Scholar-Athlete special mention honorees
BOYS
KEARNEY
GRANT LEETH
Ranks 64th in class of 264 with a 3.87 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale. Won four varsity letters in wrestling, one varsity letter in track and one varsity letter in football. Four-time All-Conference in wrestling. Three-time state champion. Finished with 204 career wins. SADD. Volunteers at retirement home. A member of Community Service club.
College: Duke
Also nominated: Jessi Hartzler, Meagan Paul
BLUE SPRINGS SOUTH
CONNOR DILLON
Ranks 13th in a class of 464 with a weighted 4.86 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale. Won four varsity letters in swimming and one varsity letter in track. First team All-Metro in swimming in 2012 and second-team All-Metro in 2013. School record holder in 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams. National Honor Society president. Youth volunteer for Missouri Department of Conservation at Burr Oak Woods.
College: Undecided
Also nominated: Remy Davenport, Madison Giles
BLUE VALLEY WEST
RYAN RALSTON
Ranks 138th in a class of 335 with a 3.61 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale. Won Four varsity letters in baseball, three varsity letters in football and three varsity letters in basketball. All-state quarterback, two-time All-EKL third baseman. Second team All-EKL in basketball. CAPS Student Innovator of the Year finalists.
College: Kansas
Also nominated: Ariel Mittleman, Joe Nail
GIRLS
BARSTOW
MADELEINE TADROS
Finished with a 4.47 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale. Won four varsity letters in tennis. Was 2013 doubles state champion and part of team state championship in 2013. All-Metro in 2012 and 2013. Literary Magazine editor, yearbook layout editor and National Honor Society secretary.
College: Rice University
Also nominated: Alena Frye, Jay Gillen
TRUMAN
PAIGE PARKER
Ranks 23rd in class of 369 with a weighted 4.1 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale. Won four varsity letters in softball. Four-time All-Conference and All-District. Two-time Missouri Gatorade player of the year. National Honor Society. McCoy medal finalist.
College: Oklahoma
Also nominated: Christian Janota
SM WEST
MEGAN VANDERPOOL
Ranks 15th in class of 404 with a weighted 4.65 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale. Won four varsity letters in gymnastics and three varsity letters in track and field. Four-year state qualifier in gymnastics, placing first in bars, first in bars and twice finishing second in all-around. All-Metro in gymnastics. Holds school record in pole vault. National Honor Society. Participated in St. Paul’s United Methodist Church youth mission trips.
College: Kansas State
Also nominated: Marleah Campbell, Chloe McMahon
This story was originally published June 8, 2014 at 1:47 PM with the headline "Scholar-Athlete special mention honorees."