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3-27-17 — Late March 2017 Awards
March 27, 2017
Olathe South Speech & Debate Receives National Achievement
The Olathe South High School Debate and Forensics sponsors Jo Ball and Catherine Smith will be recognized at the 2017 National Speech & Debate Tournament in Birmingham, Ala. Catherine Smith, debate and forensics head coach, received the Sixth Diamond degree of membership in the National Speech & Debate Association's Honor Society while Jo Ball, assistant coach, received the Third Diamond degree of membership.
"Our program has never been big, but we have had our fair share of success," Smith said. "I have been so fortunate to be involved in an activity that truly prepares our students for the challenges of their futures."
Olathe East Students Travel to Washington, D.C. for Competition Finals
A team of five students from the Design Academy located at Olathe East High School placed in the top five in SourceAmerica's Design Challenge. Cameron Wasinger, Matt Reichmuth, Tanner Williams, Isaac Taylor and Holden Hartley will travel to Washington, D.C. April 3-8 to present their design at the Design Challenge Finals.
Their project serves a teacher with multiple sclerosis at Shawnee Mission Northwest High School. Their design is a portable wheelchair desk that enables the teacher to travel independently, without help, while storing heavy books and materials.
Olathe Students Advance in Optimist International Oratorical World Championship
The first step for Olathe students in the road to the World Oratorical Championship Contest presented by Optimist International was held March 22. Winners received first, second or third place medals and a small monetary award from the Olathe Noon Optimists.
First place medals were awarded to Brylee Andersen, Olathe East High School and Griffin Minter, Olathe South High School. First place winners advance to the next level of competition April 2.
Second place medals were awarded to Drew Langston and Sam Day, both of Olathe East.
Third place medals were awarded to Bethany Bluel, Olathe South and Camden Tews, Olathe East.
Students Receive College Scholarships
At the 20th Annual Shooting Stars Gala, the Arts Council of Johnson County (ACJC) awarded scholarships to four Olathe seniors while recognizing the 104 finalists nominated for the 2017 Shooting Stars Awards. The Shooting Stars program honors Johnson County high school students for achievement in nine categories of literary, performing and visual arts. Nine $1,400 first-place scholarships and nine $700 second-place scholarships were awarded to recognize excellence in each category of art.
In the two-dimensional art category, Allison Campbell, Olathe Northwest High School received second place.
In the voice classical category, Cole Bellamy, Olathe North High School received first place and Kaeli Whitener, Olathe South High School placed second.
Quin Wallace, Olathe North High School, placed second in the winds and percussion category.