USD 417 District Spotlight
We are approaching the half way point of our second semester and we have several exciting updates to share about the great things taking place at USD 417 Morris County.
Congratulations to Our Rudd Scholarship Recipients!
USD 417 Morris County Schools is incredibly proud to announce that two of our own Council Grove seniors, Jaena Baker and Aleah Weaver, have been named 2025 Rudd Scholars — a distinction that ranks among the highest honors a Kansas high school student can receive.
The Rudd Scholarship, awarded by the Wichita-based Rudd Foundation, is one of the most competitive scholarships in the state. This year, nearly 800 students applied and only 50 were selected. To have two recipients from a single district is a remarkable achievement that speaks volumes about the character of these young women and the community that helped shape them.
What makes the Rudd Scholarship unique is what it looks for in recipients. The Foundation doesn't simply seek the brightest or the busiest — they search for students who demonstrate fortitude, tenacity, ambition, and resolve. Students who get knocked down and get right back up. Jaena and Aleah embody exactly those qualities.
The scholarship covers full tuition, room and board, books, and other expenses — a complete college education. Both young ladies have committed to Emporia State University, where they will pursue careers in education. It is a wonderful thing to know that the next generation of Kansas teachers will include two Council Grove Braves.
We are extraordinarily proud of Jaena and Aleah. Please join us in congratulating them and their families on this incredible accomplishment.
Scholars Bowl: Building a Tradition of Academic Excellence
One of the exciting programs gaining momentum at Council Grove Junior/Senior High School is Scholars Bowl — a fast-paced academic competition where teams of five go head-to-head answering questions across a wide range of subjects including math, science, language arts, fine arts, social sciences, foreign language, and current events. It is a KSHSAA activity, meaning students can earn letters for their participation and performance, just like any other sport.
This year's high school team had 12 members: AJ Johnson, Bryce Azbell, Daniel Most, Emily Teter, Harmony Egbert, Landon Schoeck, Matthew Calmes, Maya Mulryan, Easton Hanson, Emily Hinkson, Leo White, and Rylie Smith. Eight of the twelve were new to the program this season, with returning letterwinners Easton Hanson, Leo White, and Rylie Smith providing leadership and experience. The team competed in 10 invitationals along with League and Regional meets, earning four top-three finishes along the way — a strong showing for a program that is clearly on the rise.
Council Grove also had the honor of hosting a meet on November 10, 2025, welcoming 12 schools to compete. Hosting an event of that scale required filling 34 volunteer slots, and the community answered the call — 10 students, 7 staff members, and 17 community members made it happen. That kind of support means everything to a growing program.
On the junior high side, first-year coach enthusiasm from Mrs. White is already paying dividends. The 10-member JH team — Alexandria Marquez, Cecilia Monihen, Charles Lillich, Charlotte Switzer, Dakota McAndrews, Ethan McKnight, Freyja Kinderknect, Miles Bacon, Parker Staatz, and Spencer Burton — is a young group with eight 7th-graders and two 8th-graders. They hosted their own meet on February 9, bringing in seven other schools and filling 32 volunteer slots with the help of students, staff, and community members. The team competes in their final meet of the season on March 9 at Wabaunsee, and while placements are still coming, the improvement is visible week to week.
What makes Scholars Bowl special is that it truly has a place for every kind of student — whether their passion is literature, mathematics, or the fine arts, everyone on the team can contribute and shine.
Forensics: Five Qualify for State
Council Grove's Forensics team is having a strong season with twelve students representing the program this year: Anna Bachura, Grace Bolieu, Matthew Calmes, Jacob Christensen, Harmony Egbert, Easton Hanson, Emily Hinkson, River Kleinkauf, Ruby McKnight, Maya Mulryan, Ayla Schweger, and Rylie Smith.
We are especially proud to announce that five of those students have already punched their ticket to the State Championship — Anna Bachura, Grace Bolieu, Emily Hinkson, Maya Mulryan, and Ayla Schweger. Qualifying for state in forensics is a significant achievement, and we congratulate these young people on their hard work and performance. We will be cheering them on as they compete for the title!
Wrestling: State Qualifiers Represent USD 417
Our wrestlers have been putting in the work, and it is showing. USD 417 is proud to send eight Council Grove athletes to the State Wrestling Championship this year. Qualifying for the boys are Nate Seimears, Bradley Doornbos, Easton Stohs, and Tyler Hutchinson. Representing the girls are Khloe Lif, Savannah Stewart, Savanah Johnson, and Alysia Werner.
We are also proud to recognize our Northern Heights athletes who have earned their spot at state: Leo DeDonder, Cole Gerleman, Wyatt Dobson, Briley Cannon, and Brenah Cannon.
To all of our state qualifiers — your hard work and dedication have brought you to this moment. The entire Morris County community is behind you. Go Braves!
Braves Basketball Heads to the Playoffs
Both our Council Grove Boys and Girls Basketball teams have worked incredibly hard this season, and as the postseason gets underway we want to take a moment to recognize their dedication and hard work. We will have a full season recap in next month's District Spotlight, but for now — Go Braves!
The Boys tip off their postseason on the road against Hesston, while the Girls hit the road to take on Cheney. We encourage the entire Morris County community to follow along and cheer our Braves on as they look to advance.
Council Grove Elementary Students Go Above and Beyond for the Kids Heart Challenge
Council Grove Elementary School students recently demonstrated that their hearts are as big as their community. This year's Kids Heart Challenge, which benefits the American Heart Association, saw CGES students raise $6,631.93 — surpassing their $6,000 goal by more than $600.
Physical Education teacher Mr. Finch reflected on the effort saying he was very proud of the students and how committed, inspired, and driven they were for a cause bigger than themselves. He noted that learning to put other people first and give back at a young age is something he hopes they carry for the rest of their lives.
As for the celebration — Mr. Finch and several other staff members will be receiving buckets of slime dumped on them at today's assembly. We think that's a small price to pay for such an incredible achievement. Congratulations to the students and staff at Council Grove Elementary!
State Assessments Are Coming — Let's Finish Strong!
As we move into the spring semester, students in grades 3-8 as well as our 10th and 11th graders will be participating in Kansas State Assessments. These assessments are an important measure of how well our students have mastered their grade level standards, and they give us valuable information to help us continue improving instruction and outcomes across the district. Additionally, our fourth grade students will be participating in the NAEP — the National Assessment of Educational Progress — in both math and reading.
We encourage all families to pay close attention to the testing schedule and to talk with their students about the importance of giving their best effort. A good night's sleep, a solid breakfast, and a positive attitude can go a long way on test day. Our teachers and staff have worked hard to prepare your students — now it's their time to shine!
USD 417 Bond Election — March 3rd
On March 3rd, registered voters within the USD 417 school district boundary will have the opportunity to weigh in on a $31.5 million school bond proposal. We encourage all eligible community members to make their voice heard on this important decision.
The proposed bond would address facility needs across all three district buildings. At Council Grove Junior/Senior High School, plans include a new secure entry, updated and future-ready classrooms, a new centralized media center, expanded Career and Technical Education spaces, and improved parking and traffic flow. At Council Grove Elementary, the proposal would eliminate portable classrooms, add 11 new flexible classrooms, and renovate the annex into an Early Childhood Center — doubling childcare capacity from 45 to 90 children. At Prairie Heights Elementary, improvements would focus on safety, security, and updated interior spaces.
For a residential property valued at $200,000, the estimated tax impact would be approximately $9.58 per month. A tax impact calculator is available at www.usd417.org/bond, where voters can also find detailed information, renderings, frequently asked questions, and voting locations.
Polls are open on March 3rd. Advance voting in person at the County Clerk's Office is available through Monday, March 2nd at noon.
Thank you to our community for your continued support of USD 417 Morris County Schools.
Tyson Eslinger 
Superintendent of Schools 
USD 417 Morris County 
#ForwardTogether417