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News Release

12 high school seniors chosen as finalists in Wichita State Distinguished Scholarship Invitational

Jan. 16, 2026
By WSU Strategic Communications

Contact for News Reporters: Lainie Mazzullo-Hart, director of communication, 316-978-3409 or lainie.mazzullo@wichita.edu.

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  • Wichita State University has selected the top 12 finalists in the annual Distinguished Scholarship Invitational (DSI): 

    • Audrey Appuhn, Washburn Rural High School
    • Mackenzie Bucl, Mckinney Boyd High School (Texas)
    • Noah DeVault, Derby High School
    • Natalie Gillogly, Leavenworth High School
    • Ana Huerta, Augusta High School
    • Oshada Koralegedara, Wichita High School East
    • Kayden Lankford, Valley Center High School
    • Samantha McClintock, Central Christian Academy (Wichita)
    • Omar Mousa, Wichita Northeast Magnet High School
    • Grace Oard, Maize South High School
    • Dulce Torres Gonzalez, Wichita High School Northwest
    • Julian Walker, E.A. Young Academy (Texas)

    A total of 528 students competed in DSI on Saturday, Nov. 22. Three of the finalists will be selected as recipients of the Harry Gore Memorial $64,000 scholarship, which is 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, a 3.5 or higher GPA or rank in the top 10% of their class. The 12 finalists this year have an average ACT score of 27 and average GPA of 3.91. 

    Once invited, students completed an application, essays and competed in an on-campus leadership competition. Finalists come back to campus Thursday, Jan. 22 for final interviews. 

    The Gore Scholars winners will be announced at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 30 in the Marcus Welcome Center. All finalists will receive competitive scholarship packages to attend Wichita State in fall 2026. 

    About Wichita State University

    Wichita State University is Kansas' only urban public research university, enrolling more than 25,000 students between its main campus and the WSU Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology (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 National Science Foundation ranked WSU No. 1 in the nation for aerospace engineering R&D, No. 2 for industry- and defense-funded engineering R&D and No. 9 overall for engineering R&D.

    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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