Kansas State University held its commencement ceremonies over the weekend.

Those from Wyandotte County who graduated included:

Bonner Springs: Brenda J. Potter, master of science in adult, occupational and continuing education; Victoria Anne Rau, bachelor of arts; Bret Alexander Yates, bachelor of science

Kansas City: James Michael Callahan, master of science in curriculum and instruction; Jeremy Allan Chugg, bachelor of arts and B.S. in education; Anita Dolinar, B.S. in business administration; Carmen Renee Ellis, B.S. in education; Solomon David Lubs, B.S. in family studies and human services; Katrina M. Lundien, doctor of philosophy in curriculum and instruction; Curtis Mcclain, bachelor of science; Eric A. Reid, master of arts in security studies; Allison Diane Stimach, B.S. in education; Damian Aaron Tamayo, master of software engineering; David Earl Willis, B.S. in industrial engineering

F.L. Schlagle High School: Joshua Michael Criswell, bachelor of science.

Sumner Academy Arts & Science: Emmett Lee Smith, B.S. in business administration.

Turner High School: Rebecca Sue Bradwell, master of agribusiness.

Washington High School: Rhea Theresa Reitmeyer, B.S. in education.

Kansas State University recently announced a number of scholarships earned by Wyandotte County natives.

From a press release:

Bonner Springs: Kristen Cecelia Beeves, KSU Marching Band Scholarship, Marion H. Pelton Keyboard Scholarship and Rose Garzio Scholarship for Horn Performance, offered by Angelo C. Garzio in honor of his mother; Heather Carmitchel, Henry J. Putnam Memorial Scholarship; Kara Michelle Douglas, Dean's Choice Scholarship and Leadership Scholarship; Jaci Nicole Livers, Fairchild Scholarship; Cassity Taylor Mitchell, Marion H. Pelton Scholarship; Kyle Cameron Parker, Dean's Choice Scholarship; Alex Liam Slater, Opportunity Scholarship; Joseph Robert Sullivan, G.E. Johnson Engineering Scholarship; Olivia Lea Walterman, Achievement Award; Kali Ann Yates, Fairchild Scholarship

Kansas City: Courtney Nicole Albracht, Fairchild Scholarship; Jaime Arreola, Transfer Academic Scholarship; Marcus Andrew Bragg, Capitol Federal Scholarship, Cargill Project IMPACT Scholarship, Dean's Choice Scholarship, Gasaway Family Scholarship, Housing Leadership Award, Koch Impact Scholarships, Leadership Scholarship and Nancy Landon Kassebaum Scholarship; Lonell Cokise Brown, Cargill Project IMPACT Scholarship and Memorial Scholarship; Shahna Alyssa Campbell, Activity Scholarship; Stephanie Christine Despain, Edgerley-Franklin Urban Leadership Scholarship and Memorial Scholarship; Blake Spencer Franklin, Housing Leadership Award and Opportunity Scholarship; Morgan Andrew Franklin, Memorial Scholarship; Kara Danielle Godsil, Kenneth and Iralee Barnard Aviation Scholarship and The Marian W. 'Dolly' Hardman Endowment; Marcela Gonzalez, Martha S. Pittman Scholarship, Maud Gardiner Obrecht Memorial Scholarship and Memorial Scholarship; Choua Her, Memorial Scholarship and Transfer Academic Scholarship; Samantha Jo Hodge, Dean's Choice Scholarship and Medallion Scholarship; Jose Antonio Leal, NACME Scholarship; Sparkle Rashun Lucky, Memorial Scholarship; Ivette Martinez, Cargill Project IMPACT Scholarship and Memorial Scholarship; James E Millsap, Cargill Project IMPACT Scholarship; Olivia Dyan Moore, Cargill Project IMPACT Scholarship, Housing Leadership Award and Leadership Scholarship; Manuel Adiel Munoz, Cargill Project IMPACT Scholarship and Memorial Scholarship; Justin Philip Peterson, Alumni Wabash CannonBall Scholarship, Engineering Scholarship and Henry J. Putnam Memorial Scholarship; Lauren C Pitts, Cargill Project IMPACT Scholarship and Memorial Scholarship; Jazmin Monique Richmond, Achievement Award and Memorial Scholarship; Tanya Marie Sherman, Koch Impact Scholarships and Martin Luther King Memorial Fund; David Smith, Memorial Scholarship; Angelica Soto, Memorial Scholarship; Jon Paul Sprung, Donna Kottwitz & Mark Larson Engineering Scholarship and Frank W. Kaul Mechanical Engineering Leadership; Allison Stimach, Hucke-Wavering Scholarship; Carissa Jean Sulzen, Fairchild Scholarship; Kelli Treff, Medallion Scholarship; Jeremy Walker, NACME Scholarship; David Earl Willis, Memorial Scholarship and NACME Scholarship
 

Former Missouri coach Norm Stewart (right) was host Tuesday to a Coaches Against Cancer fund-raiser that featured an all-star coaches panel of (from left) Bill Self, Kansas; Matt Brown, UMKC; Frank Martin, Kansas State; and Mike Anderson, Missouri. (Photo by Alan Hoskins) 

By ALAN HOSKINS, Kansan Contributor

It’s not often Bill Self, Frank Martin and Mike Anderson see things the same way but all three are in total agreement – the Big 12 this year will be the toughest basketball conference in the nation.

On a night they could have been out recruiting – their final contact night under NCAA  rules – the coaches from Kansas, Kansas State and Missouri along with UMKC’s Matt Brown were all at the College Basketball Experience at the Sprint Center for a Coaches Against Cancer fund-raiser Tuesday hosted by former Missouri coach Norm Stewart.

“This is the last day they can have contact and they’re here,” said Stewart. “That shows they care. It’s absolutely phenomenal.” 

Self pretty well summed up the general feelings of the Big 12 coaches. “Frank (Martin) has got great, great personnel at Kansas State. They can score and are really good. Mike (Anderson) did the best job in America at MU last year. They are really hard to guard and they have the majority of players back.

“Texas, I think, is going to be great. And we return our top 10 players and have a pretty good recruiting class. They say it’s going to be the toughest conference in America and that’s the way it’s been the last few years.”

Anderson is coming off a 31-win season at Missouri. “That’s the most wins by anybody at MU,” said Stewart.

“It was a special year,” agreed Anderson. “If you would have told me we would win 31 games and the conference tournament, I would have said ‘What are you smoking?’ We lost three key players but we played a lot of guys so they have the opportunity to step up their games. It’s a team that needs to find its identity. Last year is history. But I’m excited.”

As for the Big 12 race, Anderson turned to Self and said “KU could beat the Boston Celtics. They’re going to be really good.”

Martin finally returns experience at Kansas State.

”We’ve got four players who understand,” said Martin. “Freshmen come in and they think they know but when they have to make an entry pass at Allen Fieldhouse, 18-year-olds don’t understand what it takes. For the first time we’ve got experience. They’ve been to KU and got beat up and to MU and got beat up. So we’re excited. And I’m happy.”

As for the conference race, Martin said: “There is no arena where you can get an easy win. It’s so difficult to win in this conference.”

Brown, whose UMKC team will play Missouri, Nebraska and Wichita State, likewise has considerable experience.

“I really feel like I’m going to have a chance to coach,” said Brown, who may be aided by the fact the Kangaroos will play some of their home games on the UMKC campus.

As could be expected, good natured shots were taken at each other with Self taking the majority of them with Martin and Brown pointing out that the refereeing crews when facing KU included one official named Self.

However, it was Self who spoke last and who got in the best jab. “Without a doubt Frank Martin and Mike Anderson are the best defensive coaches in the Big 12. They reach, grab and hold on every possession and do it very well.”