Wichita State University has selected the top 14 finalists in the annual Distinguished Scholarship Invitational (DSI):

• Kyra Bergman, Centralia High School (Centralia, KS)
• Maisy Blanton, Andover High School
• Evander Davis, Washburn Rural High School
• Grace Fisher, Liberty High School (Missouri)
• Payton Hamilton, McPherson High School
• Maley Hansen, Wichita North High School
• Lesly Hernandez, Maize High School
• Tamara Ibrahim, Wichita East High School
• Jayden Island, Derby High School
• Katelyn Janzen, Oklahoma Bible Academy (Oklahoma)
• Carson McCachern, Deer Creek High School (Oklahoma)
• Laura Pham, Wichita East High School
• Ronish Rasaily, Wichita East High School
• Anna Richardson, Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic High School

The students competed in DSI in November, with 483 total students competing. Three of the finalists will be selected as recipients of the Harry Gore Memorial $64,000 scholarship, which are among the largest undergraduate awards in the Midwest.

To be invited to compete in the invitational, students had to have a 27 or higher ACT score, or a 3.5 or higher GPA, or rank in the top 10% of their class. The 14 finalists this year have an average ACT score of 29 and average GPA of 3.96.

Once invited, students completed an application, including essays and competed in an on-campus leadership competition. Finalists came back to campus Thursday, Jan. 19 for final interviews.

The announcement of the Gore Scholars will be at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 27, in the Marcus Welcome Center. All finalists will receive competitive scholarship packages to attend Wichita State in the fall of 2023.

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Wichita State University is Kansas' only urban public research university, enrolling almost 22,000 students between its main campus and WSU Tech, including 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.

The Innovation Campus, which is a physical extension of the Wichita State University main campus, is one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing research/innovation parks, encompassing over 120 acres and is home to a number of global companies and organizations.

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