Preschoolers earning honors at the Fairfax R-3 awards assembly were Damin Vogler, Evelyn Hulsey, Abigail Calihua, Novalee Chavez, Xavion Pinzino, Esme Vogler, Jericho Wilson, and Audrey Zumbrunnen. Not pictured is Kyler Avrett.
Kindergartners earning honors at the Fairfax R-3 awards assembly were Claire Oswald, Stella Mercer, Ella Smith, Liam Daugherty, Patrick Swenson, Cammie White, Jackson Brandt, Addison Rafe, and Emma Lewis. Also pictured is teacher Saige Hedlund.
Fairfax first graders earning awards at the assembly were Harper Smith, Wesley Long, Aubree Simmons, and Memo Chavez. Also pictured is teacher Amy Fast.
Fairfax second graders earning awards at the assembly were Garrett Reed, Charlie White, Jackson Zumbrunnen, Wade Reed, and Isaiah Terry. Also pictured is teacher Anna Hulsey.
Third graders earning awards at the Fairfax R-3 assembly were Caiden Hines, Taylor Long, Isaiah Price, Lane Reed, Alex Rhoades, Brentley Stevens, and Nash Stevens.
Fourth graders earning awards at the Fairfax R-3 assembly were Ellee Salmond, Jesé Aguilar, Garrett Wintz, Ayden Harber, Vonda Elliott, Abbi Umbarger, Xavier Bradbury, Lucy Heck, Paisleigh Daugherty, and Jo Hurst.
Fifth graders honored at the Fairfax R-3 assembly were William Oswald, Jonah Long, Eli Rogers, Twyla Elliott, Braleigh Stoner, Harper Hicks, Greenley Grossman, Presley Knight, Marlowe Murphy, and Haleena Allen. The 5th grade class was also recognized for being the overall winners of Field Day.
Sixth graders honored at the Fairfax R-3 assembly were Liam Powell, Emmett Umbarger, Eli Auwarter, Ryann Salmond, Stella Terry, Addy Giddinge, and Aspyn Fast.
Earning Typing Awards were, from left to right: top – Stella Terry, Ryann Salmond, Addy Giddinge, Emmett Umbarger, Liam Powell, and Harper Hicks; and bottom – Greenley Grossman, Twyla Elliott, Braleigh Stoner, Jesé Aguilar, Vonda Elliott, William Oswald, Aspyn Fast, and Eli Auwarter.
This year’s yearbook staff was recognized for their hard work and dedication: Lexi Brown, Trent Frohn, Chase Gayler, Kenneth Kirkpatrick, Johnny Pickard, Austin Helfers, Tabby Chaney, and Editors Joaquin Hill and Piper Morris. They dedicated this year’s yearbook to Dixie Stoner (not pictured).
The National Honor Society members were honored. They are Erin Eyman, Mason Kingery, Carter Oswald, Lily Terry, Chloe Vernon, and Elsey Rogers.
Elsey Rogers was named the Fairfax Optimist Club Student of the Month. She was recognized by Brad Dush.
The Hi-Step/TNT members were also honored: Austin Helfers, Joaquin Hill, Tate Johnson, Amelia Larson, Piper Morris, Mason Kingery, Carter Oswald, Chloe Vernon, Avery Fast, Brenna Kingery, Carley Graham, Elsey Rogers, Wyatt Landess, and Olivia Woods.
Chloe Vernon is this year’s Girls State Fairfax attendee.
Austin Helfers was presented with the Louis Bell Scholarship.
Joaquin Hill was presented with the Class of 1984 Shawn Ireland Memorial Scholarship.
Tate Johnson earned the 275 Conference Scholar Athlete Award. He also earned the M. David Palmeiro Scholarship for his athletic achievements.
Amelia Larson was presented with the IV Bats Scholarship.
Piper Morris was presented with the Kansas State University Wildcat Nonresident Scholarship and Engineering Scholarship.
Fairfax R-3 preschoolers through seniors were honored in an awards ceremony held Thursday, May 14, 2026, in the gym. Students were recognized for classroom conduct, excelling in their subjects, and earning scholarships from local organizations and colleges. A list of the honorees and their awards follow (awards and their recipients listed are the ones that were provided):
Elementary
Perfect Attendance: Twyla Elliott, Aspyn Fast, Greenley Grossman, Taylor Long, Wesley Long, Garrett Reed, and Braleigh Stoner
Preschool: Kyler Avrett – Future Detective and Gummy Bear Award; Abigail Calihua – Future Archaeologist and Peanut M&Ms Award; Novalee Chavez – Future Teacher and Hershey’s Kiss Award; Evelyn Hulsey – Future Fashion Designer, Skittles Award, and Reading Circle Certificate; Xavion Pinzino – Future Comedian and Whoppers Award; Damin Vogler – Future Mechanic and Snickers Award; Esme Vogler – Future Carpenter and Hershey’s Bar Award; Jericho Wilson – Future Musician and M&Ms Award; and Audrey Zumbrunnen – Future Baker, Nerds’ Award, and Reading Circle Certificate
Kindergarten: Addison Rafe – Reading Circle Certificate, Skip Counting Award, and Neatest Handwriting Award; Cammie White – Reading Circle Certificate, Skip Counting Award, and Creativity Award; Claire Oswald – Reading Circle Certificate, Skip Counting Award, and Future Teacher Award; Ella Smith – Reading Circle Certificate, Skip Counting Award, and Sight Word Wizard Award; Emma Lewis – Reading Circle Certificate, Skip Counting Award, and Bookworm Award; Stella Mercer – Reading Circle Certificate and Passionate Participant Award; Jackson Brandt – Reading Circle Certificate, Skip Counting Award, and Most Improved Award; Liam Daugherty – Reading Circle Certificate, Skip Counting Award, and Environmentalist Award; and Patrick Swenson – Reading Circle Certificate, Skip Counting Award, and Math Whiz Award
First Grade: Reading Circle – Memo Chavez, Wesley Long, Aubree Simmons, and Harper Smith; Memo Chavez – Future Scientist, Starburst Award, and Most Improved in Academics; Wesley Long – Future Musician, Peanut M&M Award, and Math Whiz; Aubree Simmons – Future Lawyer, Sweet Tarts Award, and Star Reader; and Harper Smith – Future Dancer, Cotton Candy Award, and Star Speller
Second Grade: Isaiah Terry – Reading Circle, 50 AR Points, Energizer Bunny, and Curious Kiddo; Jackson Zumbrunnen – Reading Circle, 40 AR Points, Math Whiz, and Most Encouraging; Charlie White – Reading Circle, 10 AR Points, Donut Stress, and Animal Whisperer; Wade Reed – Brainstorm Champ and Beautiful Cursive; and Garrett Reed – Awesome Artist and Imagination Station
Third Grade: Caiden Hines – Reading Circle, 30 AR Point Club, Most likely to have a messy desk, and Compassion Award; Taylor Long – Reading Circle, 50 AR Point Club, Most likely to play in the NFL, and Comedy Award; Isaiah Price – Reading Circle, 25 AR Point Club, Most likely to become a zoo keeper, and Caring Award; Lane Reed – Most likely to become an artist and Artistic Award; Alex Rhoades – Most likely to be a ray of sunshine and Respectful Award; Brentley Stevens – Reading Circle, 100 AR Point Club, Most Likely to be a math whiz, and Productivity Award; and Nash Stevens – Reading Circle, 100 AR Point Club, Most likely to play in the MLB, and Ambition Award
Fourth Grade: Jesé Aguilar – Reading Circle Certificate, AR 25 Point Club, Quiet Achiever Award, and Most Improved Rad Reader Award; Xavier Bradbury – Reading Circle Certificate, AR 25 Point Club, Out Of My Shell Award, and Graphic Novel Guru Award; Paisleigh Daugherty – Reading Circle Certificate, Cooperative Classmate Award, and Thoughtful Thinker Award; Vonda Elliott – Reading Circle Certificate, AR 25 Point Club, Passionate Peer Award, and Multiplication Champion Award; Ayden Harber – Reading Circle Certificate, AR 25 Point Club, Attitude Is Everything Award, and Fact Fanatic Award; Lucy Heck – Reading Circle Certificate, AR 100 Point Club, The Resilient Risk Taker Award, and Text Evidence Expert Award; Jo Hurst – Reading Circle Certificate, AR 100 Point Club, Wonderful Worker Award, and Word Whiz Award; Ellee Salmond – Reading Circle Certificate, AR 50 Point Club, Right Hand Helper Award, and Handwriting Hero Award; Abbi Umbarger – AR 50 Point Club, Happy Helper Award, Most Improved, and Mathematician Award; and Garrett Wintz – Reading Circle Certificate, AR 100 Point Club, The Deep Thinker Award, and Mathlete Award
Fifth Grade: Haleena Allen – Creative Core Award; Twyla Elliott – Reading Circle Certificate and Subtle Flex Award; Greenley Grossman – AR Points 50 Points Club, Reading Circle Certificate, Academic Excellence in Communication Arts, Spelling, Science, Social Studies, and Math, and Straight Slaps Award; Harper Hicks – AR Points 50 Points Club, Academic Excellence in Spelling and Social Studies, and Peak Ohio Award; Presley Knight – AR Points 25 Points Club, Academic Excellence in Spelling, and Vibe Check Award; Jonah Long – AR Points 75 Points Club, Reading Circle Certificate, Academic Excellence in Communication Arts, Spelling, Science, and Social Studies, and Real One Award; Marlowe Murphy – Reading Circle Certificate and Glow Up Award; William Oswald – AR Points 75 Points Club, Reading Circle Certificate, Academic Excellence in Communication Arts, Spelling, Science, Social Studies, and Math, and Dub Collector Award; Eli Rogers – Whole Mood Award; and Braleigh Stoner – AR Points 100 Points Club, Reading Circle Certificate, Academic Excellence in Communication Arts, Spelling, Science, Social Studies, and Math, and Ate That Up Award
Sixth Grade: Maintained no less than an A- all four quarters in Math – Ryann Salmond, Stella Terry, and Emmett Umbarger; Maintained no less than an A- all four quarters in Science – Emmett Umbarger; Maintained no less than an A- all four quarters in Spelling – Aspyn Fast, Addy Giddinge, Ryann Salmond, and Stella Terry; Maintained no less than an A- all four quarters in Social Studies – Stella Terry; Improved from Semester 1 to Semester 2 in Communication Arts – Eli Auwarter, Aspyn Fast, Addy Giddinge, Liam Powell, Ryann Salmond, Stella Terry, and Emmett Umbarger; Improved from Semester 1 to Semester 2 in Spelling – Liam Powell; Improved from Semester 1 to Semester 2 in Social Studies – Eli Auwarter; Improved from Semester 1 to Semester 2 in Science – Aspyn Fast, Addy Giddinge, and Liam Powell; Improved and Exceeded AR point goal from Semester 1 to Semester 2 – Emmett Umbarger; Reading Circle Awards – Read 16 books or more and passed with an 80% or higher Aspyn Fast, Addy Giddinge, Ryann Salmond, Stella Terry, and Emmett Umbarger; and AR awards – 200 point club Aspyn Fast and 300 point club Emmett Umbarger
Typing Awards: 20 Words Per Minute – Braleigh Stoner, Jesé Aguilar, Vonda Elliott, Twyla Elliott, William Oswald, Greenley Grossman, Aspyn Fast, and Eli Auwarter; 30 Words Per Minute – Ryann Salmond, Adelyn Giddinge, Emmett Umbarger, Liam Powell, and Harper Hicks; and 40 Words Per Minute – Stella Terry
Junior High & High School
Perfect Attendance: Avery Fast, Zander Grossman, and Jaycee Stoner
Student of the Month: Elsey Rogers
Girls State Representative: Chloe Vernon
Missouri and U.S. House of Representatives Recognition: Austin Helfers, Joaquin Hill, Tate Johnson, Amelia Larson, and Piper Morris
Hi-Step/TNT Recognition: Austin Helfers, Tate Johnson, Amelia Larson, Piper Morris, Joaquin Hill, Mason Kingery, Chloe Vernon, Elsey Rogers, Avery Fast, Brenna Kingery, Carley Graham, Carter Oswald, Olivia Woods, and Wyatt Landess
National Honor Society Recognition: Erin Eyman, Mason Kingery, Carter Oswald, Chloe Vernon, Elsey Rogers, and Lily Terry
Tarkio Technology Recognition: Joaquin Hill
Math Awards: Top Point Earners – 7th Grade, Ryann Salmond; 8th Grade, Delaney Oswald; Algebra I, Deyton Burke; Geometry, Elsey Rogers; Algebra II, Chloe Vernon; Brightest Smile – Zach Koop, Emma Ohlensehlen, Brenna Kingery, Carley Graham, and Carter Oswald; Hardest Worker – Stella Terry, Alex Wintz, Olivia Woods, Brady Umbarger, and Trent Frohn; and Best Teammate – Emmett Umbarger
English Awards: Top Point Earners – 7th Grade, Wendy Hurst; 8th Grade, Alex Wintz; English I, Deyton Burke; English II, Elsey Rogers; English III, Lily Terry; and English IV, Austin Helfers and Joaquin Hill
Art Awards: Collaboration Awards – Avery Fast, Brenna Kingery, Riley Koop, Dillion Perez, Bentley Price, Evan Rogers, and Brady Umbarger; Stick-to-it-tiveness – Kaylee Bungenstock; Plan B – Leila Knight; Rising Star – Evan Rogers; Creativity with Multi-Media Material – Elsey Rogers; and Realistic Artist – Emma Vance
Scholar Bowl: This was the first year Fairfax had a junior high scholar bowl team. Team members honored were Aspyn Fast, Ryann Salmond, Stella Terry, Emmett Umbarger, Wendy Hurst, Brody Landess, Ava Oswald, Kaylee Bungenstock, Katie Avrett, Emma Ohlensehlen, Delaney Oswald, Mackenzie Oswald, Jaycee Stoner, and Alex Wintz. High school team members honored were: Participation Award – Olivia Woods, Lexi Brown, and Johnny Pickard; and Letters – Trent Frohn, Chase Gayler, Mason Kingery, Captain Chloe Vernon, and Lily Terry.
Social Studies Awards: Top Point Earners – Geography, Ava Oswald; Early American History, Delaney Oswald; World History, Deyton Burke; Government, Knox Oswald; and Modern American History, Trent Frohn
Science Awards: Top Point Earners – 7th Grade, Wendy Hurst; 8th Grade, Delaney Oswald; Physical Science, Deyton Burke; Biology, Elsey Rogers; Chemistry, Mason Kingery; and Excellence – 7th Grade, Wendy Hurst, Zach Koop, and Zailynn Cook, 8th Grade, Delaney Oswald and Emma Ohlensehlen, and High School, Deyton Burke, Jude Long, Riley Koop, Elsey Rogers, Knox Oswald, Mason Kingery, Chase Gayler, Chloe Vernon, and Trent Frohn
Agricultural Awards; Top Point Earners – Wendy Hurst, Delaney Oswald, Deyton Burke, Elsey Rogers, Chloe Vernon, Tate Johnson, and Alex Martin; and Outstanding Students – Parker Woodring, Katie Avrett, Emma Ohlensehlen, Lela Wright, Olivia Woods, Emma Vance, Leila Knight, Alex Martin, and Tate Johnson
Family and Consumer Sciences Awards: Entrepreneurship – Knox Oswald and Damon Drummond; Nutrition – Carter Oswald; International Foods- Tate Johnson; and General Foods – Emma Vance
Yearbook Recognition: Editors – Joaquin Hill and Piper Morris and staff members – Austin Helfers, Lexi Brown, Tabby Chaney, Kenneth Kirkpatrick, Johnny Pickard, Chase Gayler, and Trent Frohn
Yearbook Dedication: Dixie Stoner
FCCLA Awards: First Year Awards – Olivia Woods, Brenna Kingery, Avery Fast, and Chloe Vernon; Second Year Awards – Elsey Rogers (historian), Carley Graham (secretary) and members Tyler Duering, Ace Allen, and Brady Umbarger; Third Year Awards – Lexi Brown and Trent Frohn (co-vice-presidents) and Erin Eyman (president)
Physical Education: Top Point Earners – Weights, Mason Kingery; High School P.E., Deyton Burke; and Junior High P.E., Alex Wintz and Mackenzie Oswald
275 Scholar Athlete: Tate Johnson
CTA Scholarship: Tate Johnson
Atchison County Development Corporation Scholarship: Tate Johnson
Fairfax Baptist Church Miller Scholarship: Austin Helfers, Tate Johnson, Amelia Larson, and Piper Morris
Fairfax Methodist Church Charles and Pauline Arnold Scholarship: Amelia Larson
Kenny Oliver Optimist Club Scholarship: Amelia Larson
National Honor Society Scholarship: Tate Johnson
Class of 1984 Shawn Ireland Memorial Scholarship: Joaquin Hill
A+ Scholarship: Austin Helfers, Joaquin Hill, Tate Johnson, and Amelia Larson
Kansas State University – Wildcat Nonresident Scholarship and Engineering Scholarship: Piper Morris
Northwest Missouri State University Distinguished Scholar Award, A+ Scholarship, and Adopt-A-Bearcat Scholarship: Tate Johnson
Peru State College No Boundaries Scholarship, Ken Good Scholarship, Norma J. Fensler Memorial Scholarship, and Sapp Family Campus Scholarship: Austin Helfers
Dodie Acklie Nakajima Memorial Scholarship: Amelia Larson
University of Nebraska-Lincoln – Teacher Scholars Academy Scholarship and Legacy Scholarship: Amelia Larson
Hayden Pyeatt Memorial Scholarship: Tate Johnson
Adah Pyeatt Memorial Schol-arship: Amelia Larson
Louis Bell Scholarship: Austin Helfers
IV Bats Scholarship: Amelia Larson
Fairfax Christian Church Grace Finch Scholarship: Amelia Larson and Austin Helfers
Mollie J. and Nelson G. Allen Scholarship: Amelia Larson
M. David Palmeiro Scholarship: Tate Johnson
