Four Kansas high school students won $500 each for best writing an essay about an inductee in the Kansas Business Hall of Fame. The four winners and their topics were:
- Sriram Srinivasa Kalki, freshman from Blue Valley North High School, inductee Philip Anschutz
- Caroline Place, freshman from Blue Valley North High School, inductee Junius George Groves
- Baylee Richard, senior from Olpe High School, inductee Olive Ann Beech
- William White Walker, freshman from Emporia High School, inductee William Allen White
The contest, which is in its fifth year, is open to students in high school grades 9 through 12, including students who are home-schooled. The essays were based on research of a Kansas Business Hall of Fame honoree inducted into one of two categories, Historical or Contemporary.
A total of 93 entries from 17 Kansas high schools were judged by a panel of business professionals and faculty in the Emporia State University School of Business. The high schools that were represented were Blue Valley North, Council Grove, Eisenhower, Emporia, Eureka, Junction City, Nemaha, Northern Valley, Olpe, Scott Community, Sedan, Shawnee, Stockton, Tonganoxie, Trego Community, Wellington and Wichita Heights.
The Kansas Chamber of Commerce donated the $2,000 in prize money, which was given to the top four essays overall.
Said Dr. James Leiker, KBHF Board Chair, “The Kansas Business Hall of Fame is proud to honor these students and their instructors, who, through these essays, help us better understand the rich tradition of entrepreneurship and innovation that our state has fostered.”
The KBHF Board would like to thank the following judges: Terry Puett, Jim Shepherd, Melissa McCoy, Sherriene Jones-Sontag, Erica Self, Connie Lindell, Alan Cobb, Ed Bashaw, John Rich, and James Leiker.
About the Kansas Business Hall of Fame
Housed in Cremer Hall, home of Emporia State University’s School of Business, the Kansas Business Hall of Fame recognizes business leaders who have added to the prestige and growth of Kansas. By identifying outstanding examples of business leadership, the Hall of Fame shares 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. The Board is made up of individuals from all over the state of Kansas with representatives from universities, community colleges, and private and public businesses. For more information, please go to www.ksbhf.org.