Kansas Honor Scholars Program concludes 50-year run

“The conclusion of the KHSP era is bittersweet. We’re proud of the tradition, and we deeply appreciate the participation of Kansas high school administrators throughout the past 50 years,” said Heath Peterson, Alumni Association president. “We’re also grateful to the generations of alumni donors and volunteers in all 105 counties who helped sustain the program since 1971.”

Founded as the Kansas Honors Program, the tradition had evolved in recent years from 36 dinners to 14 regional receptions. Private donations and sales of Jayhawk license plates enabled the Association to provide increased scholarships for Kansas Honor Scholars who chose to attend KU. Although the national board’s decision means the Association will no longer recognize high school seniors, gifts to the scholarship fund and license plate revenue will continue to provide much-needed assistance to Kansas students who enroll at KU.

Amid this challenging year, when the pandemic prohibited large in-person events, the Alumni Association produced an online video tribute and mailed commemorative medallions and certificates to all high schools for distribution to their scholars.

The pandemic also heightened the ongoing financial challenges for the University of Kansas—especially the urgent need for scholarships and enhanced student recruitment to assist deserving young Kansans and help KU sustain and grow its enrollment. Mindful of the Alumni Association’s mission to strengthen the university, the board of directors conducted a thorough review of all programs to consider how best to fulfill the Association’s mission in the years ahead. The board concluded that investing directly in scholarships, student recruitment and career resources for students will provide greater impact and help position KU—and future Jayhawks—for continued success.