Presenting KC Star Scholar-Athletes 2026: How we determined this year’s winners
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- The Kansas City Star partnered with the Kansas City Royals to present the 2026.
- Judges weighted nominees 45% athletics, 35% academics, 10% activities, 10% impact.
- Overall winners Avani Hocker-Singh and Sam Hennenfent receive trophies and first-pitch.
Unless you live under a rock, you’re well aware the 2026 FIFA World Cup is kicking it all across Kansas City (and the rest of North America) this summer.
It’s a thrill for the senses — how often does Lionel Messi score hat tricks in town? The spectacle in America’s heartland is on a scale the likes of which many of us have never seen.
Will Messi run across today’s edition of The Star? If he does, he’s in for a treat of his own: In partnership with the Kansas City Royals, we’re excited to present our 2026 High School Scholar-Athletes.
Overall girls winner Avani Hocker Singh (Olathe North) and overall boys winner Sam Hennenfent (Staley) headline an incredible group — dozens of honorees, one from each participating high school around the Kansas CIty metro.
Publication today culminates three rounds of intense judging. As always, each of the 100 high schools within The Star’s coverage area was invited to submit up to three nominees apiece. Most did.
Each nomination included a personalized portfolio of athletic skills, academic and other achievements and faculty endorsements.
This year’s first round of Scholar-Athlete judging was carried out by members of The Star’s newsroom. They whittled the field to one winner per school before handing off these semifinalists to a second group of judges tasked with determining two top 10s: one for the boys, one for the girls.
The portfolios of these top 10s, our 2026 Scholar-Athlete semifinalists, were then placed into the hands of our esteemed panel of final judges.
Final judges this year included Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.; Sporting KC defender Jansen Miller; KC Current defender Elizabeth Ball; and a consortium of players from the NFL’s Chiefs.
Witt even remarked about the impressive caliber of this year’s finalists.
Nominated student-athletes were evaluated 45% for their athletic prowess and accomplishments, 35% on academic achievements, 10% on participation in activities apart from sports and academics (such as community service and student government) and 10% for overall impact on their respective school’s environment. Variances in class size and rank, as well as size and competitiveness of athletic leagues and conferences, were also carefully considered.
OK, long story short: We think you’ll enjoy taking a few minutes to learn about our overall winners, as well as each participating school’s honoree.
The overall winners earn trophies recognizing their accomplishments and invitations to throw out a first pitch at a Royals game this summer. All of this year’s school winners get special certificates of achievement.
Please join us in congratulating each nominee and thanking those whose volunteer time and effort made it possible for The Star to once again honor some of our region’s brightest young people.