TOPEKA — The last weeks of a senior’s high school journey should be filled with solidifying plans for the future, donning formalwear for prom and celebrating graduation with friends and family. Instead, the Class of 2020 is navigating uncharted territory.
A group of 64 seniors from across Kansas have been selected to share their own stories and give guidance to their peers on how to transition from high school to postsecondary plans during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kansas Commissioner of Education Dr. Randy Watson asked Kansas principals and superintendents for recommendations for the Senior Leaders Conversation group. From that group, 64 seniors were selected, and the first conversation with Kansas State Department of Education staff members took place Tuesday, April 21, via Zoom.
“You’re going to give advice on how to navigate through all of this,” Deputy Commissioner Brad Neuenswander told the group. “We are so proud you are here and joining us. You are serving as the voices of our seniors. We need you to help guide us and help seniors.”
After an initial welcoming, students were broken into small groups with KSDE staff members facilitating each group.
Seniors introduced themselves and shared their future plans and then were asked to share their opinions on various topics, including who is helping them through this difficult time, what barriers they’ve faced and how they’re dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. They also were asked what they’d like to share with their peers.
“Expect anything,” said Alyvia Zeigler, a senior at Paradise Unified School District 399. “Two months ago, I had no idea I’d basically be homeschooled.”
There are about 30 students in Zeigler’s entire school, so being away from them is really hard, she said. Zeigler lives on a farm and plans to attend Fort Hays State University to study premedicine. She received her CNA while attending high school.
While the pandemic has altered senior plans, there are positive things to consider, too, Zeigler said.
“Seniors are in a bad situation,” she said. “But people with the virus have it worse.”
Drew Starbuck, a senior at Colby USD 315, said he is using his time to give back to his community. Starbuck’s parents are teachers, and he plans to attend Kansas State University or Seton Hall University to study international relations.
“We can’t change the fact that this has drastically changed our senior year,” he said. “When we think about this, it will be a moment in time we’ll always remember.”
Many students said they are learning from the experience, and it is preparing them for adulthood and their futures.
Conversations with members of the Class of 2020 will continue. A smaller group of students selected from the original group of 64 will be asked to share further conversation with KSDE staff members.
The 64 seniors, listed alphabetically by last name, along with their school district, are:
Michael Abieta, Hiawatha USD 415
Dan Archer, Derby USD 260
Avery Marie Berkley, Waconda USD 272
Annie Bogart, De Soto USD 232
Rhyann Brown, Osborne County USD 392
Kaitlyn Burris, Goddard USD 265
Ashley Chandler, Neodesha USD 461
Madelynn Collins, Woodson USD 366
Alec Damrell, Columbus USD 493
Donna Duong, Winfield USD 465
Ethan Fisher, Garden City USD 457
Taryn Fleckenstein, Golden Plains USD 316
Andrew Foote, Hoxie USD 412
Haley Forge, Easton USD 449
Abby Good, Council Grove USD 417
Alexis Hansen, Republic County USD 109
Gene Hanson, Herington USD 487
Kaylee Harbour, Skyline USD 438
Dalton Helbing, Clearwater USD 264
Dylan Helbing, Central USD 462
Ronald Heminway, Hutchinson USD 308
Hallie Herkelman, Coffeyville USD 445
Kallie Hutchinson, El Dorado USD 490
Pooja Jain, Blue Valley USD 229
Micah Jacques, Wichita USD 259
Aubrey Kuhlman, Wallace County USD 241
Edma Landa, Liberal USD 480
Emma Lett, Kaw Valley USD 321
Deshon Lewis, Lawrence USD 497
Kelly Lonker, Wamego USD 320
Alexa Alba-Martinez, Dodge City USD 443
Valeria Martinez, Kansas City USD 500
Aaran McAlister, Holton USD 336
Morgan McIntire, Gardner USD 231
Sloane McKinney, Spring Hill USD 230
Alia Michaelis, Andover USD 385
Tristan Mikesell, Concordia USD 333
Elizabeth Ngatia, Fort Scott USD 234
Eva Dushyant Noble, Seaman USD 345
Mason Perez, Fort Larned USD 495
Amanda Phanivong, Haysville USD 261
Katie Reinert, Rock Hills USD 107
Ella Roberts, Dighton USD 482
Riley Robinson, Pretty Prairie USD 311
Neva Roenne, Jefferson West USD 340
Hayden Rogers, Ellsworth USD 327
Yamilet Rojo, Moscow USD 209
Emily Ryan, Central Plains USD 112
Cody Savage, Leavenworth USD 453
Lucy Schneider, Caldwell USD 360
Kameron Schneweis, Hoisington USD 431
Annika Senn, Newton USD 373
Bailey Sipes, Stanton County USD 452
Braxton Smith, Centre USD 397
Robbie Stansbury, Lyons USD 405
Drew Starbuck, Colby USD 315
Kahrie Stegman, Pratt USD 382
Cooper Thompson, North Ottawa USD 239
Boyd Tweed, Jefferson County North USD 339
Santiago Vasquez, Salina USD 305
Sabrina Veith, Cheney USD 268
Brigid Wentz, Shawnee Mission USD 512
Taylor Wise, Kansas School for the Deaf
Alyvia Zeigler, Paradise USD 399