Amy Howe

At just five years old, Carl Junction’s Cyrus Erie is training for his first 5k alongside his dad—turning runs into adventures, setbacks into resilience, and every finish line into a celebration of grit, joy, and family.

With a grant from the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas, special education teacher Rylee Crain transformed an unused office at Park Elementary in Columbus into a sensory room. This new space provides all students with essential tools for emotional regulation, leading to a significant decrease in behavioral issues and an increase in their readiness to learn.

Will Jewett, a performer from Pittsburg, Kansas, has achieved his dream of joining the North American tour of Hamilton, playing Charles Lee and understudying King George III. From discovering dance at age 11 to earning a BFA in Musical Theatre from Penn State, Will’s journey is a testament to hard work, resilience, and the power of storytelling. With experience in productions like Back to the Future: The Musical and the Mean Girls movie, he balances the excitement of live theater with his small-town roots, inspiring others to chase their dreams and "fail forward."