-
2022 Recipients
Lauren Allen is a graduate for Southest of Saline High School and attends Oklahoma Baptist University. She is majoring in Elementary Education and will graduate in 2024.
Madisyn Ehrlich is a graduate of Sacred Heart High School. She attends Kansas Wesleyan University and majors in Elementary Education. She will graduate in 2026.
Diana Geist is a graduate fo Salina South High School. She attends Emporia State University and majors in elementary Education with an emphasis in science. She will graduate in 2025.
Megan Householter graduated from Salina South High School. She attends Fort Hays State University and majors in Secondary Education with an emphasis in History. She will graduate in 2026.
Hannah Kipp is a graduate of Salina South High School. She attends Kansas State University and is majoring in Seconday Education with an emphasis in English & Journalism. She will graduate in 2024.
Paige Musselwhite is a graduate of Salina South High School and Kansas State University. She is completing a Masters in Education and will graduate in 2023. She currently works at Coronado Elementary.
Zac Salas will graduate of Salina South High School. He attends Bethany College and majors in Music Education. He will graduate in 2026.
-
2021Recipients
Melissa Gates is the JAG Coordinator at Salina South High School. She will complete her teacher education at Fort Hays State University beginning in the Summer of 2021.
Reagan Stein is a graduate of Salina Central High School. She attends the University of Kansas, majoring in Secondary Education.
-
2020 Recipients____________________________________
Mason Frost is a graduate of Wichita State Unversity. He teaches Math at Central High School.
Ashley Matthews attends Baker University
and is majoring in Secondary English Education.
Kati Rivera attends Ft. Hays State University and is majoring in Secondary English Education.
Sierra Snethen is attending Wichita State
University and majoring in Mathematics Education.
2019
Recipients_______________________________________
Audrey Burgoon is a graduate of
Salina Central and attends Kansas State University,
majoring in Secondary Education Speech/Theatre.
Grace Holgerson is a graduate of
Salina Central and attends Kansas Wesleyan University,
majoring in English Education.
Melissa Mahoney is a graduate of Salina South
and Kansas State University. She teaches Biology at Salina Central.
Alora Nesting is a Salina Central
graduate attending Emporia State University, majoring in Elementary
Education.
2018Recipients_____________________________________________
Cameron Munk is a graduate of South High and Emporia State University. She teaches at Schilling Elementary.
Lance Rassette is a graduate of Salina South High School and Kansas State University. He teaches Science at South High.
Tabetha Deines graduated from Salina Central and Kansas Wesleyan University. She teaches 5th grade at Sunset. 2017 Recipients_______________________________________ 
Makenzi Carlgren graduated first in her class from Central High School. She graduated from Kansas State University where she majored in Elementary Education. She teaches Kindergarten at Oakdale Elementary. 
Riley Rundell graduated from Salina South High School and Kansas State University. She teaches at Coronado Elementary. 
Morgan Soldan graduated from South High School and Ft. Hays State University. She teaches at Sunset Elementary. 2016
Recipients_______________________________________
Dallas Froome is a Sacred Heart and Kansas State University graduate who is teaching 4th grade at Sunset Elementary. 
Kelsey Plummer graduated from Rock Creek Jr/Sr High School and Kansas Wesleyan University. She teaches kindergarten at Cottonwood Elementary. 
Trey Cullins graduated from Central High and attended Kansas State University where he majored in Secondary English Education. Trey teaches at Central High School. 2015
Recipients_______________________________________
Ayla Beaugh is a graduate of Ell-Saline High School and Wichita State University. She is teaching 4th grade at Meadowlark Ridge Elementary. 
Michelle Franco graduated from South High School and Kansas State University. 2014
Recipients_______________________________________
Lindsay Radiel graduated from South High and Ft. Hays State University, where she majored in Elementary Education. Lindsay teaches Stewart Elementary.
Amanda Merrick is a graduate of South High and Kansas State University, where she majored in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Special Education. Amanda teaches Special Education at Stewart Elemenary.
2013
Recipients_______________________________________
Taylor Harner graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in Elementary Education with an English focus. She was an English teacher at South Middle School and was recognized as Renaissance Teacher-of-the-Month.
Kaitlin Paul graduated from Ft. Hays State with a degree in Secondary Math Education. Kaitlin is a math teacher at Dodge City High School.
2012
Recipients_______________________________________
Samantha McCary graduated from South High School in 2010 where she was active in Lab Chicks and worked at Lakewood Discovery Center. Sam taught mathematics at Salina South Middle School and is currently a math teacher in Lawrence, Kansas.
Lauren Meis, a 2011 South High graduate, graduated from Kansas State University where she was the featured twirler for the Kansas State Marching Band. Lauren majored in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Mathematics. She teaches fourth grade at Schilling Elementary.
Jessica Steele, a 2012 graduate of South High School where she excelled academically. Jessica graduated from Kansas State University where she majored in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Special Education and a minor in English as a Second Language. Jessica teaches all-day Kindergarten at Cottonwood Elementary.
2011
Recipients_______________________________________
Cindy Carter graduated summa cum laude from Kansas Wesleyan University, received her teacher certification from Emporia State University.
Corey Ritter graduated first in her class of 240 from Salina South High School and graduated from Kansas Wesleyan University, majoring in Elementary Education. Corey taught English at Salina South Middle School, kindergarten at Cottonwood Elementary, and is currently a literacy coach at Meadowlark Elementary.
2010
Recipient________________________________________
Laney Brightbill, Salina High School South graduate, graduated from Kansas State University in May 2011 with a degree in Early Childhood Special Education.
2009
Recipient________________________________________
Joel Pruett was named the eighth recipient of the LIFT award. Joel is a 2007 Central High School graduate. Joel is currently working on an advanced degree.
2008
Recipients_______________________________________
Molly Campbell, Salina Central High graduate, graduated from Emporia State University where she majored in Elementary Education. Molly taught third grade at Heusner Elementary, and is currently teaching 2nd grade at Spring Hill.
Nora Rindt, South High graduate, graduated from Pittsburg State University with a degree in Elementary Education. She is currently teaching at Schilling Elementary.
Caitlin Cox, Salina Central High School graduate, graduated from Kansas Wesleyan University in May 2011 with a degree in Elementary Education/Special Education. After teaching at Stewart Elementary, Caitlin moved to Andover where she teaches Special Education.
2007 Recipients_______________________________________
Andrew Book, Salina Central High graduate, graduated from Wichita State University with a degree in Music Education. Andrew taught orchestra at Salina Central High and four elementary schools. He is currently the Orchestra Director at Blue Valley West High School.
Darcy Bartz Leech, Salina Central High graduate, graduated from Bethany College with a degree in English Education and Philosophy. Darcy taught AP English at Central High and was the gifted facilitator at Central. She and her family moved to Great Bend where she is an instructional technology coach at USD 428.
2006 Recipient________________________________________
The Salina Education Foundation’s first LIFT recipient was Kaysie Chrisman, a 2004 graduate of Salina South High School. She graduated from Kansas Wesleyan University and is currently teaching 8th grade math at Salina South Middle School. Kaysie and husband Scott (Principal at Lakewood Middle School) have two beautiful daughters and a son.