April 2, 2025

12 Olathe Seniors Named National Merit Finalists

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation has announced the names of approximately 15,000 finalists in the 69th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. The Olathe School District has 12 seniors named National Merit Finalists. The finalists from the district are:

• Olathe East: Wesley Janssen
• Olathe Northwest: Micah Augustine, Connor Chaffin, Ava Evans, Eston Garcia, Eugenie Kim, Alexander Pannier, Braden Pickard, Elijah Tamano
• Olathe South High School: Cody Schwindt
• Olathe West: Aidric Smith, Ethan Wolf

About 160 colleges and universities are expected to finance some 3,800 college-sponsored merit scholarship awards for finalists who will attend the sponsor institution. All students will compete for $2,500 National Merit Scholarships, corporate-sponsored awards, and college-sponsored scholarships.

Olathe Students Win at KC BizFest Conference

Olathe Public Schools students had an outstanding performance at the 2025 KC BizFest Conference, held at Johnson County Community College from Feb. 26 to March 1. Hosted by the KC Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the event brought together high school students from across the Kansas City metro area to develop vital business and life skills. Olathe had the highest student participation from any district, with 17 students out of 40 total attendees.

The four-day conference focused on essential topics such as networking, money management, leadership, and entrepreneurial strategies. Students also had the opportunity to present their business plans, with the top six finalists receiving additional scholarships to use at any college or university.

This year, Olathe students were recognized for their achievements, with four earning spots in the top six rankings:

• Martina Ledezma, Olathe South High School – fifth place
• Stephanie Garcia Rios, Olathe North High School – fourth place
• Inderjot Nijjar, Olathe Northwest High School – third place
• Beatriz Miranda, Olathe South High School – second place

Additionally, several students were awarded special honors for their unique contributions:

• Rosa Mendez, Olathe West High School – Most Perseverance Award
• Jazel Martinez, Olathe West High School – Most Tenacity Award
• Diana Marquez, Olathe Northwest High School – Most Out-of-the-Box Idea Award
• Oscar Arguello, Olathe North High School – Most Improved Award

All participants are now eligible for scholarships from sponsoring colleges and universities. Olathe Public Schools congratulates these students on their hard work and accomplishments at this year’s conference.

Three Olathe North Students Named DECA State Officers

Olathe North High School is proud to announce that three students have been named to Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) state officer positions. Mame Saye Drame has been named DECA state president, Kriti Kumar will serve as Eastern Region vice president, and Hrithik Rangnathan has been appointed DECA state treasurer.

All three students earned a Graduation Postsecondary Asset for their achievements as DECA state officers. Their leadership roles demonstrate their commitment to excellence in business education and to the DECA organization.

“These are remarkable achievements for Mame, Kriti, and Hrithik, and we are excited to see them lead DECA at the state level,” said Olathe North DECA advisor Stacie Palmisano. “Their dedication and hard work will no doubt make a positive impact on their peers and the DECA community.”

DECA is a global organization that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management. This organization provides students with opportunities for leadership development, competitions, and real-world business experiences.

Food Services Employee Achieves Kansas Certificate in Child Nutrition Management

Margeryann Erckert, elementary field supervisor in Food Services, has earned the Kansas Certificate in Child Nutrition Management, a distinction sponsored by Child Nutrition & Wellness at the Kansas State Department of Education and approved by the Kansas State Board of Education.

Erckert successfully completed 120 hours of KSDE-approved Child Nutrition Management classes, fulfilling the requirements for the certification. She will be recognized for this accomplishment at the April Kansas State Board of Education meeting.

Olathe Public Schools congratulates Erckert on this significant achievement and commends her dedication to advancing her knowledge and skills in child nutrition management.

Countryside Elementary Student Named Kind Kid of the Month for Local Radio Station

Dylan Holtgraver, Countryside Elementary School fifth grader, has been selected as the winner of the Security Bank Kind Kid of the Month award, sponsored by Mix 93.3. Dylan was nominated for his outstanding kindness, sportsmanship, and empathy towards others.

“Dylan is the kind of student who demonstrates warmth and respect to his peers, teachers, and anyone he interacts with,” Angela Ortega, physical education teacher, shared. “His sportsmanship and kindness have made a lasting impact, and he’s a great role model for other students.”

Holtgraver received the Kindness Award, a $250 prize and an exciting April prize pack, including tickets to Worlds of Fun and the Kansas City Outlaws as part of PBR Outlaw Days.

Olathe South Teacher Named Finalist for Presidential Award for Excellence 

Olathe South High School chemistry teacher Sarah Evans was named a finalist for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching in Kansas. She will compete for a national finalist title. This is one of the highest honors bestowed by the United States government specifically for K-12 science, technology, engineering and mathematics teaching. The awards were established by Congress in 1983. The award recognizes teachers who have both deep content knowledge of the subjects they teach and the ability to motivate and enable students to be successful in those areas.