Butler’s Early College Academy Celebrates 2026 Graduates

Butler Community College honored 125 students during the Early College Academy (ECA) graduation celebration on Saturday, May 9, recognizing graduates who completed college-level coursework while still in high school.

The ECA offers high school students a head start in their academic and career journeys through a variety of pathway and certificate options. Students spend part of their day at their respective high schools and the remainder on a Butler campus, including El Dorado, Andover or Rose Hill, depending on their chosen pathway.

Professor of Biology Melissa Elliott delivered faculty remarks during the ceremony, encouraging graduates to embrace their individuality and perseverance.

“Each of you faced challenges that tested your resolve. Each of you had moments that tested your ability,” Elliott said. “You didn’t come this far to remain comfortable. The world does not need you to be smaller, it needs you to be exactly as you are.”

Jonas Petrusevicius of Wichita, Jenna Moore of Towanda and Remynton Fowler of Derby each spoke about their time in the ECA, detailing how their studies, teachers and peers shaped their experience.

Dr. Caroline Beach, Butler’s director of high school programs, said the celebration recognized the determination and commitment students demonstrated throughout the program.

“We recognize the dedication, courage, and commitment of our Early College Academy graduates,” Beach said. “These students took on the challenge of college-level coursework while still in high school and showed remarkable maturity, determination, and drive along the way. We are incredibly proud of each of them and excited to celebrate this milestone together.”

To view the photo album, visit https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCTFMe.

2026 Early College Academy graduation candidates listed by hometown, along with high school and major: 

Andover

Hannah Collinsworth - Andover Central High School - Liberal Arts 
Lucy Geier - Andover Central High School - Pre-Nursing 
Sydney Mayginnes - Andover Central High School - Liberal Arts 
Rylee Palacio - Andover High School - Liberal Arts 
Brooklynn Rodarte - Andover eCademy - Pre-Nursing 
Megan Smart - Andover Central High School - Liberal Arts 
Hannah Smay - Andover eCademy - Pre-Nursing 
Carson Tasker - Andover High School - Software Development 
Allana Wentworth - Andover Central High School - Liberal Arts 

Augusta

Hunter Athy-Sedbrook - Augusta High School - Liberal Arts 
Nathan Ebenkamp - Augusta High School - Engineering Studies 
Maci Edwards - Augusta High School - Engineering Studies 
Caden Gilbert - Augusta High School - Diesel Technology 
Rylee McClanahan - Augusta High School - Liberal Arts 
Paxton Nelson - Augusta High School - Engineering Studies 
Corbin Shillinger - Augusta High School - Liberal Arts 
Kirsten “Ace" Sims - Augusta High School - Business Studies 
Heidi Skaer - Augusta High School - Liberal Arts 
Michael Smithwick - Circle High School - Business Studies 
Jase Thomas - Augusta High School - Health Science/Pre-Med 
Caleb Warren - Augusta High School - Liberal Arts 

Benton 

Zachary Berry - Circle High School - Agriculture 
Madeleine Meier - Home School - Business Studies 

Cassoday 

Ataya Nesser - Flinthills High School - Game and Simulation Development 

Derby 

Ayanna Basu - Derby High School - Business Studies 
Michaela Blankenship - Derby High School - Liberal Arts  
Lauren Brown - Derby High School - Education 
Mason Campbell - Rose Hill High School - Pre-Health  
Zoie Christiansen - Derby High School - Education 
Hayden Clark - Derby High School - Liberal Arts 
Ella Davidson - Derby High School - Liberal Arts 
Faith Davy - Derby High School - Pre-Nursing 
Brooke Downs - Derby High School - Pre-Nursing  
Remyngton Fowler - Derby High School - Pre-Health 
Camryn Gonzalez - Derby High School - Pre-Nursing 
Hunter Heckart - Mulvane High School - Pre-Nursing 
Alixzandria Henard - Derby High School - Liberal Arts 
Leven Jones - Rose Hill High School - Pre-Nursing  
Isabel Kippenberger - Derby High School - Pre-Nursing 
Kelsey Loomis - Andover eCademy - Pre-Health  
Paris Phillips - Derby High School - Liberal Arts 
Scarlett Powell - Derby High School - Liberal Arts 
Madison Quade - Derby High School - Education 
Andrea Reyes-Garcia - Derby High School - Liberal Arts 
Abigail Shiblom - Derby High School - Liberal Arts 
Ashlyn Snead - Derby High School - Liberal Arts 
Ashlyn Stout - Andover eCademy - Liberal Arts 
Chloe Stuhlsatz - Derby High School - Liberal Arts 
Peyton Tatum - Mulvane High School - Liberal Arts  
Dane Torneden - Derby High School - Liberal Arts 

Douglass

Colton Bailey - Rose Hill High School - Welding Technology 
Addison (Addie) Ford - Augusta High School - Liberal Arts 
Kinley Schouten - Douglass High School - Education 
Graeson Walter - Douglass High School - Business Studies 
Elijah Wasson - Douglass High School - Education 
Hailey Zoucha - Douglass High School - Pre-Nursing 

El Dorado 

Lily Hamel - Circle High School - Business Studies 
Hailey Keeton - Augusta High School - Pre-Nursing 
Cash Killian - Circle High School - Pre-Health Science 
Thomas McLendon - Circle High School - Engineering Studies 
Kolton Parish - Circle High School - Business Studies 

Garden Plain 

Aaron Weber - Garden Plain High School - Softward Development 
Briannah Weber - Garden Plain High School - Liberal Arts 

Haysville 

Ella Gardner - Derby High School - Liberal Arts 

Mulvane 

Caleb Boor - Mulvane High School - Pre-Nursing 
Grace Carpenter - Mulvane High School - Liberal Arts 
Braxton Frazier - Rose Hill High School - Liberal Arts  
Blake Grieve - Mulvane High School - Engineering Studies 
Teagan Heersche - Mulvane High School - Pre-Nursing 
Ellyana Irvine - Mulvane High School - Pre-Nursing 
Jacyndah Jennings - Mulvane High School - Pre-Health 
Erica Rico - Mulvane High School - Liberal Arts 
Kylie Schwanke - Mulvane High School - Pre-Nursing 
McKenzie Storment - Mulvane High School - Liberal Arts 
Sadie Williams - Mulvane High School - Liberal Arts 

Park City 

Arianna Hutfles - Home School - Pre-Nursing  

Rose Hill 

Abigail Gwaltney - Rose Hill High School - Pre-Nursing 
Natalie Hernandez-Rodela - Rose Hill High School - Pre-Health 
Teegan Hobson - Rose Hill High School - Business Studies 
Addison Hommertzeim - Rose Hill High School - Liberal Arts 
Natalie Koehn - Rose Hill High School - Pre-Nursing 
Kolbie McEwen - Rose Hill High School - Education 
Ethan Racchini - Rose Hill High School - Welding Technology 
Rylan Ramsey - Rose Hill High School - Pre-Health  
Avery Sims - Andover Central High School - Pre-Nursing  
Matthew Weber - Rose Hill High School - Liberal Arts 

Towanda 

Lennon Farner - Circle High School - Pre-Nursing 
Leah Moore - Circle High School - Engineering Studies 
Jenna Moore - Circle High School - Liberal Arts online 
Vance Wheeler - Circle High School - Welding Technology  

Udall 

Josie Palmer - Rose Hill High School - Pre-Nursing 

Valley Center  

Kennedy Crain - Valley Center High School - Health Science/Pre-Med 

Whitewater 

Keeson Entz - Remington High School - Education 

Wichita

Laylah Allen - Derby High School - Liberal Arts 
Blaire Allen - Derby High School - Education 
Berkley Beims - Andover Central High School - Liberal Arts 
Zachary Bland - Derby High School - Liberal Arts 
Cameron Boyer - Derby High School - Pre-Nursing  
Lily Clendenin - Home School - Culinary 
AvaLea Cox - Belle Plaine High School - Pre-Nursing 
Kendall Dame - Andover Central High School - Liberal Arts 
Kelly Dark - Andover High School - Business Studies 
Rylee Emmons - Andover High School - Liberal Arts 
Paul Evans - Andover High School - Business Studies 
Paige Gawith - Andover Central High School - Liberal Arts 
Gavin Gomez - Augusta High School - Diesel Technology 
Reese Gunnarson - Rose Hill High School - Pre-Nursing  
Terrian Hallowell - Derby High School - Pre-Health 
Sammi Hanning - Rose Hill High School - Business Studies 
Jayden Hoang - Northeast Magnet High School - Engineering Studies 
Mia Jaramillo - Andover High School - Liberal Arts 
Emily Kauffman - Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic High School - Liberal Arts 
Aiden Kirchert - Home School - Engineering Studies 
Brooklyn Knox - Derby High School - Pre-Health 
Ethan Kramer - Andover Central High School - Engineering Studies 
Ava Lofgreen - Andover Central High School - Liberal Arts 
Rianna Madhu - Andover Central High School - Pre-Health 
MyTam Nguyen - Andover High School - Pre-Health 
Jonas Petrusevicius - Derby High School - Business Studies 
Ryann Poe - Eisenhower High School - Liberal Arts 
Ezra Sayavongsa - Wichita Southeast High School - Culinary 
Jaslene Sot - Wichita Southeast High School - Culinary 
Tam Stephens - Life Prep Academy - Liberal Arts 
Mattie Webb - Derby High School - Education 
Lila Wheeler - Rose Hill High School - Pre-Nursing