Arkansas City High School will induct its first two members into the school’s newly established Hall of Fame during a ceremony Tuesday, Oct. 27.
Jan (Knocke) Van Hoomissen, a 1976 ACHS graduate who became the first woman from Kansas selected to attend the U.S. Air Force Academy, and longtime educator David Stinemetze, a 1967 graduate, have been selected as the inaugural inductees.
The ceremony will begin at 6 p.m. in the ACHS Auditorium and is free and open to the public.
Van Hoomissen entered the Air Force Academy in 1976 as a member of its first class of female cadets and graduated in 1980.
She went on to serve 20 years in the military, including assignments at the Pentagon and as a White House Military Social Aide during the administration of President Ronald Reagan.
Van Hoomissen also spent 35 years working for IBM.
Stinemetze, meanwhile, is in his 55th year of service to education and Arkansas City High School.
During more than five decades at ACHS, he has taught and mentored generations of students, becoming a familiar and respected figure in the Bulldog community.
The ACHS Hall of Fame was established in 2025 to recognize graduates who have distinguished themselves through professional accomplishments and service to others. Continue story below ad.
The program is also intended to introduce current students to the achievements of former Bulldogs and the opportunities available to them after graduation.
“By connecting with our past, we hope to inspire current students to chase their career and civic goals, whether that’s right here at home or abroad,” Hall of Fame Program Coordinator Eric Burr said when the program was announced.
Under the program’s guidelines, two graduates will be inducted annually, including one who resides in Cowley County and another who lives outside the county.
Selections are based on career achievements and volunteer service.
School officials are encouraging alumni, former students, families and community members to attend the ceremony as ACHS begins the new tradition.
Additional information is available at hs.usd470.com/hall-of-fame.
