Notebook

Students named Robert C. Byrd scholars

Two Shawnee Mission seniors have been named recipients of the 2008 Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship: Iris Shelly, Shawnee Mission West; and Nandini Sarma, Shawnee Mission East.

Both will receive a $1,500 scholarship.

The Byrd Honors Program recognizes exceptionally accomplished high school seniors who show promise of continued excellence.

The federally funded, state-administered scholarships are awarded by congressional district. This year, 15 students from Kansas’ 3rd District won scholarships.

Of 227 statewide applications, 60 students won funds.

Shawnee Mission announces graduations

High schools in the Shawnee Mission School District will graduate senior classes according to the following schedule:

• Shawnee Mission North, 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 20, District Stadium – North Location, 7401 Johnson Drive;

• Shawnee Mission South, 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 20, District Stadium – South Location, 5800 W. 107th St.;

• Shawnee Mission East, 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 21, District Stadium – South Location, 5800 W. 107th St.;

• Shawnee Mission West, 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 21, District Stadium – North Location, 7401 Johnson Drive;

• Shawnee Mission Northwest, 7 p.m. Thursday, May 22, Johnson County Community College, 12345 College Blvd.; and

• Horizons High School, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 22, Horizons High School gym, 5900 Lamar Ave.

Quartet earns highest rating

The freshman chamber quartet from Shawnee Mission South High School won the highest rating at the Class 6A KSHSAA Solo & Small Ensemble Contest held Saturday, April 26, at Emporia State University.

The quartet’s “I” rating is unusual in a statewide contest because of the members’ youth.

The quartet members are Ian Burrow, first violin; Casey Keller, second violin; Joe Thornton, viola; and Molly Litzler, cello. The quartet qualified for the state contest by receiving a “I” rating at the Northeast region KSHSAA Solo & Small Ensemble Contest on April 12 at Blue Valley High School. The quartet played Franz Haydn’s Op. 74, No. 2 in F Major.

South students Jay Mueller, Kelsey Hupp and Bret McCandless all received “I” ratings for solo performances at the state contest. Michael Burns, Ian, Lauren Kana and August Kersten all received “II” ratings.

Five numeric ratings are possible at a KSHSAA music contest with I meaning outstanding and II excellent.