Chemistry Teacher Named Regional Teacher of the Year Finalist

Dr. Brad Miller, a chemistry teacher at Kearney High School and the 2026 Kearney School District Teacher of the Year, has been named a finalist in the Kansas City Regional Teacher of the Year selection process.

The honor places Dr. Miller among a standout group of educators from across the Kansas City region. After reviewing and scoring applications from outstanding teachers throughout the area, the regional selection committee selected six Regional Teachers of the Year and specifically recognized Dr. Miller as a finalist in what was described as an extraordinarily strong field.

Dr. Miller exemplifies those qualities through 17 years of service in public education, including the past seven years at Kearney High School. Known for pairing high expectations with humor, patience and steady encouragement, he helps students see that struggling with challenging material is not a failure, but an important part of learning and discovering what they are capable of accomplishing.

“Brad is the rare teacher who raises the bar while making students feel capable of reaching it,” KHS Principal Dr. Andy Gustafson said.

His impact extends well beyond the chemistry classroom. Dr. Miller regularly tutors students after school, creates engaging learning experiences such as his Chemist of the Year Bracket and helped spearhead the KHS Day of Service. This year, more than 400 students took part in 27 service projects benefiting organizations and neighbors throughout the community.

Dr. Miller will be honored during the Kansas City Regional Teacher of the Year celebration luncheon on July 15. He has also been invited to participate in Teacher Academy, an individualized professional learning experience that gives excellent teachers opportunities to collaborate, strengthen their instructional practices and explore ideas and challenges that matter deeply to them.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Hall of Fame Golf Tournament Set for June 25

Kearney High School supporters will have the chance to hit the links this summer while supporting the school’s Hall of Fame program during the 2026 Kearney High School Hall of Fame Golf Tournament on Thursday, June 25, at Club Marimack in Kearney.

Registration will begin at 8:00 a.m., followed by a 9:00 a.m. shotgun start. The tournament will use a four-person scramble format and is limited to the first 18 teams to register. The cost is $240 per team, and teams may sign up and pay online using the event’s QR code.

A catered BBQ lunch will be provided for participants, making the event an opportunity for golfers, alumni, families and community members to gather in support of Kearney High School activities.

Businesses and individuals may also support the tournament through several sponsorship levels. The Hall of Fame Tournament Sponsor package is available for $1,200 and includes a free four-person team entry, a banner at the Club Marimack entry point and recognition as the title sponsor.

Platinum sponsorships are available for $600, with four total opportunities for driving range or beverage cart sponsorships. These sponsors will receive signage at the driving range or on a beverage cart. Gold solo hole sponsorships are available for $400, with 17 total opportunities, and include sole signage on a tournament hole.

Purple course signage sponsorships are also available for $100 if hole sponsorships do not sell out.

For questions about registration or sponsorships, contact the Kearney High School Activities Office at 816-628-3647.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Missouri Scholars Academy Selects Trio of Bulldogs

Three Kearney High School students have been selected to participate in the 2026 Missouri Scholars Academy, one of the state’s most prestigious academic enrichment programs for gifted students.The students who have been selected are Brenley Cartwright, Joshua Robinson, and Konnor Spring.

The Missouri Scholars Academy is a three-week residential summer program held at the University of Missouri that brings together some of the state’s most academically talented students as they prepare to enter their junior year of high school.

Each year, approximately 330 students from across Missouri are selected to participate in the Academy, where they engage in an intensive academic experience featuring interdisciplinary coursework, collaborative problem-solving and discussions of contemporary issues.

Students choose a major and minor area of study and spend their days exploring challenging topics in fields such as mathematics, science, humanities and social studies, while also participating in a variety of co-curricular activities designed to deepen their learning and connect them with peers from across the state.

Selection for the Missouri Scholars Academy is a tremendous honor and reflects the academic talent, curiosity and dedication these students have demonstrated throughout their time at Kearney High School.

KPGZ News – Ray Weikal contributed to this story.

Seven Kearney Athletes Make it Official on Signing Day

Seven Kearney High School Student Athletes were celebrated on Signing Day, November 20, 2025, at Kearney High School. Athletes met with visitors and showed off their memories and accomplishments in the Bulldog Arena lobby. Coaches and teachers introduced the athletes before they put pen to paper signing their letters of intent to compete in various sports at the college level.

Addison Fischer

Addison committed to Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville to play soccer.

Chloe Garrett

Chloe has signed to play softball at Stephens College in Columbia, MO. She helped the Kearney Softball team finish in 2nd Place in the Class 4 State Final game this year.

Kate Landewee

Kate committed to play softball at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, MO. Kate set several records at Kearney High School. She holds the single season record for strikeouts at 268. She also has a career record of pitching wins with 51 wins. She also sits in 2nd place for career strikeouts with 541.

Brooke Paalhar

Brooke has signed to play softball at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. Brooke has set several records in her high school softball career including First Team All-District, First Team All-Conference, First Team All-Region, First Team All-State, 2025 State 2nd Place, Class 4 MSHSAA career hits, single season doubles, single season hits, single season batting average, career hits, career RBIs, career doubles, and career batting average.

Alyssa Quick

Alyssa committed to play softball at Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky. Alyssa also set records at Kearney. She holds the Kearney High School softball record for single season RBI’s 60, beating the old record of 50 RBIs. She also holds the single season records for home runs. Last year she held the record with 12 and she broke her own record, making 18 home runs this year.

Brock Scott

Brock has signed to play baseball at Newman University in Wichita, KS.

Whitaker Steward

Whitaker committed to compete in swimming at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. He holds five of the eight school records in individual swim events at Kearney High School and has won seven State Championships and is the 2nd male to win a State Championship all four years of his high school career at Kearney. Whitaker also owns the overall state record in the 500 Freestyle, he has the Class 1 state record in the 200 Freestyle, and he qualified for the Olympic trials at 16 years old and made the Junior National Team this year.

KPGZ News - Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Kearney High School Celebrates Class of 2025 Graduation

Kearney High School proudly celebrated the graduation of 248 seniors on Sunday, May 18, 2025, marking a significant milestone for the Class of 2025. The commencement ceremony took place at 2:00 pm at Kearney High School.

The event was a culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and perseverance by the students, faculty, and families. Principal Andrew Gustafson addressed the graduates, commending them for their achievements and encouraging them to pursue their future endeavors with passion and integrity.

“To all of the Kearney High School Class of 2025, take the knowledge and skills you have learned and create your own path. Step up to adversity along the way and step up to life. Make yourself proud.”

Kearney High School now classifies graduates with the Latin system which means 19 students graduated summa cum laude, with a GPA of 4.0 or above. 68 students were classified magna cum laude with a GPA of 3.75 – 3.99. 38 students graduated cum laude with a GPA of 3.5 – 3.74.

The ceremony featured the senior speech by Drew Wilson, musical performances by the school's choir, and the traditional turning of the tassels. Families and friends gathered to celebrate the graduates' accomplishments and to wish them well as they embark on the next chapter of their lives.

Kearney High School's Class of 2025 has demonstrated resilience and adaptability, qualities that will serve them well in their future academic and professional pursuits. The school community extends its heartfelt congratulations to all the graduates and their families.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.