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The Confidence in Kansas Public Education Task Force has named 78 schools in 28 Kansas public school districts, including Hutchinson Public Schools, as recipients of the 2017 Challenge Awards. Three district schools were recognized in four categories.

The awards recognize Kansas schools that are making a notable difference in student achievement despite facing significant challenges in their school population. Since its inception in 2002, more than 1,500 awards have been presented to schools across the state.

USD 308 schools honored by the program are

If your child is 3 or 4 years old, on or before August 31, 2018, and you would like them to have a positive preschool experience that prepares them for kindergarten, now is the time to complete an application.

Additional details on the program are available on a flier you can access here.

Isaiah Holmes and Jules Martinez were crowned Winter Homecoming king and queen Friday night during the Hutchinson High School-Goddard Eisenhower basketball games.

Other candidates for king were Carson Biehler, Austin Childs, Brynden Grow, Dylan Jensen and Rhys Tash. Other candidates for queen were Chandler Ashcraft, Arika Garcia, Alexis Glaspie, Emily Hendricks and Sage Williams.

Hutchinson High School is continuing to expand its Wall of Honor.

And if HHS teachers and counselors continue to do their jobs well, the Wall will never be complete.

The school and the HHS Alumni Association are working on the Wall of Honor as a team, said Marci Corey Malashchuk, Wall of Honor chair and member of the HHS class of 1990.

Former Hutchinson High School assistant football coach Mike Vernon will be the new head football coach for the Salthawks. Vernon’s hiring will be on Monday night’s USD 308 Board of Education agenda.

Vernon, who has led Nickerson to repeated football playoff berths, replaces Ryan Cornelsen, who is leaving the Salthawks to become head football coach at Gardner Edgerton.

The veteran coach is pleased to be returning to HHS.

"My family and I are excited for the opportunity,” Vernon said. “Salthawk football has always held a special place in our hearts. It's an honor and privilege to be the head football coach at Hutchinson High. I can't wait to get to work for the school and community."

Two seniors and three juniors at Hutchinson High School had entries accepted into the annual Eastern Kansas Scholastic Art Awards Exhibition.

HHS students had five pieces receive the Silver Key and five pieces receive Honorable Mention awards. Winners are below.

Drama students from Hutchinson High School received the top award during the annual Kansas Thespian Conference last weekend in Wichita.

The HHS Thespian Troupe 2277 as a whole received the Gold Honor Troupe award for their work not only on shows, but community service and innovative projects throughout the year.

For the first time in the program history, USD 308 has two Horizon Award winners, which goes to top new teachers.

Courtney Unruh, sixth grade teacher at Hutchinson Magnet School at Allen, and Mandy Malone Putnam, science teacher at Hutchinson Middle School – 8 received the award for 2017-18.

As the Hutchinson High School Drama Department prepares the production Macbeth this winter, students will receive additional coaching for the play.

Today and Tuesday, New York actor, Dion Graham will work with HHS students on the language of Macbeth.

Fact: In 2020, the education demand for jobs in Kansas will be –

• 11 percent Master’s degree or higher
• 25 percent Bachelor’s degree
• 35 percent Associate’s degree
• 29 percent high school diploma or less

(Source: Recovery: Job Growth and Requirements through 2020. Georgetown Public Policy Institute, Georgetown University)

Twenty-seven states and the District of Columbia will be at or above the 65 percent proportion of jobs (nationally) that will require postsecondary education beyond high school in 2020.