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ESU Awards Prestigious Scholarships to High School Seniors

Emporia, KS (12/10/2025) — Four high schools were filled with festive atmospheres as five seniors from three Kansas counties learned on Dec. 8 and 9 that they have full-ride scholarships to Emporia State University to pursue their career goals. A sixth student was awarded a unique scholarship for science education. Each of the students learned the news during assemblies at their high schools.

The third class of the Jones Premier Nursing + Education Scholarships are:

  • Emporia High School: Diane Camarena of Emporia, nursing.
  • Hartford High School: Maricela Munoz Gardner of Emporia, art education.
  • Marais Des Cygnes Valley High School:
    • Kadence Masenthin of Melvern, nursing.
    • Ella Reed of Waverly, elementary education
  • Santa Fe Trail High School: Vanessa Roberts of Carbondale, music education.

Alex Strother of Carbondale, a senior at Santa Fe Trail High School, receives a scholarship from Emporia State's SMART KS 21 program. SMART KS 21 began in 2023 with a $500,000 grant from the Kansas Legislature to increase the number of students wanting to become math or science teachers.

The Jones Foundation, named after Walter S. and Evan C. Jones, provides qualified, eligible applicants a full ride to pursue a career in education or nursing. Up to six high school seniors - one nursing student and one education student from each of the three counties served by the Jones Foundation (Lyon, Coffey, Osage) - are awarded the Jones Premier Nursing & Education Scholarship.

This prestigious scholarship covers the recipient's full cost of attendance including tuition, fees, room, board, books, etc., after any other scholarships or grants are applied. The students were selected by a panel who read their essays that answered two questions:

  • Why have you chosen to enter the teaching or nursing profession?
  • How will the Jones Foundation's investment in your education help improve lives in your community (Coffey, Lyon, or Osage county)?

The Jones Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to "improving the health and education of eligible Kansans in Coffey, Lyon and Osage counties."

Each of the six students receives automatic acceptance to ESU's Honors College.

About Emporia State University

Emporia State University offers a range of academic programs through its institute and seven schools: Applied Health Sciences, Business & Technology, Humanities & Social Sciences, Interdisciplinary Studies, Library and Information Management & Library and Archives, Science & Mathematics and Visual and Performing Arts, along with The Teachers College.

ESU stands out for its innovative education practices. It ensures accessible education by offering in-state tuition rates to full-time undergraduate students from all lower-48 United States. Additionally, full-time undergraduates benefit from flat-rate tuition - students enrolled in 12 or more credit hours with at least one credit hour on campus pay a flat rate.

For more information on how to build your future at Emporia State University, please visit www.emporia.edu.

Media Attachments

Diane Camerena was awarded a full-ride Jones Premier Scholarship to attend Emporia State University.

Maricela Munoz Gardner was awarded a full-ride Jones Premier Scholarship to attend Emporia State University.

Kadence Masenthin was awarded a full-ride Jones Premier Scholarship to attend Emporia State University.

Ella Reed was awarded a full-ride Jones Premier Scholarship to attend Emporia State University.

Vanessa Roberts was awarded a full-ride Jones Premier Scholarship to attend Emporia State University.

Alex Strother was awarded a SMART KS 21 Scholarship from Emporia State University.

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