05/11/11 kb

HAYS, Kan. -- Twenty-six students from around Kansas have been accepted for the third class of the Kansas Academy of Mathematics and Science on the Fort Hays State University campus. The class begins its two-year curriculum in the fall.

KAMS provides a unique residential learning experience for select high school juniors and seniors. Prospective students must have completed at least two years of high school with distinction in mathematics or science. However, outstanding academic achievement is not the only criterion for acceptance. KAMS selects students based on drive, interest, maturity, stability, and personal and family commitment.

These exceptional students, who represent urban, suburban and rural communities from across the state, will earn a high school diploma from their sending school and 68 hours of college credit from FHSU.

New students are listed alphabetically by hometown with their sending high school. Parents, unless otherwise noted, also live in the hometown.

The new KAMS class:

ABILENE, Abilene High School: Jessica Hayes, daughter of Devon Hayes, Hutchinson, and Stephanie Neuschafer; and Luke Wright, son of Bruce and Lisa Wright.

ATCHISON,Atchison County Community High School: Trisha Penning, daughter of Thomas and Theresa Penning.

AUGUSTA,Augusta High School: Andrew Foust, son of Nathaniel Foust and Sonya Elliott.

BELLEVILLE, Republic County High School: Lexia Aurand, daughter of Clay and Gina Aurand.

BENTON,Circle High School: Matthew Gaylor, son of Steven and Karen Gaylor.

BUCKLIN,Bucklin High School: Amber Curtis, daughter of John and Sherry Curtis.

EL DORADO, El Dorado High School: Katharine Goebel, daughter of Thomas and Cecilia Goebel.

GARNETT,Anderson County Junior-Senior High School:Joseph Dougherty, son of Joseph and Rachel Dougherty.

GREEN,Clay Center Community High School: Samantha Elledge, daughter of Michael Elledge and Mary Roth.

HOLTON,Holton High School: Morgen Smith, daughter of Porter and Terri Smith.

HUTCHINSON,Lyons High School: Deborah Denny, daughter of John and Mary Denny.

LEON,Bluestem High School: Alex Hatfield, son of Dennis and Melissa Hatfield.

LYONS,Sterling High School: Emily Cress, daughter of Galen and Edith Cress.

MAYETTA,Royal Valley High School: Cera Smart, daughter of Jay Smart, Sioux Falls, S.D., and Melissa Slater.

OLATHE,Olathe East High School: Dallas Hyder, son of Robert and Sonja Hyder; Olathe North High School, Rex Miller, son of Fredrick and Julie Miller; and, Spring Hill High School, Alec Weaver, son of Gregg and Janice Weaver.

OTTAWA,Ottawa High School: Eric Crook, son of Craig and Sara Crook.

PARSONS, Parsons High School: Bliss Betzen, daughter of Ron Betzen and Kim Foister.

SABETHA, Sabetha High School: Laura Rokey, daughter of Thomas and Rebecca Rokey.

TOPEKA, Washburn Rural High School: Hayley Disney, daughter of Barry and Jeanne Disney.

WASHINGTON,Washington County High School: Joshua Hoover, son of Gerald and Jill Hoover.

WICHITA,Northeast Magnet School: Steven "Quentin" Aker, son of Steven and Suzan Aker; Maize High School, Steven Powell, son of Regenald and Kathy Powell; and, Northeast Magnet School, Brandon Tomas, son of Jorge and Tina Tomas.