By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Ellinwood fourth grader Kambree Johnson is making a difference. A Kans for Kids Warrior, Kambree Johnson is Eagle Media's first winner of the 2024-25 school year in the Make a Difference Contest. Her good deed came in helping out the organization that is helping her and other cancer warriors.
"(I make a difference by) helping collect pop cans for the Kans for Kids can bin to help others, she said."
As a winner in the Make a Difference Contest, Kambree was handed a Great Bend Chamber gift certificate worth $100. Her Ellinwood Grade School teacher, Rebecca Hoffhines, also received a $100 Visa gift card. Teacher and student have known each other for several years.
"We do families here at the grade school with different kids in different grade levels all meeting on Wednesdays," said Hoffhines. "She's in my family so it's like I've gotten to interact with her from kindergarten until now she's in my class."
Contest forms were distributed to Barton County elementary schools in August. Eligible students can enter the contest by filling out the form and stating how they are making a difference in the world around them. Winners are randomly selected with the student winning a $100 chamber certificate and the nominating teacher winning a $100 Visa gift card. New winners will be drawn each month through May.
The winning student will also get a visit from Eagle Media staff and be featured on a radio news broadcast. This year's contest is powered by the following sponsors:
Medical Park Pharmacy, Mayo Money Management, Hazmat Response, Protective Equipment Testing Lab, R&R Roofing, Freedom Claims Management, Inc., Rosencrantz-Bemis Water Well Company, Stone Sand Company/Stone Waste Management, Miller Plastics/Miller Warehouse, Nex-Tech Wireless, USD #431 Hoisington, Great Bend Redi Mix, Heavy Duty Diesel & Auto, USD #428 Great Bend.