The City of Arkansas City hosted a reception on April 7, 2025, at Cowley College’s Brown Center to announce the finalists for the 2025 Outstanding Student Award. Students from Arkansas City Middle School, Arkansas City High School, and Cowley College were recognized for their academic excellence and civic engagement.
Outstanding Student Award Finalists from Arkansas City Middle School include:
- Haven Gutierrez
- Carmen Galdamez-Barron
- Katy Seaton
Outstanding Student Award Finalists from Arkansas City High School include:
- Genesis Mendez
- Eliza Ward
- Nathan Fleig
Outstanding Student Award Finalists from Cowley College include:
- Jessi Ritchhart
- Aaliyah Owens-Fox
- Riley Perdue
An awards banquet and dinner will be held on Monday, April 21, 2025, where each school’s top finalist will be recognized, and one student will be named the Overall Outstanding Student for the City of Arkansas City.
- The overall winner will receive a $1,000 scholarship.
- The first runner-up will receive $500.
- The second runner-up will receive $250.
- All scholarships are proudly sponsored by the City of Arkansas City.
Established in 1984 by the City Commission, the Outstanding Student Award Program honors students who demonstrate excellence in both academics and community service. Continue story below ad:
Each year, local teachers, staff, and administrators nominate students they believe are deserving of this prestigious award. The Outstanding Student Award Committee—appointed by the Mayor and City Commission—reviews the nominations, conducts informal interviews, and selects three finalists from each participating school.
2025 Nominees
Arkansas City Middle School:
Melany Barron, Briggs Buckingham, Addalyn Byrd, Trinity Erwin, Carmen Galdamez-Barron, Santiago Gallegos, Ulysses Giles, Haven Gutierrez, Westin Hamm, Madison Hess, Kailynn Hewitt, Clark Kirk, Thomas Loveland, Harper Moore, Sebastian Rodriguez, Draven Rohr, Austin Schwartz, Katy Seaton, Lexi Sebastian, Eva Sobba, Katelynn Squires, Matthew White
Arkansas City High School:
Michelle Ambriz, Kennedy Barnes, Mason Earls, Marely Escalante, Nathan Fleig, Alondra Garcia, Kayson Gleason, Swea Gootee, Madison Hain, Samantha Harader, Owen Jackson, Landen Larson, Paul Lyman, Genesis Mendez, Hadley Musson, Trey Noland, Marco Garcia Ortega, Cody Palmer, Karson Palmer, Isaac Pieper, Kira Retzlaff, Haylea Sampson, Hannah Schandorf, Elizabeth Schuerich, Sylas Tyler, Eliza Ward, Adrianna Wixon
Cowley College:
Ian Aggson, Cole Batten, Colton Brown, Andre Ecker, Brianna Lee, Kelley Lowe, Kayli Myers, Hadley O’Toole, Amanie Owdetallah, Aaliyah Owens-Fox, Riley Perdue, Jessi Ritchhart, Ashlyn Thomison, Grace Valenzuela, Jada Wilhoite, Aleeyah Winegarner
Above photo: The finalists for the City of Arkansas City Outstanding Student Award have been announced. Representing
Arkansas City Middle School are Haven Gutierrez, Carmen Galdamez-Barron, and Katy Seaton. Finalists from
Arkansas City High School include Genesis Mendez, Eliza Ward, and Nathan Fleig. Cowley College finalists are Jessi
Ritchhart, Aaliyah Owens-Fox, and Riley Perdue.
