The deadline is Oct. 10 to nominate first-year teachers for the Kansas Horizon Award and nominate students for presidential scholars, presidential scholars in career and technical education (CTE) and the United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP). 

2026 Kansas Horizon Award  

The Kansas Horizon Award program offers school districts an excellent opportunity to honor outstanding first-year teachers. 

The program, sponsored by the Kansas State Department of Education, recognizes and rewards teachers who have served as examples of excellent teaching in elementary and secondary classrooms during their first year of teaching. 

Horizon Award winners receive special recognition during the Kansas Exemplary Educators Network (KEEN) state education conference which takes place annually in February, in Topeka.  

Nominated teachers must have completed their first year of teaching and be starting their second year. It is easy to nominate a teacher from your district by clicking on this link: http://www.ksde.org/Agency/Fiscal-and-Administrative-Services/Communications-and-Recognition-Programs/Kansas-Horizon-Award-Program 

Completed applications must be postmarked no later than Oct. 10. 

We hope you will take advantage of this opportunity to recognize and reward first-year teachers in your district. For more information, contact Tamla Miller at (785) 296-4950 or tamla.miller@ksde.gov. 

Presidential Scholars, Presidential Scholars in CTE programs  

The Presidential Scholars program recognizes and honors high school seniors who have demonstrated high achievements academically or in the arts — some having to overcome special challenges or hurdles to do so. 

High-achieving students who have demonstrated excellence in career and technical education (CTE) also can be recognized through the Presidential Scholars in Career and Technical Education program. This new program started in 2016. 

These two separate programs require separate nomination forms. 

To nominate a student for the Presidential Scholars program or the Presidential Scholars in Career and Technical Education program, a nomination form must be completed and submitted to the address indicated on the nomination form.  

Nomination forms may be accessed here: 

https://www.ksde.org/Agency/Fiscal-and-Administrative-Services/Communications-and-Recognition-Programs/Presidential-Scholars-Program 

Schools may nominate only two students, one for each program. Nominations must be postmarked by Oct. 10. 

This is an excellent opportunity to recognize exemplary students in your school. Contact Tamla Miller at (785) 296-4950 or tamla.miller@ksde.gov  for more information. 

2026 United States Senate Youth Program  

Applications are being accepted for the 2026 United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) and are due Oct. 10. The students selected will be notified after Dec. 1. 

Any high school junior or senior is eligible for the program as long as they have not previously been a delegate to Washington Week and have not received a USSYP scholarship. The student applicant must hold a high-level leadership position in any student government, civic or educational organization during the entire 2025–26 academic year.  

To apply, students must submit the following: 

• A completed application. Click here for the application. 
• An official academic transcript with an unweighted grade point average (GPA). 
• Two letters of support: 
  • One from either the high school principal or a teacher. 
  • One from an adult advisor to the organization or student body entity they represent confirming the student’s leadership position, the student’s leadership qualities and personal attributes. 
• Two written application essays (required). Limit responses to 500 words or fewer per response. The following are two Word templates that can be downloaded for use: 
  • Essay 1   
  • Essay 2   
• Signatures of principal and parents on the application. 

Contact Tamla Miller at (785) 296-4950 or tamla.miller@ksde.gov for more information.