Apr 27, 2020

Local, area students selected for peer advisory group

Posted Apr 27, 2020 9:33 PM

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