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Class of 2022 Awards and KSDF Scholarship Night

On Tuesday, May 10, 2022, two awards ceremonies were held. The first was the Kirkwood School District Foundation's presentation of named scholarship awards, which was held in the Donald Duchek Library at KHS, followed by the Senior Awards presentation in KHS' Keating Theater. Here are the scholarships and awards given on that night, followed by a list of awards/scholarships previously given at other events.

Kirkwood School District Foundation Named Awards Scholarships & Grants:

Barbara Holley Memorial Scholarship: A’Jah Green
Beth Brown Memorial Scholarships: Jack Bauer and Alan Key
Campbell Family Scholarship - College: Samuel Fearn
Campbell Family Scholarship -Vocation: Nathan Hodo
David Koeneker Memorial Award: Riley Forinash
Denver Miller Memorial Scholarship: Hayden Davidson
Dolly Jander Grants: John Mack and Kylie Robertson 
Dylan Thomas Murphy Thornton Memorial Scholarship: Emma Berkley
Evan Dalgaard Memorial Scholarship for Young Leaders: Luke Bensinger and Nicholas Whittington
Franklin and Tresa McCallie Award: DaRon Martin
Glunt Family Award: Nia Anderson
Herb Jones Memorial Scholarship: Lainey Hogg
Joan Dowell Memorial Scholarship: Megan Missey
Kirkwood Teachers of Color Scholarships: Jaida Autry, Caylin Chunn and Presley Lindeval
Mike Bales Memorial Scholarship: Mayabeth Kim
Phillips-Wojtow Opportunity Award: Trinity Richardson
Richard J. Stahlhuth Scholarship: Alex Bean
Robert and Catherine Curry Memorial Scholarship: Imani Noel
Russell and Ruth Kraus Memorial Art Scholarship: Ezekiel Bliss
Russell and Ruth Kraus Memorial Music Scholarship: Carter Bowman
Salivar Family Grant: Cece Kutheis
Woodard Family Fine Art Grants: Lucy Schene and Vivian Simpson

KHS Awards Night Recipients:

ART—Outstanding Senior: Molly Hoyer

BUSINESS – Outstanding Senior: Tyler Henry

DISCOVERY CENTER – Outstanding Senior: Griffin Arns

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY –

  • Outstanding Senior-Engineering: Ethan Peterson
  • Outstanding Senior-Industrial Technology: Lawrence Doyle

ENGLISH – Thelma Larsen Departmental Award: Mya Copeland

FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCE – Outstanding Senior: Maggie Morhaus

INNOVATION – Outstanding Senior: Darius Jones

JOURNALISM –

  • Outstanding Seniors: Hayden Davidson and Lainey Hogg
  • Teacher-to-Teacher Scholarship: Trinity Richardson (portion funded by Vantage Credit Union)

MATHEMATICS – Steve Jonak Senior Awards for Excellence in Mathematics: Jack Edwards and Trevor Kates

PERFORMING ARTS –

  • Outstanding Senior-Drama: Atticus Durnin
  • Outstanding Seniors-Vocal Jazz: Lucy Schene and Ryan Zickel
  • Outstanding Seniors-Vocal Music: Everette Saylor and Lucy Schene
  • Outstanding Seniors-Orchestra: Maggie Klein and Trey Rolfes
  • Outstanding Senior-Band: Carter Bowman
  • Burton Isaac Award-Band: Brandon Vaughn

PHYSICAL EDUCATION – Outstanding Seniors: Finn Mulvaney and Jared Ulichnie

SCIENCE – Outstanding Senior: Jack Edwards

SOCIAL STUDIES – Steve Platte Outstanding Senior: Sara Simkins

WORLD LANGUAGE –

  • Outstanding Senior-Chinese Adam Gates
  • Outstanding Senior-French: Jack Edwards
  • Outstanding Senior-German: Maggie Klein
  • Goessl Award: Ryan Zickel (In honor of Dr. Ingeborg Goessl and Dr. Alfred Goessl, German Professors at UMSL)
  • Outstanding Senior-Spanish: Emma Hanrahan

ATHLETICS –

  • Kirkwood High School/Post-Dispatch Scholar-Athlete: Hayden Davidson
  • Army Reserve-National Scholar-Athletes: Jack Bauer, Tara Behnam, Rachel Finan and Adam Gates
  • Jim Velten Awards:
    • Outstanding Senior-Female Athletes: Alyssa Dennis and Maggie Klein
    • Outstanding Senior-Male Athletes: Sebastian Baker and Darius Jones

BLACK ACHIEVEMENT & CULTURAL CLUB – Carl B. Hudson Award A’Jah Green

TEACHER ASSOCIATIONS-PTO/PPO SCHOLARSHIPS – Recipients: Luke Bensinger, Ryan Clutes and Cora Hoeing
The Teacher Associations-PTO/PPO Scholarship Fund is sponsored by the Kirkwood Missouri State Teachers Association (KMSTA), the Kirkwood National Education Association (KNEA), the Kirkwood PTO/PPO organizations, and the Kirkwood Area Retired Schools Employees Association (KARSEA). Donations made by Kirkwood District Staff members and PTO/PPO organizations have helped more than 195 graduates. Scholarships have been awarded on the basis of academic achievement, character and financial need.

KAPS SCHOLARSHIPS

  • Robert Faerber Memorial: J-Rod Polski
  • Kirkwood Optimist Club: Ryan Clutes and Imani Noel
  • Carol Dark Memorial Scholarship: Sebastian Baker
  • Steve Schukar Memorial: Jack Bauer

KAPS is an organization made up of parents of present and past KHS students. During the past thirty-seven years, they have given over $482,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors. Students are chosen for their academic achievements and financial need. Some of the money is donated through memorials, alumni, and in honor of special occasions; additional funds are raised by an event known as the Glendale Firehouse Run.

NATIONAL MERIT

  • Commended Students: Jack Bauer, Jack Edwards, Sylvia Edwards, Noah Gjelvik, Megan Glasgow, Austin Haga, Trevor Kates, Grace Marcus, Patrick McPheeters, Ethan Peterson and Helena Verbrugge
  • Finalists:  Hayden Davidson, Maggie Klein, Ezra Mendelson, Ben Peter, Merry Schlarman and Sara Simkins

Efficacy Award (PPO Scholarships for Most Improved Senior):

Griffin Arns, Lauren Hulsey, Lily Ruppert, Oshariee Williams and Tyler Winter

The Efficacy Award is given to a student who has overcome personal and academic obstacles during his or her high school career. In doing so, this person has achieved significant academic success and has become a role model for others.

Ernest Jones Humanitarian Award:

Luke Bensinger, A’Jah Green, Joslynn Gura, Louis Kavanaugh, Brady Nauman and Sophia Zimmerman

Forty-two years ago, a group of educators and citizens from the Kirkwood Community formed a committee whose purpose was to bolster academic achievement and interpersonal relations among the students of Kirkwood High School. This award was named in honor of Ernest Jones, former teacher and principal in Kirkwood schools. The Ernest Jones Humanitarian Award honors those who continually endeavor to foster inclusive relationships among all students at Kirkwood High School.

John Johnson Quiet Leadership Award:

Morgan Brown, Jack Herwig, Lainey Hogg, Kennedy Mulvaney and Sean Spiller

Mr. John Johnson was the first African American Assistant Principal in the history of KHS. He had a way of carrying out things behind the scenes in such a manner that he did not always get credit, but the school was better because he was there. The winners of this award are examples of those who do good things for KHS – always with a good spirit. Many of their actions are never known in terms of their positive influence on our school. These students are chosen by the KHS administrative team with suggestions from the faculty and senior class.

Franklin McCallie Award:

Sophia Beckmann, Hayden Davidson, Megan Glasgow, Kate Schreiber and Nicholas Whittington

The Franklin McCallie Award, formerly the Principal’s Award, was established in May of 2001, to acknowledge the retirement of Principal Franklin McCallie and honor his tenure at Kirkwood High School. This award is presented annually to the senior who models a high standard of character, integrity, and ethics evidenced by leadership, extra-curricular involvement, and service to Kirkwood High School.

Donald W. Duchek Award:

Cece Kutheis, Imani Noel, Ben Peter, Lucy Schene and Griffin Young

Forty-two years ago, the KHS PTO Executive Council established an award in honor of the principal who was retiring that year, Mr. Donald Duchek.  Don Duchek had attended the Kirkwood Schools, graduated from Kirkwood High School, returned to serve 30 years in the district, and spent his last 15 years as Principal of his alma mater. The Donald Duchek award is presented annually to the graduating senior demonstrating the most outstanding overall qualities in areas such as scholarship, leadership, athletics, music and extra-curricular activities so as to set a standard to be followed by other students. The recipient of this award is chosen by the senior class, faculty, and the administration.

The following scholarships were previously awarded:

Kirkwood Rotary Club Scholarships:

  • Kirkwood Rotary Scholarships: Louis Dell’Orco, Reed Eschmann and J-Rod Polski
  • Kirkwood Rotary & Lou Holekamp Fund Scholarships: Jack Bauer and Samuel Fearn
  • Lou Holekamp Memorial Scholarship: Nathan Hodo
  • Robert G. Reim Memorial Scholarship: Isabella Knopfel Kirkwood

High School Journalism Banquet:

  • Cory Eden Leadership Award: Hayden Davidson and Lucy Hockerman
  • KHS Journalism Alumni Award: Lainey Hogg
  • Jack Weber Diversity Scholarship: Maya Kim
  • SJ Award: Hannah Banks
  • Mitch Eden Award: Louis Dell’Orco
  • Dr. Mike Havener Award: Megan Glasgow

Pioneer School of Business Scholarship Recipients:

Griffin Arns, Rachel Barker, Alex Bean, Morgan Brown, Drew Cherry, Ryan Clutes, Clayton Deatherage, Reed Eschmann, Mick Ferbet, Wyatt Harris, Tyler Henry, Katie Holzum, Jake Johnson, Charlie King, Bridget Krug, Audrey Krus, Carmen Loomis, Ava Losse, Jacob Ludbrook, John Mack, Charlie McGraw, Macie McPheeters, David Melby, James Murray, J-Rod Polski, Skylar Wilcox and Griffin Young