Two Kingfisher County seniors are among the 100 Academic All-State Award winners for 2020 selected by the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence.

Lomega senior Connor Walker, the son ofJake and Cara Walker, and Kingfisher senior Harrison Themer, the son of Dennis and Tammy Themer, were selected from 495 nominations statewide.

The 2020 Academic AllState class is the 34th to be selected by the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence.

Since the award program’s inception in 1987, some 3,400 high school seniors from 326 school districts have been named Academic All-State scholars.

Each of this year’s AllStaters will receive a $1,000 merit-based scholarship and a medallion.

The All-Staters will be recognized at the foundation’s 34th annual Academic Awards Banquet on Saturday, May 16, at the Embassy Suites Conference Center in Norman.

Cathryn Render, president of the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence, describes the selection of the scholars as “Oklahoma’s most rigorous academic competition.” To be nominated for Academic AllState, students must meet one of the following criteria: an ACT composite score of at least 30; a combined SAT evidence-based reading, writing and math score of at least 1370, or be selected as a semi-finalist for a National Merit, National Achievement or National Hispanic Scholarship.

Academic All-Staters are selected based on academic achievement, exliacurricular activities and community involvement, as well as letters of recommendation and an essay submitted by each nominee.

Connor Walker

With an exceptional record as both a scholar and athlete as well as an extensive list of community service and leadership roles, it’s not surprising that Connor Walker was voted by the faculty and student body as Mr. LHS.

The title is presented annually to the school’s top all-around male student.

Walker was the sole recipient of the Samsung Scholarship at Oklahoma Boys State and one of only 10 finalists in the country for Samsung’s national scholarship.

He’s served as both president and vice president of his LHS class, president of student council and captain of the academic quiz bowl team and was an all-conference team member and two-year recipient of the high scorer award.

As a scholastic team member, he was named Oklahoma history and financial literacy champion at the Southwestern Interscholastic Meet, as well as runner up in both categories at the high school tournament of champions, in addition to numerous other awards.

Walker is a member of the Oklahoma and National honor societies, a five-time student of the month and a four-year member of the superintendent’s honor roll.

He’s put technology skills to use as a member of the school’s robotics team and as a four-year IT volunteer for both the school district and for elderly community members.

Walker serves as captain of the boys’ basketball team and also participates on the state runner-up cross country team and track and is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Walker also is active in FFA, earning a proficiency award in Environmental Science and Natural Resources entrepreneurship.

His volunteer activities include serving as a member of the Youth Action Council, leader in the Lomega Community Youth Group, member of the Safe School Leadership Board, volunteer for the Lomega Community Vacation Bible School and organizer of other local events.

Harrison Themer

Harrison Themer was recently notified that he is a National Merit Scholarship finalist, ranking among the top 1 % in the nation among this year’s graduating seniors.

He has been named student of the month three times and received recognition for top grades in a number of classes.

Active in FFA, where he serves as chapter reporter, Harrison also is a nationally accredited parliamentarian, earning a perfect score on the National FFA Parliamentary Procedure exam.

Themer has collected a number of other state and national FFA honors.

He holds two national championships, as a member of the conduct of chapter meetings team and in agriscience, two semifinalist awards as a member of the parliamentary procedure and marketing teams, and was a national talent qualifier.

Themer holds six FFA state championships, on the junior and senior parliamentary procedure, marketing plan, quiz bowl and ag issues forum teams and as an indi-vidual award in agriscience. He’s also won a number of area and regional FFA awards.

Themer serves as chapter vice president of National Honor Society and is a member of Oklahoma Honor Society. He was selected as the KHS delegate to the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Conference.

He also is a member of the Jacket basketball team, former state champions and current contenders, and the state-qualifying cross country team.

He was a national FFA talent qualifier, playing at the national convention.

He’s also performed the National Anthem before state basketball playoff games and is a regul ar in the worship band at Kingfisher Church of the Nazarene, where he and his family attend church.

Themer also is active in youth group and has led worship bands at Nazarene youth camps in addition to other local community service.