HAYS, Kan. -- The new Honors College at Fort Hays State University will begin its first year in the fall with a class of 31 students, 17 of them incoming freshmen plus one transfer student and a current student joining the honors program.

They will join 12 students converting from the Distinguished Scholars Program, which the Honors College replaces. The idea in both is to provide a challenging curriculum across the range of programs for academically gifted and ambitious students.

Eighteen of the students qualified for three scholarships created especially for the Honors College.

"We have a great incoming class, and we exceeded our incoming freshman goal by 60 percent," said Matt Means, director of the Honors College. He also founded the predecessor Distinguished Scholars Program.

"This is a very auspicious beginning for the FHSU Honors College and augurs well for the future," he said. "It is a testament to a phenomenal sense of teamwork from a great number of committed FHSU students, faculty and staff that this was accomplished in only three and a half months."

"This is an impressive cadre of bright young minds," said FHSU President Mirta M. Martin. "Matt Means and his team have accomplished in three and a half months what it has taken other universities two and a half years to accomplish. I want to thank them all for making our founding class of the Honors College so very impressive and for instilling in these young people a passion to make FHSU their destination of choice."

Of the college scholarship winners, two won full-ride Regents Scholarships, which provide full tuition and housing to qualifying students from in or out of state. It also provides up to $450 per semester for books.

Twelve students qualified for $10,000 FHSU Honors College Scholarships, which provide $4,000 for tuition and fees and $6,000 toward room and board. The housing award is dependent on the student living on the honors floor established in McMindes Hall.

Four others qualified for $6,700 FHSU Honors College Scholarships, which provide $2,700 for tuition and fees and $4,000 for housing. The housing award, again, is dependent on the recipient living in university housing designated for Honors College students.

The inaugural Honors College class is listed by hometown:

Abilene (67410): Jenna Klein, a freshman majoring in medical diagnostic imaging, is a 2015 graduate of Abilene High School.

Alexander (67513): Katie Showalter, a junior majoring in biology (education), is a 2013 graduate of Western Plains High School. Showalter qualified for a $6,700 FHSU Honors College Scholarship.

Boise, Idaho (83713): Micah Johnson, a freshman majoring in physics, is a 2015 graduate of the Ambrose School.

Brownell (67521): Andrew Flax, a sophomore majoring in agriculture-beef cattle management, is a 2014 graduate of Ransom-Western Plains High School. Flax qualified for a $6,700 FHSU Honors College Scholarship.

Calhan, Colo. (80808): Mariam Sears, a freshman majoring in biology (medical technician), is a 2015 graduate of Branson School Online. Sears qualified for a full tuition, fees and housing Regents Scholarship.

Colorado Springs, Colo. (80909): Lucille Partlow-Loyall, a freshman, is a 2015 graduate of Coronado High School. Partlow-Loyall qualified for a full tuition, fees and housing Regents Scholarship.
Colorado Springs, Colo. (80911): Alexis Wyatt, a freshman majoring in English, is a 2015 graduate of Widefield High School.

Concordia (66901): Amanda Lawrence, a junior majoring in elementary education, is a 2013 graduate of Concordia High School.

Derby (67037): Broque Short, a freshman majoring in accounting, is a 2015 graduate of Derby High School.
Ainsley Smith, a sophomore majoring in communication sciences and disorders, is a 2014 graduate of Kapaun Mount Carmel High School. Smith qualified for a $10,000 FHSU Honors College Scholarship.

Dighton (67839): Clayton Capra, a junior majoring in music education, is a 2013 graduate of Dighton High School. Capra qualified for a $6,700 FHSU Honors College Scholarship.

Downs (67437): Trystan Schlaefli, a freshman majoring in biology (pre-physical therapy), is a 2015 graduate of Lakeside High School.

Elbert, Colo. (80106): Reilly Franek, a freshman majoring in political science, is a 2015 graduate of Elbert High School.

Gove (67736): Taylor Tustin, a freshman majoring in athletic training, is a 2015 graduate of Wheatland High School.

Hays (67601): Nicole Feyerherm, a sophomore majoring in English, is a 2014 graduate of Hays High School. Feyerherm qualified for a $10,000 FHSU Honors College Scholarship.
Conrad Hoffman, a freshman majoring in information systems engineering, is a 2015 graduate of Hays High School. Hoffman qualified for a $10,000 FHSU Honors College Scholarship.
Samantha Rohleder, a sophomore majoring in biology (environmental), is a 2014 graduate of Hays High School. Rohleder qualified for a $10,000 FHSU Honors College Scholarship.

Holdrege, Neb. (68949): Reinette Strydom, a junior majoring in medical diagnostic imaging, is a 2013 graduate of Holdrege High School. Strydom qualified for a $10,000 FHSU Honors College Scholarship.

Leavenworth (66048): Megan Rust, a freshman majoring in organizational leadership, is a 2015 graduate of Leavenworth High School.

Lincoln (67455): Breanna Meier, a freshman majoring in secondary education, is a 2015 graduate of Lincoln High School. Meier qualified for a $6,700 FHSU Honors College Scholarship.

Marysville (66508): Jensen Scheele, a junior majoring in athletic training, is a 2013 graduate of Manhattan High School-iQ Academy. Scheele qualified for a $10,000 FHSU Honors College Scholarship.

Minneola (67865): Joseph Harrington, a freshman majoring in physics (pre-engineering), is a 2015 graduate of Minneola High School.

Mission (66202): Jason Foster, a junior majoring in political science, is a 2013 graduate of Shawnee Mission North High School. Foster qualified for a $10,000 FHSU Honors College Scholarship.

Morrison, Colo. (80465): Megan Garcia, a freshman majoring in political science, is a 2015 graduate of Bear Creek High School.

Overbrook (66524): Colin McIver, a freshman majoring in information networking and telecommunications, is a 2015 graduate of Santa Fe Trail High School.

Plainville (67663): Aaron Fisher, a freshman majoring in biology (pre-veterinary), is a 2015 graduate of Plainville High School. Fisher qualified for a $10,000 FHSU Honors College Scholarship.

Salina (67401): Kylie Metzger, a senior majoring in secondary education and English, is a 2012 graduate of Salina South High School. Metzger qualified for a $10,000 FHSU Honors College Scholarship.

Topeka (66615): Sarah Pimentel, a junior majoring in radiologic technology, is a 2013 graduate of Hayden High School. Pimentel qualified for a $10,000 FHSU Honors College Scholarship.
Topeka (66617): Samantha Montgomery, a freshman majoring in biology (pre-med), is a 2015 graduate of Jefferson West High School.

Wichita (67206): Lauren Wiebe, a senior majoring in social work, is a 2012 graduate of Wichita East High School. Wiebe qualified for a $10,000 FHSU Honors College Scholarship.

Winona (67764): Faith Edwards, a sophomore majoring in agricultural business, is a 2014 graduate of Triplains High School. Edwards qualified for a $10,000 FHSU Honors College Scholarship.

Photo ID: Matt Means, director of the Honors College and assistant professor of music.