By DIANE GASPER-O'BRIEN

dobrien@dailynews.net

Hays High School's Megan Adams came oh so close to pulling off a huge upset Wednesday.

Adams, a junior at HHS, finished a close runner-up in the regional competition of the Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest in Colby.

Winning the regional contest and moving on to state, March 13 in Topeka, was Gray Henry from Colby High.

Henry also is a junior but has extensive experience in speaking in front of an audience. He won the 2008 Class 4A state poetry championship in forensics as a sophomore last year.

"Oh, my goodness, she was awesome," regional coordinator Linda Jones said when she learned that Adams is in just her first year of forensics.

"When we totaled the points, (Adams) was just a few points behind," said Jones, an English teacher at Colby. "And one of the judges said, 'I hope she gets another chance.' I hope she sticks with it. She's a natural talent."

Kathy Wagoner, an English teacher at Hays High who started the local contest this year, agreed.

"I was really proud of (Adams)," Wagoner said. "She did a really good job, especially considering this is her first year in forensics."

Henry now will get the chance to win $200, which goes to the state champion, who also earns an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., for the national finals.

The state champion's school also will receive $500 to spend toward the purchase of poetry books.

TMP hosts indoor tailgate party

The Fine Arts Booster Club at Thomas More Prep-Marian High School is sponsoring an indoor tailgate party Friday in the canteen area of Al Billinger Fieldhouse.

A freewill offering can be given, rather than buying a ticket, for a selection of hamburgers, hotdogs, chips, cookies and drinks. Serving time will be from 5 to 7:30 p.m.

Friday also is "Fill the Fieldhouse Night," sponsored by the school's Sports Booster Club, for the games with long-time Mid-State Activities Association rival Pratt.

The freshman boys' game kicks off the evening's action at 4:30 p.m., followed by the varsity girls, the varsity boys.

Kohl's sponsoring scholarship program

Know a student who is making a difference in his or her community?

You can reward those acts of kindness or service by nomination a student for the Kohl's Kids Who Care Scholarship Program.

Nearly $350,000 in scholarships and prizes will be awarded to more than 2,000 youth ages 6 through 18 for making a difference.

The program, started in 2001, has awarded more than 9,000 scholarships and $1.8 million to you volunteers nationwide.

Nominations will be accepted through March 15.

Two nominees from each of Kohl's 1,004 department stores will win a $50 Kohl's gift card, and about 200 of them will win regional scholarship worth $1,00 toward post-secondary education.

Ten national winners will be recognized with $5,000 scholarships, and Kohl's will give $1,000 to a nonprofit organization on behalf of each national winner.

Nomination forms can be found on the Internet at www.kohlskids.com.

TMP senior nominated for leadership award

Thomas More Prep-Marian High School senior Brandon Beck has been nominated for the 2009 National Principal's Leadership Award scholarship program.

One hundred PLA winners will be chosen this spring to receive college scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $12,000.

High school principals across the country are able to nominate one of their student leaders for the award sponsored by the National Association of Secondary School Principals and Herff Jones Inc.

Kathy Taylor, guidance counselor at TMP-Marain, said that each year she gets with the principal and makes recommendations for the school's nominee.

"The criteria are pretty high," Taylor said, "so it's an honor to be nominated for this award."

The PLA scholarship recognizes the importance of a well-rounded education, stressing that co-curricular activities are an essential part of the school curriculum.

Beck definitely fits into the well-rounded category.

An honor student, Beck's long list of activities in which he has participated in school and the community range from service to music (both vocal and instrumental), from religious to athletics. He has narrowed his choices of colleges to Kansas State University and the University of Kansas.