Essay Contest Overview
The Kansas Business Hall of Fame Student Essay Contest encourages Kansas high school students to delve into the state’s rich history of entrepreneurship and innovation. By engaging with prominent business leaders, students deepen their understanding of essential qualities such as leadership, resilience, and creativity, as well as their lasting economic impact.
Winning Kansas high school students from across the state have been notified of their placement in the eighth annual statewide Kansas Business Hall of Fame (KSBHF) essay contest. This contest was open to students in Grades 9–12 in Kansas, including home school entries. Participants wrote original essays based on research of a Kansas Business Hall of Fame honoree, celebrated for their contributions as influential business leaders, who were inducted into one of two categories: Historical or Contemporary.
Students had the opportunity to read about the inductees and choose one that inspired them. They were encouraged to infuse their personal thoughts and views that best related to the theme and their own experiences.
Congratulations to the following four winners, each receiving $500, listed in alphabetical order along with the inductee they wrote about:
- Hana Cole, senior, Olpe High School, inductee Joseph McCoy
- Miranda Houston, senior, Madison High School, inductee Georgia Neese Gray
- Ming "Jane" Ma, sophomore, Bishop Seabury, inductee Clara & Russell Stover
- Bridget Simmons, sophomore, Olathe Northwest, inductee Mary McCann
The prize money, totaling $2,000, was generously donated by the Kansas Chamber and awarded to the top four essays overall ($500 each). Winning students were invited to the KSBHF Induction Ceremony at The Topeka Country Club, where they were recognized, and those present received their $500 prizes.
The KSBHF Board would like to extend their gratitude to the following judges: Brad Kraft, Ed Bashaw, Terry Puett, Alan Cobb, John Rich, and James Leiker.
2025 Essay Contest Winners
Hana Cole, senior, Olpe High School, inductee Joseph McCoy
Miranda Houston, senior, Madison High School, inductee Georgia Neese Gray
Miranda Houston, senior, Madison High School, inductee Georgia Neese Gray
Miranda Houston, senior, Madison High School, inductee Georgia Neese Gray
Miranda Houston, senior, Madison High School, inductee Georgia Neese Gray
Miranda Houston, senior, Madison High School, inductee Georgia Neese Gray
Ming "Jane" Ma, sophomore, Bishop Seabury, inductee Clara & Russell Stover
Ming "Jane" Ma, sophomore, Bishop Seabury, inductee Clara & Russell Stover
Ming "Jane" Ma, sophomore, Bishop Seabury, inductee Clara & Russell Stover
Bridget Simmons, sophomore, Olathe Northwest, inductee Mary McCann
Ming "Jane" Ma, sophomore, Bishop Seabury, inductee Clara & Russell Stover
Ming "Jane" Ma, sophomore, Bishop Seabury, inductee Clara & Russell Stover
KSBHF Essay Contest Previous Winners
2025
2025
2025
- Hana Cole, a senior, Olpe High School, inductee Joseph McCoy
- Miranda Houston, a senior, Madison High School, inductee Georgia Neese Gray
- Ming "Jane" Ma, a sophomore, Bishop Seabury, inductee Clara & Russell Stover
- Bridget Simmons, a sophomore, Olathe Northwest, inductee Mary McCann
2024
2025
2025
- Addilyn Bruns, a freshman, Home School, Topeka, Arthur Capper.
- Aubryn Garriott, a senior at Olpe High School, Bill Kurtis.
- Lucy Krebsbach, a freshman from Home School in Meriden, Charles Walker.
- Benjamin Soyka, a senior at Leavenworth High School, Warren Augustine Bechtel.
2023
2025
2023
- Molly Brown, a senior from Hayden Catholic High School, Olive Ann Beech.
- Alexandrea Howell, a freshman from Leavenworth High School, Fred Harvey.
- Braden Polifka, a senior from Quinter High School, Junius George Groves.
- Quinten Schafer, a junior from Blue Valley North High School, William H. Graves.
2022
2022
2023
- Sriram Srinivasa Kalki, freshman from Blue Valley North High School, Philip Anschutz.
- Caroline Place, freshman from Blue Valley North High School, Junius George Groves.
- Baylee Richard, senior from Olpe High School, Olive Ann Beech.
- William White Walker, freshman from Emporia High School, William Allen White.
2021
2022
2021
Top three winners of the essay contest:
- Brianna Barrett, a freshman from Emporia High School, Olive Ann Beech.
- Elizabeth Place, a sophomore from Blue Valley North High School, Harry Darby.
- Brooklyn Farmer, a sophomore from Wellington High School, William Allen White.
Top winners from each grade:
- Edward Mu, a freshman from Blue Valley North High School, W. Frank Barton.
- Lenia Crouch, a sophomore from Emporia High School, Georgia Neese Gray.
- Makaila Karmann, a junior from Emporia High School, Olive Ann Beech.
- Maya Bishop, a senior from Olpe High School, Olive Ann Beech.
2020
2022
2021
Top three winners of the essay contest:
- Shea Inlow, a sophomore from Sedgwick High School, Fred Harvey.
- Emma Elder, a senior from Nemaha Central High School, Dan and Frank Carney.
- Taylon Ellis, a freshman from Wellington High School, William Coleman.
Top winners from each grade:
- Madison Paradise, a freshman from Sedgwick High School, Fred Harvey.
- Faith Finley, a sophomore from Emporia High School, Dan and Frank Carney.
- Sydnee Hammond, a junior from Emporia High School, Bill Kurtis.
- Jill Carlson, a senior from Lansing High School, Walter Anderson.
2019
2019
2019
Top three winners of the essay contest:
- Jordin Mackenzie, a freshman from Blue Valley North High School, Gary Burrell.
- Melvin Le, a sophomore from Liberal High School, Clara & Russell Stover.
- Jael Catlett, a freshman from Wellington, Clyde Cessna.
Top winners from each grade:
- Hannah Henderson, a freshman from Emporia High School, Walter Chrysler.
- Cheyla Carvantes, a sophomore from Emporia High School, Frederick Henry Harvey.
- Kaitlyn Sperka, a junior from Emporia High School, Olive Ann Beech.
- Codi Kentner, a senior from Quinter High School, Georgia Neese Gray.
2018
2019
2019
Top three winners of the essay contest:
- Rebekah Kitch, a senior from Quinter High School, Jack Goldstein.
- Haylee Weiss, a junior from Emporia High School, Olive Beech.
- Trudy Martens, a sophomore from South Gray High School, Walter Chrysler.
Top winners from each grade:
- Melvin Le, a freshman from Liberal High School, William Allen White.
- Ian Hayden, a sophomore from Emporia High School, William Lear.
- Nicholas Cammarn, a junior from Emporia High School, Philip Anschutz.
- Isaac McBroom, a senior from Emporia High School, Gary Burrell.
2017
2019
2017
Top three winners of the essay contest:
- Mary Stanley, a sophomore from Emporia High School, Olive Ann Beech.
- Karla Flores, a freshman from Emporia High School, Olive Ann Beech.
- Eric Poersch, a junior from Emporia High School, Arthur Capper.
Top winners from each grade:
- Hannah Cooper, a freshman from Emporia High School, Joseph McCoy.
- Connor Cheek, a sophomore from Emporia High School, Walter Anderson and Edgar Waldo.
- Jessica Rodriguez, a junior from Emporia High School, Dan and Frank Carney.
- Tiarah Holt, a senior from Emporia High School, William Allen White.
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