The top three winners from the second annual Kansas Business Hall of Fame high school essay contest will be honored Tuesday at the 47th Annual Team Kansas Annual Awards Banquet on Tuesday, June 4, at the Kansas State University Alumni Center in Manhattan.
The contest was open to students in Grades 9–12 in Kansas, and home school entries were accepted. Students studied Hall of Fame inductees and wrote about one who inspired them. The Kansas Chamber of Commerce donated funds for seven cash prizes.
The three top winners, who each receive $100, are:
- Jordin MacKenzie, freshman from Blue Valley North, inductee Gary Burrell
- Melvin Le, sophomore from Liberal, inductee Clara & Russell Stover
- Jael Catlett, freshman from Wellington, inductee Clyde Cessna
A panel of business professional and business faculty read 92 entries from 10 Kansas high schools — Blue Valley North, Burlington, Emporia, Liberal, Minneola, Nemaha Central, Olpe, Quinter, South Gray and Wellington.
Along with the top three $100 prizes, the top winner in each grade received $50. Those winners are:
- Hannah Henderson, freshman from Emporia, inductee Walter Chrysler
- Cheyla Cervantes, sophomore from Emporia, inductee Frederick Henry Harvey
- Kaitlyn Sperka, junior from Emporia, inductee Olive Mellor Beech
- Codi Kentner, senior from Quinter, inductee Georgia Neese Gray
Winning students were recognized at their local high schools.
About the Kansas Business Hall of Fame:
Housed in Emporia State University’s School of Business Cremer Hall, the Kansas Business Hall of Fame recognizes business leaders, who through their high standards of ethics, have added to the prestige and growth of Kansas. By identifying outstanding examples of business leadership, the Hall of Fame shares with high school and college students and adults these stories of success and innovation through representative displays. The Hall of Fame creates an awareness and appreciation of Kansas' rich heritage of business leadership. For more information, please go to www.ksbhf.org.