Kearney Senior Wins Top Prize in Design Contest

Kearney High School senior Amara Miles has won a Northland-wide T-shirt design contest tied to FIFA World Cup 2026™ festivities, earning the opportunity for up to $12,500 in scholarships from Park University and seeing her design featured on shirts sold at watch party events across the Northland.

seniors Scout Pimblott and Amara Miles. Photo by Ray Weikal

Go North KC and Park University announced May 7 that Miles received the grand prize in the contest, which was held this spring among high school students throughout the Northland. Voting took place online and in person at the North Kansas City Snake Parade.

As the top vote-getter, Miles will be offered a $5,000 renewable and stackable scholarship from Park University. Combined with other scholarship opportunities and based on her current GPA, the award could total $12,500 if she attends Park University and maintains a GPA of 2.0 or higher. Her winning design will appear on T-shirts sold at all seven Northland FIFA World Cup 2026™ watch parties.

Park University is also offering scholarships to the top 12 participants in the contest. The remaining 11 finalists will each be offered a $1,000 renewable and stackable scholarship that can be combined with other Park University awards, including academic scholarships, A+ scholarships and campus visit incentives.

Two other Kearney High School students were also recognized among the contest runners-up: senior Scout Pimblott and junior Ruby Mendel.

Jennifer Goering, executive director of the Platte County Convention and Visitors Bureau, said the contest reflected the collaborative spirit behind Go North KC and highlighted the artistic talent in local schools.

“From the start, Go North KC’s mantra has been ‘we are better together,’” Goering said. “This contest showcased the phenomenal artists at our area high schools, and we can’t wait to see the winning design on our watch party T-shirts. Thank you to Park University for its generous scholarship offer to the winning artist.”

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.