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August 2025 Awards

August 2025 Awards

Woodland Elementary School PE Teacher, named KAHPERD Young Professional of the Year

Kaitlin Morrow, physical education teacher at Woodland Elementary School, has been named the KAHPERD (Kansas Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance) Young Professional of the Year! This award honors PE teachers who create high-quality standards-based activities, demonstrate outstanding leadership, and promote healthy and active lives.

Olathe East Student to Represent Team USA at 2025 Para Powerlifting Worlds Next Gen Competition

Brinley Hutson, a sophomore at Olathe East High School, has earned the honor of representing the United States at the 2025 Para Powerlifting Worlds Next Gen competition. Her journey has been one of resilience and determination. After a long medical battle that led to the amputation of her left leg above the knee, the former softball standout discovered a new passion in adaptive powerlifting. She quickly excelled, becoming one of the nation’s top young para lifters. Her advice for other young adaptive athletes is simple yet powerful: “Just put yourself out there and go for it because nothing bad can happen. If you try something new and don’t like it, you’ve tried it and know you don’t like it. But then if you find something you really love, you can take that and run with it.”

Olathe Northwest Student Represents Kansas at Prestigious Future Medical Leaders Congress

Daral Cain Jr., a freshman at Olathe Northwest High School, represented Kansas at the prestigious Congress of Future Medical Leaders at the University of Massachusetts Lowell this past June. The Congress is an honors-only program for high school students who show outstanding academic achievement, leadership potential, and a passion for pursuing careers in medicine or medical research. Cain’s nomination was signed by Nobel Prize winner Dr. Mario Capecchi, Science Director of the National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists. During the event, Cain joined other top students from across the nation to hear from Nobel Laureates and medical pioneers, gained insight from Ivy League and top medical school leaders, and explored cutting-edge advances in medicine and medical technology.

International Thespian Festival

Olathe theater students once again shined on the national stage at the International Thespian Festival, bringing home three International Thespian Excellence Awards, known as “Thespys.” This year’s wins bring Olathe Public Schools’ total to 17 Thespys in just six years, placing the district among the top three school systems internationally. This year’s “Thespy” award winners were.

  • Abigail Dresbach, Olathe Northwest, Stage Management
  • Lauren Ware, Olathe North, Sound Design
  • Cole Witt, Olathe South, Solo Musical 

Superiors and Excellents were earned by Olathe students, including the four Thespys.

Olathe East

Superior:

  • Group Musical - Luke Peterson, Max Haney, Finn Kuykendall
  • Solo Musical - Caroline Kelley
  • Solo Musical - Delainey Mock
  • Solo Musical - Aubrey Richardson
  • Scenic Design - Rylee Carney
  • Solo Musical - Lily Bryant
  • Solo Musical - Avery Valentine
  • Solo Musical - Sara Slade
  • Solo Musical - Cadence Brady
  • Solo Musical - Brianna Frohning

Excellents:

  • Solo Musical - Lorien Colucci
  • Solo Musical - Peyton Rood
  • Solo Musical - Noah Kelsey
  • Short Film - Jacob Walter
  • Solo Acting - Jordan Rosenwald

Olathe North

Superior:

  • Sound Design - Lauren Ware
  • Solo Musical - Charlie Senuta

Excellent:

  • Lighting Design - A Dawson
  • Costume Construction - Kennedy Pence
  • Solo Musical - Jasmine Esser
  • Dance Duet - Kami Haun and Sarah Matchett
  • Lighting Design - Hunter Mercer

Olathe Northwest

Superior:

  • Solo Musical Performance - Rylee Willnauer
  • Solo Musical Performance - Sophia Mullinax
  • Stage Management - Ruby White

Olathe South

Superior:

  • Solo Musical - Aly Arenholz
  • Solo Musical - Noah Hastings
  • Solo Musical - Lucas MacNider

Olathe West

Superior:

  • Sound Design - Harper Adams
  • Stage Management - Roux Harper
  • Solo Musical - Fred Sollars
  • Solo Musical - Lia Martin
  • Duet Musical - Aaron Shirley & Addy Davis
  • Group Musical - Ashlyn Warren, Nora Brown, Lydia Treff, Jameson Mangold
  • Solo Musical - Aaron Shirley
  • Playwriting - Keira Lesan

Future Educators Shine on the National Stage

Educators Rising is a community-based movement from PDK International, in which chapters at schools feed teacher preparation programs at institutes of higher education with the support of State Departments of Education and local funders and foundations. These entities come together to provide a clear pathway to provide a solution for districts and high levels of teacher quality. Khloe Lucky (rising junior) was recognized for her top-10 placement in Exploring Non-Core Careers. Lucky also placed sixth in the Nation in the Junior Varsity Competition, making her a national semi-finalist! Abby Vandaveer placed sixth in the Ed Rising Moment - Varsity!