January 2025 Awards Release

Drew Smith Named 2024-25 Section 5 Girls Tennis Coach of the Year

Drew Smith, boys’ and girls’ tennis coach at Olathe Northwest High School, has been named the 2024-25 Section 5 Girls’ Tennis Coach of the Year by the NFHS Coaches Association. Section 5 includes Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

Smith was nominated by the Kansas State High School Activities Association and confirmed by the NFHS Coaches Association Advisory Committee. The award recognizes coaches who excel in their sport, positively influence their athletes, contribute to their communities, and demonstrate a strong philosophy of coaching.

“Coaches like Drew Smith create meaningful, lasting impacts on their athletes and communities,” Dr. Karissa Niehoff, NFHS Coaches Association chief executive officer said. “It is our honor to recognize him as a leader and role model.”

Eddie Shafer Named Kansas Thespians Region 2 Teacher of the Year

Eddie Shafer, theater educator at Olathe East High School, has been named the 2025 Kansas Thespians Region 2 Teacher of the Year. The award recognizes outstanding theater educators across the state who demonstrate exceptional dedication to their students and programs.

Shafer has been honored for his work inspiring young artists and leading Olathe East High School Thespian Troupe 5078, leaving a lasting impact on countless students. Recipients of the award are nominated and selected by fellow Kansas theater educators within their region.

The honor was presented during the awards ceremony concluding the Kansas Thespian Festival on Jan. 11, 2026.

Olathe Northwest High School Named to 2025 AP School Honor Roll

Olathe Northwest High School has been named to the 2025 AP School Honor Roll, earning Bronze distinction. The AP School Honor Roll recognizes schools whose Advanced Placement programs are delivering strong results while expanding access for students.

Schools are selected annually based on their commitment to increasing college-going opportunities, providing students with chances to earn college credit, and promoting college readiness. The Honor Roll includes four levels of distinction: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum.

Kathleen Smith Honored with NAACP Diversity Advocate in Education Award

Olathe Public Schools Director of Culture & Belonging Kathleen Smith was recognized with the NAACP Diversity Advocate in Education Award at the 22nd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Awards and Scholarships Dinner.

Smith was honored for her dedication to serving students and families in the Olathe community and for her commitment to promoting inclusion in education.

“It was a deep honor to receive this award,” Smith said. “I am thankful to serve all of our wonderful students and parents in our beautiful Olathe OPS community.”

Celebrating Student Voices at 25th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Contest

The 25th annual Olathe Public Schools Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Contest Celebration was held Saturday, Jan. 17, at Olathe Northwest High School. The event honored the legacy of Dr. King through student work in visual arts, written and multimedia categories. All OPS middle and high school students were invited to participate, with 587 entries submitted districtwide. This year’s theme, Love, was inspired by Dr. King’s words, “Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.”

Building-level finalists received certificates, while district finalists earned trophies and monetary awards. The celebration recognized 133 middle and high school building winners, along with first-, second- and third-place district winners and a Best of Show honoree. Olathe South High School senior Rebeca Ibarra earned Best of Show for her piece, "You Belong Here," receiving a $500 award.

Olathe Mayor John Bacon, Board of Education member Claire Reagan and Superintendent Dr. Brent Yeager offered opening remarks, and the Olathe East High School Madrigal Choir performed “Precious Lord” and “We Walk in Love.” The contest is a collaborative effort between Olathe Public Schools, the Olathe Human Relations Commission, the City of Olathe, Olathe Public Libraries and presenting sponsor Garmin.

Olathe South Student Athlete Named to the 2026 Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy Girls' High School Player of the Year Midseason Team

Olathe South High School forward junior Eve Long has been named to the Midseason Team by the Naismith Trophy Committee. The 6-foot-3 athlete is ranked No. 8 nationally in the Class of 2027 by ESPN.

The Naismith Midseason Team recognizes the top high school basketball players in the country based on their outstanding performance and impact on the court. Long’s selection reflects her skill, dedication, and leadership in the sport of basketball.

Olathe Theater Shines at 2025 Kansas Thespians Festival 

Olathe Public Schools had an impressive showing at the 2025 Kansas Thespian Festival, held at the Century 2 Convention Center and Hyatt Regency over the weekend. The district brought 260 students and chaperones — more than 13% of total festival attendees — demonstrating both strong participation and exemplary student behavior.

Mainstage Performance

Olathe West High School’s production of “Mamma Mia” was selected as the opening show of the festival, one of only five mainstage productions. This marks the third consecutive year that Olathe has had a mainstage show at the festival.

One-Act Competition

Olathe East High School performed a One-Act and placed second out of 22 performances in the Chapter Select One-Act competition. If the first-place troupe cannot attend, Olathe East may have the opportunity to perform at the International Thespian Festival in June.

Kansas Thespians Scholarships

Olathe students earned seven $1,000 Kansas Thespians scholarships of the 10 awarded this year:

• Teddy Garcia (Olathe West Senior) – Future Theatre Educator
• Jenna Campbell (Olathe West Senior) – Technical Theater
• Chiron Crabb (Olathe South Senior) – Performance
• Delainey Mock (Olathe East Senior) – Performance
• Charlie Senuta (Olathe North Senior) – Performance
• Maggie Sykes (Olathe Northwest Senior) – Performance
• Ashlyn Warren (Olathe West Senior) – Performance

This means Olathe students earned 70% of the scholarships awarded at the festival.

College Auditions

Seniors also had the opportunity to audition for colleges and receive callbacks, giving them the chance to explore post-secondary options. Olathe students received hundreds of callbacks, reflecting their talent and preparation.

State Thespian Officers (STOs)

Olathe students held three positions on the State Thespian Officer Board:

• Ashlyn Warren (Olathe West Senior) – STO Board Chair, 2025–26
• Kennedy Pence (Olathe North Junior) – STO Board Vice Chair, 2025–26; continuing as Board Chair for 2026–27
• Olathe has consistently had at least one student on the STO Board for the past 10 years.

Thespy Awards

Olathe students earned a total of 109 Superior scores out of 335 awarded at the festival — 33% of all Superiors — with 13 of these earning perfect scores. Four Olathe Thespys were selected for the showcase performance:

• Addy Davis (Olathe West Senior) – Solo Musical, “Woe Is Me” (“25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”)
• Maggie Sykes, Leah Greischar, Lyla Moreira, Brooke Fedt (Olathe Northwest) – Group Musical, “Our Finest Dreams” (“Little Women”)
• Lilyanna Brown, Charlotte Chadwick, Lola Clymer, Jasmine Esser, Greta Kraft, Sara Matchett, Hunter Mercer, Charlie Senuta, Aiden Siegel, Hannah Thornburg (Olathe North) – Group Musical, “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”
• Delainey Mock, Lorien Colucci, Max Haney, Zain Jeffers, Lillian Bryant, May Lightle, Helton Quefaz, Evelyn Welter, Avery Valentine (Olathe East) – Group Musical, “In” (“Carrie the Musical”)

Festival Awards and Competitions

All four Olathe high schools — East, North, South, and West — earned Honor Troupe recognition for excellence in performance, leadership, and service.

Additional festival awards recognized individual achievements:

• Dominic Marroquin (Olathe North Senior) – Outstanding Male Vocalist as Seymour, “Little Shop of Horrors”
• Charlotte Chadwick (Olathe North Senior) – Outstanding Female Vocalist as Audrey, “Little Shop of Horrors”
• Braeden Mitchell (Olathe South Senior)– Outstanding Supporting Actor as Steve, “Almost, Maine”

Olathe Public Schools’ remarkable success at the Kansas Thespian Festival reflects the dedication of its students, teachers, and administrators. The district credits its school board, district and building administrators, and fine arts staff for supporting theater programs and helping students achieve at the highest levels.