014-2015 Dr. Earl Reum Kansas Advisor of the Year.

Rep. Troy L. Waymaster, 109th District, R-Bunker Hill, invited Cross to the House of Representatives and recognized her accomplishment on the House floor.

“We are blessed with an educator who was compelled to not only teach us in the classroom, but also to develop our leadership skills and guide us as a devoted advisor in student government. I want to recognize that educator who was so instrumental in my own personal leadership development, Melinda Cross, and the honor that she recently received,” Waymaster said.

Rep. Sue Boldra, 111th District, R-Hays, also stood with Rep. Waymaster to recognize the accomplishment by Cross.

Melinda Cross has been a foreign language teacher and Student Council advisor for Hays High School for fifteen years, and before that she was an English and Spanish teacher and the Student Council advisor for Russell High School.

Those also in attendance to honor Cross in the chamber of the Kansas House of Representatives were: Jim Cross, husband; Jackson Cross, grandson; daughters Andrea Cross and Sarah Frost; and son in law, Michael Frost. Also on the House floor were, Lisa Renz, Co-Sponsor of Hays High School Student Council, and members of the executive committee of the HHS Student Council: Amber Klaus, Elissa Jensen, Jake Thorell, Sydney Vahling and Allyson Flax.

Gary Musselman, Executive Director of KHSAA and David Cherry, Assistant Executive Director of KHSAA, also attended the ceremony.