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Category Archives: Youth
Bourbon County Teams Dominate 2026 SunPowered Student Challenge
CLC WASPS Named Grand Champions
Three Heartland-sponsored teams from Bourbon County combine for four first-place finishes and overall championship title
WICHITA, Kan. — Three teams of Bourbon County high schoolers sponsored by Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative brought home four first-place awards — including the Grand Champion title — at the 2026 SunPowered Student Challenge, held April 8 at Wichita State University.
The WASPS from Christian Learning Center in Fort Scott topped the overall standings with 1,323 points, outpacing eight other teams from Kansas and Oklahoma to claim Grand Champion honors. Two teams from Uniontown High School — the Solar Queens and Solar Eagles — also finished in the top three overall, giving Heartland-sponsored teams a sweep of the event’s top spots.
“As rural electric cooperatives, it’s part of our mission to help educate our communities, and that includes the next generation as well,” said Mark Scheibe, CEO of Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative. “If we can spark curiosity in students, and if we can help them see the future in energy or engineering, or take some of the problem-solving skills that they learn during this competition to apply in their future lives, then that’s a win for them and the communities that we serve.”
The SunPowered Student Challenge is a statewide competition that begins in the classroom — student teams work through a hands-on solar energy curriculum over several months before competing at Wichita State University. Challenges include designing and installing photovoltaic arrays on scaled model buildings, analyzing real-world site conditions, delivering professional presentations and collaborating with teams they’ve never worked with before.
The competition was founded in partnership with Kansas Rural Electric Cooperatives, Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative, Pitsco Education and Ten80 Education, and is now housed under the nonprofit Future STEAM.
Heartland REC helped create the program in 2024 and continues as both a program and team sponsor. The cooperative has sponsored teams from communities across its southeast Kansas service territory.
Results by Team:
WASPS — Christian Learning Center
Team members: Holly Cain, Ryan Cain, Abby Jacobs, Henry Morris
Coach: Scott Cain
- 1st Place — Team Presentation
- 1st Place — Solar Site Design Challenge
- Grand Champions (Overall)
- 1st Place — Collaborative Challenge (with Uniontown Solar Eagles and Lincoln Solar Leopards)
Solar Queens — Uniontown High School
Team members: Aryonnah Beaton, Camilla Cagle, Paityn Hueston, Jiyah Middleton
Coaches: Carrie Sutcliffe and Christal Martin
- 1st Place — Creative Curb Appeal
Solar Eagles — Uniontown High School
Team members: Ziggy Barbour, Adam Page, Ty Shelton, Ash Sporleder
Coach: Brad Johnson
- 1st Place — Skills Challenges
- 1st Place — Collaborative Challenge (with CLC WASPS and Lincoln Solar Leopards)
Overall Scores:
| School/Team Name | Score |
| CLC WASPS | 1323 |
| Uniontown Solar Eagles | 1218 |
| Uniontown Solar Queens | 1107 |
| Beloit Solar Swords | 1030 |
| Lincoln Solar Leopards | 1011 |
| Woodward Solar Boomers 1 | 900 |
| Woodward Solar Boomers 2 | 823 |
| Oxford Ra | 811 |
| Woodward Solar Boomers 3 + Rock Creek | 796 |
About Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative
Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric utility powering rural lifestyles throughout more than 11,000 locations in eastern Kansas. Heartland’s service area includes member-owners in 12 counties: Allen, Anderson, Bourbon, Cherokee, Coffey, Crawford, Labette, Linn, Miami, Neosho, Wilson, and Woodson.
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Uniontown Students Standout In Sunpowered Student Challenge
Tennyson Creek Solar, a project by Doral Renewables, is continuing its commitment to local communities with a series of recent donations supporting education, youth programs, and community organizations across Bourbon County.
As part of this effort, Tennyson Creek Solar has contributed to:
- Uniontown Schools in support of student participation in the SunPowered Student Challenge
- Fort Scott Community College Rodeo
- Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site
- Fort Scott Area Community Foundation
Uniontown students participated in the SunPowered Student Challenge, which is an annual event that brings together students from across Kansas to explore solar energy through hands-on projects and team-based competition. The third annual competition took place on April 8 at Wichita State University.
Students participated in wiring, system setup, mounting, collaboration, and presentation challenges throughout the competition. Uniontown teams had a standout performance, bringing home three awards:
- Uniontown Eagles – First Place, Solar Skills Presentation
- Uniontown Eagles – Collaborative Award
- Uniontown Queens – First Place, Curb Appeal
“This type of support gives our students opportunities they wouldn’t otherwise have,” said Vance Eden, Superintendent of Uniontown Schools. “Participating in the SunPowered Student Challenge allows them to explore real-world applications of science and energy while building teamwork and problem-solving skills.”
Doral Renewables says these contributions reflect its broader mission of investing in the Bourbon County community.
“We’re committed to supporting local organizations through Tennyson Creek Solar,” said Cliff Williams, Vice President of Development at Doral Renewables. “Initiatives like the SunPowered Student Challenge help inspire the next generation of Bourbon County.”
The Tennyson Creek Solar Project, currently under development in Bourbon County, represents Doral Renewables’ ongoing dedication to responsible renewable energy development and meaningful community investment across Kansas.
Artificial Intelligence Chatbot Risks Announcement
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Brazilian Student Experiences High School Life in Uniontown
Gabriella Basso, 17, is an international student attending Uniontown High School this school year.
She is from Garibaldi, a municipality in Rio Grande do Sul in southern Brazil, with an area of approximately 35,000 people. Uniontown has around 300 people.
“I learned about the exchange program through my sister, who also participated in one during the 2022–2023 school year. She originally found out about it on YouTube, and after hearing about her experience, I became really interested in doing the same,” Gabi said.
Her first experience in America was visiting Walt Disney World when she was young.
“At that time, everything felt very big and exciting,” she said. “Later on, through movies and social media, I imagined American high schools as having a lot of school spirit and opportunities. When I finally came as an exchange student, I realized many of those impressions were true, especially the size of the schools and how involved students are in activities.”
“While living here, I’ve learned that sports are a big part of student life, and many people are very involved in school activities. I also noticed how important cars are for daily life, since most people rely on them to get around. Another thing that stood out to me is the strong sense of pride people have in their schools and colleges, as well as the sense of community in many towns.”
Learning all the differences in everyday English and adapting to a new culture have been the biggest challenges for her, she said.
“Even though I studied English before coming, it was still difficult at first to understand everything and express myself the way I wanted. Being away from my family and adjusting to a different routine was also challenging, but it helped me grow a lot as a person.”
“Here in the U.S., I’ve had the opportunity to take classes that are not usually offered in the same way in Brazil, especially as separate, specialized subjects. For example, I’ve taken Human Anatomy & Physiology, FACS (Family and Consumer Sciences), and Agriculture classes. These types of courses are more hands-on and focused on specific skills or career areas, which makes them very different from what I would typically experience in Brazil.”
“American high schools are quite different from schools in Brazil. Here, students have more flexibility to choose their classes and schedules, while in Brazil the curriculum is more fixed.”
“There is also a much bigger focus on extracurricular activities, like sports and clubs, which are a central part of student life. In addition, American schools often have a strong sense of school spirit, which is something I found really interesting.”
The hosting family
She is being hosted by the Chris and Lael Woods family.
“We have enjoyed hosting Gabriella,” said Lael Woods. “Not only is she a sweet, kind-hearted, and fun person, but it has been fun learning about her culture and seeing her experience life as an American teenager. She has been busy learning all the sports and participating in AG and art classes, along with earning a 4.0 GPA.”
“We have a sophomore daughter, Makiah, who is also involved in many activities, so it has packed this year to the brim with fun.”
“Gabi is a Junior. She arrived a week before school started this year, on August 12th. She will leave at the end of May, two weeks after school is out.”
“While she is here, our obligation as her host family is to provide three meals a day and transportation.”
“We have encouraged her to participate in as many activities as she wanted to explore and she has taken that advice to heart! We’ve supported all those endeavors, however, her family pays for any of the expenses that come from her extracurricular activities, like equipment and clothing.”
About the organization that brought Gabi to Uniontown
“Gabi has tried a lot of new activities – sports, art, clubs….everything,” said Janice Rake, with the sponsoring organization, the Pan American Foundation, that matched Gabi with her host family. “Right now, we are working to place many wonderful students for the upcoming school year. They are eager to experience American culture and share their culture—but without a host family, that opportunity is not possible. Families who do host often describe it as a life-changing experience, forming lasting relationships and gaining a global perspective right from their home.”
Rake can be reached at
[email protected]
or
iwanttohost.org .
Heartland REC Announces 12 Future Foundations Scholarship Recipients for 2026
GIRARD, Kan. — April 9, 2026 — Rural communities thrive when the next generation stays, grows, and leads. That’s the belief behind Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative’s Future Foundations Scholarship Program — and this year, 12 high school seniors living on Heartland’s lines are putting that belief into action.
Heartland REC is proud to announce the recipients of the 2026 Future Foundations Scholarships. Each recipient (three per Heartland director district) will receive $1,000 to support their pursuit of high-need careers in nursing, education, skilled trades, and agriculture at Kansas institutions.
2026 Future Foundations Scholarship Recipients
District 1
Garrett Conley — Agricultural Technology | Pleasanton High School
Ashlan George — Nursing | Pleasanton High School
Kimball Uphoff — Agricultural Engineering | Prairie View High School
District 2
Emma Jean Kintzer — English Education | St. Paul High School
Bryson Peters — Lineman | Erie High School
Allison Weatherman — Pediatric Physical Therapist | Crest High School
District 3
Timothy “Tater” Ames — Automotive Service Technician | Uniontown High School
Seth Shadden — Automotive Service Technician | Uniontown High School
Klara Stock — Elementary Education | Uniontown High School
District 4
Joe Feagan — Electrician | Frontenac High School
Kelyn Page — Elementary Education | Girard High School
Rayleea Russell — Agricultural Education | Girard High School
The Future Foundations Scholarship Program is part of Heartland REC’s broader commitment to strengthening the communities it serves. By investing in students pursuing careers in fields that rural Kansas needs most, the cooperative is helping ensure the long-term vitality of the region.
For more information about the Future Foundations program, visit https://www.heartland-rec.com/community/future-foundations-scholarship/.
About Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative
Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric utility powering rural lifestyles throughout more than 11,000 locations in eastern Kansas. Heartland’s service area includes member-owners in 12 counties: Allen, Anderson, Bourbon, Cherokee, Coffey, Crawford, Labette, Linn, Miami, Neosho, Wilson, and Woodson.
KS KidWind Challenge
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Fort Scott Community College Inducts New Phi Theta Kappa Members
Fort Scott Community College welcomed 46 new members into its Phi Theta Kappa honor society during an induction ceremony held March 31, 2026, at the Ellis Fine Arts Center Auditorium.
The ceremony recognized students from the Alpha Theta Omega Chapter for their academic achievement and commitment to excellence. Phi Theta Kappa is the international honor society for two-year colleges, promoting scholarship, leadership, service and fellowship among high-achieving students.
The event began with a greeting and welcome, followed by a presentation on the society’s symbols and traditions. Chapter leadership and advisors participated in the formal induction process, including the recitation of the Phi Theta Kappa pledge and official recognition of new members.
Students inducted into the chapter achieved a grade point average of 3.5 or higher while completing at least 12 credit hours, meeting the national eligibility requirements for membership.
During the ceremony, chapter advisors emphasized the significance of academic dedication and the opportunities available through Phi Theta Kappa, including scholarships, leadership development and community engagement.
The induction concluded with closing remarks and a reception honoring the new members and their accomplishments.
Phi Theta Kappa has recognized and encouraged scholarship among two-year college students worldwide for more than 100 years. The organization is designated by the American Association of Community Colleges as the official honor society for two-year institutions.
For more information about Phi Theta Kappa at Fort Scott Community College, contact the college at (620) 223-2700.
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Application Deadline for 2026 Boys State of Kansas Session Set for April 30
April 7, 2026 — The American Legion Boys State of Kansas is accepting applications for its 2026 session through Thursday, April 30. Applications are accepted after that date, but on a space-available basis. The event is set to be held Sunday, May 31, through Saturday, June 6, at Kansas State University in Manhattan. This will be the program’s 34th consecutive session at KSU and 88th overall.
Kansas Boys State is for individuals who will complete their sophomore or junior year of high school this spring. The cost to attend the Boys State of Kansas program is $375; however, in many instances, sponsors pay the majority of the fees, with the delegate or his family paying $50. Those wishing to attend the 2026 session should visit ksbstate.org to apply. Furthermore, delegates who are returning to KBS for a second year (high school sophomores during the 2024-25 academic year) have the opportunity to attend the 2026 session for just $50 total, provided they get at least three eligible people from their school (or another school) to attend.
Kansas Boys State attendees are also eligible to receive a three-hour course credit (Introduction to Political Science [POLSC 110-C]) through K-State at a 72% discount, as well as earn merit badges to attain the Eagle Scout rank through Boy Scouts of America. Additionally, attendees can apply to win a Samsung American Legion Scholarship. The American Legion Department of Kansas finalist is guaranteed a $1,250 scholarship, with the opportunity to receive up to $10,000 as a national scholar.
The American Legion Boys State of Kansas program provides a relevant, interactive, problem-solving experience in leadership and teamwork that develops self-identity, promotes mutual respect and instills civic responsibility to inculcate a sense of individual obligation to community, state and nation. Boys State is a “learning by doing” political exercise that simulates elections, political parties and government at the state, county and local levels, providing opportunities to lead under pressure, showcasing character and working effectively within a team. It’s also an opportunity to gain pride and respect for government, and the price paid by members of the military to preserve democracy.
Potential sponsors, such as American Legion posts, civic organizations, businesses, clubs and interested individuals should visit ksbstate.org/sponsor. Questions? Contact the ALBSK at [email protected] or (785) 550-6492. For complete information about the American Legion Boys State of Kansas program, visit ksbstate.org.
For information about the 2026 American Legion Auxiliary Sunflower Girls State, which will be held Sunday, May 31, through Friday, June 5, at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, visit ksgirlsstate.org.
— #KSBoysState —
The American Legion Boys State of Kansas is an interactive simulation that teaches high school seniors-to-be the value of democracy and civic duty. Participants form mock governments and campaign for positions at the city, county and state levels. After the elections, participants find out firsthand the difficult decisions made daily by those in government through a series of challenging simulations. Delegates, nominated to attend by their high school counselors and other influential people in their lives, are sponsored by American Legion posts and various civic organizations from across the state. All delegates demonstrate outstanding leadership qualities in student government, athletics and/or other activities.
The Boys State program was founded by Legionnaires Hayes Kennedy and Harold Card in Illinois in 1935, and was first held in Kansas two years later in Wichita. The Kansas program moved to the University of Kansas in Lawrence in 1963 and remained there until 1991. The following year, it moved to its current location at Kansas State University in Manhattan. For more information about the American Legion Boys State of Kansas, visit ksbstate.org.
Foster Home Initiative: A Home For Every Child
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Bourbon County CASA is currently in need of volunteers
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2026 CFSEK Scholarship Stories: Kaylee Lunsford,The Power of Legacy
Most students talk about the financial relief of a scholarship, but it’s truly special when a student feels a personal connection to the fund’s history.
Kaylee Lunsford, a homeschooled student from Fort Scott, is currently studying animal science at Oklahoma State University. As a multi-year recipient of the Bill House Agricultural Scholarship through the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas (CFSEK), Kaylee’s goals are global, planning to pursue a career in International Ag Law to “give farmers a voice on the world stage.”
“I’m shocked every time I’m notified that I received the scholarship,” Kaylee said. “I’m just so happy the committee thinks I’m deserving of it.”
The connection goes deeper than just the scholarship. Kaylee grew up showing Hereford cattle with the American Hereford Association (AHA)—an organization where the late Mr. House once served as president.
“I feel a connection to Mr. House through our shared participation in the AHA,” Kaylee noted. “While I never met him, I hope I can carry on his legacy.”
Beyond easing financial stress, Kaylee says the award serves as a motivator to work harder. Her advice for future applicants? Be open and reflective. “I try to give the (review) committee a chance to see why I am worth investing in. I want them to get to know me, my passion, and my goals.”
CFSEK scholarship applications close March 31st, 2026. A full list of scholarships and their requirements is available at SoutheastKansas.org/Students/Scholarship. Scholarship applications are available online at SoutheastKansas.org/Scholarship-App.
The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas awarded over $2.8 million in grants from all foundation funds in 2025 and has facilitated over $28 million in total granting to Southeast Kansas since its inception in 2001. CFSEK serves the region by providing donors with various charitable interests and encouraging charitable giving, which addresses present and future needs in our area. The Columbus Area, Fort Scott Area, and Girard Area Community Foundations are affiliates of CFSEK. More information about CFSEK is available at SoutheastKansas.org.