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.

The City of Kearney is thrilled to announce Cleats & Beats, a premier community FanFest, watch party, and concert event set for Friday, June 19, 2026, at Jesse James Park beginning at 11 am. This high-energy celebration brings together the excitement of the world’s biggest sporting event with the best in local entertainment, offering a unique experience for soccer fans and neighbors alike.

As soccer fever sweeps the nation, Kearney proudly invites the community to a special public screening of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ match between the USA and Australia. One of seven Northland locations participating in a live viewing partnership with GONorthKC, the city is bringing the global game to its own backyard on a massive outdoor screen.

“Cleats & Beats is designed to bring that stadium-sized energy right here to our local park,” said Mayor Randy Pogue. “Whether you’re a die-hard soccer fan or just looking for a great once-in-a-lifetime event out with your neighbors, this event has something for everyone. We are honored to partner with GONorthKC to ensure Kearney is a destination for fans across the region.”

Following the match, the celebration continues with the "Beats" portion of the event. High-energy party band The Bangerz will take the stage, performing a non-stop set of fan favorites, while a live DJ keeps the atmosphere electric well into the afternoon and evening.

Attendees can look forward to an array of activities and amenities, including:

Food Trucks & Concessions: Enjoy a variety of local flavors and game-day snacks.
Selfie Stations: Capture memories with custom-designed photo ops for friends and family.
Fan Zone: Participate in interactive activities and concessions for fans of all ages, including a drop-in soccer camp with international coaches from Challenger Sports from 11:30 am – 1 pm.

Admission to Cleats & Beats is free to the public. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets for seating. Gates at Jesse James Park will open early to allow fans to secure their spots before kickoff.

For more information and a full schedule of the day’s events, visit kearneymo.us or follow the City of Kearney on social media.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.