The fourth class of Rudd Scholars includes 19 Kansas high school seniors who will attend Wichita State University.

Each recipient will receive a full-ride scholarship, which includes tuition, fees, on-campus housing and considerable networking/coaching support along the way. All Rudd Scholars are from Kansas and will attend Wichita State, Emporia State or Fort Hays State.

“I’m thrilled Wichita State will be a part of each of these new Rudd Scholars’ journeys,” said Bobby Gandu, assistant vice president and director of undergraduate admissions. “We are working together to educate Kansas’ high-achieving, high-potential high school seniors to be the state’s future professional workforce.”

In addition to living on campus and carrying a full load of classes toward their college degree, scholars will receive mentoring and success coaching to help them graduate in four years. They will also participate in many developmental activities outside the classroom, network with leaders in their future professions, build strong relationships among themselves and serve to help the next generation of scholars through an active and connected alumni association after graduation.

“Wichita State has benefitted immensely from the three previous classes of Rudd Scholars,” Gandu said. “They are thriving as student leaders, community-contributors and internship-earners. While they are a powerful network of great students, I see them individually as personable, professional and modest learners who continually exercise the Rudd Scholars’ values of work ethic, passion and grit as Shockers.”

This brings the greater total of Rudd Scholars studying at WSU to 62 students, the most of any Kansas Board of Regents institution. Total, there will be 103 Rudd Scholars at the three universities. This represents approximately a $4 million financial commitment to date since the program’s inception in 2018.

The Rudd Scholarship, sponsored by the Rudd Foundation, aims to remove financial barriers to a college education. Chosen scholars are expected to achieve a high level of excellence on campus in preparing themselves to be leaders in their profession and in their communities after graduation.

Rudd Scholars attending Wichita State:

• Colby Barradas, Pratt Sr High School
• Eliseo Barreno, Highland Park High School
• Kyler Bernritter, Onaga High School
• Kyra Byrd, McPherson High School
• Lyric Darrah, Wichita High School South
• Kyndal Dorzweiler, Hesston High School
• Mackenzie Eden, Peabody-Burns High School
• Kymora Freeman, Sumner Academy High School
• Rafael Guereque, Hugoton High School
• Rachel Hagen, Solomon High School
• Peyton Herrenbruck, Baxter Springs High School
• Lyndsy Hinman, Ellis High School
• Madison McClain, Halstead High School
• Alayna Nguyen, Wichita High School East
• Adriana Owens, Hutchinson High School
• Austin Rempel, Hillsboro High School
• Christal Shaner, Insight School of Kansas
• Aubrie Thomison, Rose Hill High School
• Kian Williams, Hutchinson High School

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Wichita State University serves as the Kansas urban-based research university, enrolling more than 15,000 students from every state in the U.S. and more than 100 countries. Wichita State and WSU Tech are recognized for being student centered and innovation driven.

Located in the largest city in the state with one of the highest concentrations in the United States of jobs involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), Wichita State University provides uniquely distinctive and innovative pathways of applied learning, applied research and career opportunities for all of our students.

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