Articles celebrating academic excellence in Lawrence and Douglas County, KS.
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Nathan Kramer
Free State choir students prepare for ‘Encore’
The singing Firebirds of Free State will perform music spanning all the way from 1954’s “Mister Sandman” to present-day hits, with plenty in between, during their upcoming “Encore” performances.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Lawrence High senior Zana Kennedy named Kansas Student Journalist of the Year
Lawrence High School senior Suzana “Zana” Kennedy was named the state’s student journalist of the year Monday during a surprise ceremony at the school.
Lawrence brothers win entrepreneurship challenge for their AI tutoring business
Two brothers won first place in this year’s Douglas County Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge for their business, “Don’t Panic AI Tutors.”
Four KU students nominated for Goldwater Scholarships
KU has nominated four juniors for a prestigious scholarship that recognizes their academic excellence and undergraduate research in STEM.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Lawrence students shine on stage during annual Ovation! show
Dozens of Lawrence school district students took to the Lied Center stage Sunday for the annual Ovation! talent show.
Lawrence High School artists earn 39 awards and recognitions at regional competition
Several Lawrence High School student artists earned awards at a regional competition, including seven whose works were selected in the top 1% of all submissions.
Carter Gaskins/Lawrence Times
Arabella Gipp named Lawrence Youth of the Year for the third time
Arabella Gipp has been declared the 2025 Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence Youth of the Year — the third time she’s earned the honor during her high school career.
KU
Nominations open for Native Advocacy Award, named for a KU administrator
A new namesake award will honor people who embody a KU administrator’s advocacy for Native American students.
Nathan Kramer / Contributed photo
Ovation! to highlight Lawrence school district students’ talents
Lawrence students will perform on aerial silks, sing barbershop tunes, Irish step dance and more at the Ovation! talent show on Sunday.
Free State wins state debate title
Free State High School claimed the 6A four-speaker state title over the weekend, besting some of the top debaters in the state for the Firebirds’ first debate state championship since 2019.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Lawrence High band director honored with award from music educator colleagues
Mike Jones, Lawrence High School band director, has earned the 2024 Outstanding Band Director Award from the Northeast Kansas Music Educators Association.
Cuyler Dunn/Lawrence Times
Musicians from Lawrence middle schools, KU join for Brassmas holiday show
Low brass musicians from across Lawrence filled the Lied Center stage Friday to perform holiday classics.
Andrew Beaven
Southwest Middle School band teacher honored with Dedication to Education award
Deborah Woodall Routledge, band director at Southwest Middle School, was honored Wednesday with the annual Dedication to Education award from the Lawrence Schools Foundation.
Student musicians from Lawrence middle schools and KU to perform in combined holiday concert
Band students from Lawrence middle schools and KU will join onstage Friday for a holiday concert, “Brassmas.”
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
KU students to pay homage to ‘Honk for Hemp’ activist, old wren sculptures in new Watkins Museum exhibitions
KU museum studies students will soon debut new exhibitions at the Watkins Museum telling the stories of two legendary Lawrence figures.
