KSHSAA True Blue Scholarship Winners Selected; Two from Local Area

KSHSAA Covered

Graphic Courtesy of KSHSAA Covered

The Kansas State High School Activities Association is proud to announce the 35 students selected for a $2,000 scholarship made payable to a two-year or four-year accredited college, university or technical school in the name of the selected student.

"Kansas schools are filled with outstanding students who excel in the classroom, in competition and performance, and in the community" Executive Director Bill Faflick said. "It is an honor to recognize students from across the state. We are pleased to partner with the Capitol Federal Foundation® to honor these outstanding students as they graduate and pursue continued excellence in their postsecondary endeavors."

The 35 recipients of the KSHSAA and Capital Federal 2026 True Blue ® Scholarships are:

Scholarship Activity, Winner, School

• Boys Baseball, Hank Shinliver, Wellington

• Boys Basketball, Colin Shaughnessy, Axtell

• Boys Bowling, Zachary Reeves, Blue Valley Northwest

• Boys Cross Country, Owen Dent, Goddard-Eisenhower

• Boys Football, Wesley Anderson, Frankfort

• Boys Golf, Oliver Dwyer, Wellsville

• Boys Soccer, Evan Moreland, Louisburg

• Boys Swimming & Diving, Dane Weninger, Blue Valley Southwest

• Boys Tennis, Connor Marshall, Bishop Miege

• Boys Track & Field, Grant Eskeldson, Hope

• Boys Wrestling, Leo DeDonder, Northern Heights

• Cheerleading, Jadyn Bollin, Lansing

• Dance, Maleia Sukraw, St. Mary’s Colgan

• Debate, Sophie Heinen, Washburn Rural

• Esports, Leo White, Council Grove

• Girls Basketball, Molly Buckles, Hays

• Girls Bowling, Bella Cunningham, Wichita-Central Christian Academy

• Girls Cross Country, Cora Dow, Bonner Springs

• Girls Golf, Makenna Stuke, Seaman

• Girls Gymnastics, Andrea Prendiville, Shawnee Mission East

• Girls Soccer, Claire Crosby, Rose Hill

• Girls Softball, Jadyn Langford-Haskin, Onaga

• Girls Swimming & Diving, Georgia Boyd, Shawnee Mission East

• Girls Tennis, Ella Guernsey, Chanute

• Girls Track & Field, Shaylee Baalman, Quinter

• Girls Volleyball, Gabi Poeschl, St. Thomas Aquinas

• Girls Wrestling, Kiley Dillow, Chanute

• KAY, Abigail Paxson, Argonia

• Music – Band, Marcy Baker, Wichita County

• Music – Orchestra/Piano, Amy Keeley, Manhattan

• Music – Vocal, Maria Carlson, Marion

• Scholars Bowl, Anna Godinez Vinduska, Centre

• Speech & Drama, Barron Fox, Mill Valley

• Student Council, Karlee Evans, Bucklin

• Unified Bowling, Alexis Tull, Blue Valley West

This year, more than 561link applications were received across the 35 different scholarships. More about the scholarship:

Eligibility

Students must be seniors attending and graduating from a member school of the Kansas State High School Activities Association during the 2025-26 school year and have rostered in the chosen activity their senior year. They must be considered as students in good standing as confirmed by their building principal. Students must enroll and attend a post-secondary institution of their choice as a full-time student within two years of graduation. Applicants must be in their final semester of high school.

Selection Criteria

The students were selected based upon an assessment of the following components:

• Community Service (30%)

• Academic Achievement (30%)

• Activity Achievement (20%)

• Breadth of School Activity Participation (20%)

Applications were reviewed by a panel of educators and stakeholders who support the mission of the Kansas State High School Activities Association.