The Kansas Association for Youth Alumni Network (KAYAN) is proud to announce the inaugural class of the Cheryl Gleason KAY Leadership Camp Staff Hall of Fame. Named in honor of Former Kansas Association for Youth (KAY) State Director Cheryl Gleason, this Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have made tremendous contributions to the KAY program through their involvement in KAY Leadership Camp. All inductees have served on the Camp Staff for 25 or more years or served with distinction as a past State Director. The 2021 inductees are the following:
| Hall of Fame Inductee |
Current City |
Hometown |
Years of Service to KAY Leadership Camp Staff |
| Wanda May Vinson |
Posthumous |
Topeka |
35 (KAY Founder and Former State Director) |
| Maxine Sebelius |
Posthumous |
Almena |
29 |
| Elizabeth Oyer |
Posthumous |
Arizona |
25 |
| M. Dorothy Craig |
Posthumous |
Wichita |
25 |
| E. Denise (Bray) Akins |
Lawrence |
Coffeyville |
35 |
| Jackie (Leap) Smith |
Iola |
Iola |
31 |
| H. Deana McClure |
Olathe |
Osawatomie |
26 |
| Claire Casselman |
Ann Arbor, MI |
Hiawatha |
16 (Former KAY State Director) |
| Phillip J. Figgs |
Sabetha |
Sabetha |
25 |
| Kelly (Patrick) Garcia |
Edmond, OK |
Derby |
25 |
| Teresa Clounch |
Hays |
Iola |
26 |
| Chris (Brown) Fantasky |
Grove, OK |
Moscow |
31 |
| Jenny (Wilson) White |
Wilson, OK |
Kiowa |
31 |
| Trish (Teel) Bandre |
Salina |
Garnett |
34 |
| Carol (Mader) Lutz |
Richmond |
Garnett |
34 |
| Marlene Cailteux |
Lenexa |
Clyde |
38 |
| Linda (Luginbill) Janzen |
Burrton |
Burrton |
41 |
| Kim (Johnson) Oatney |
Waterville |
Concordia |
41 |
| Karla (Bender) Leibham |
Lenexa |
Great Bend |
43 |
| Cheryl Gleason |
Topeka |
Columbus |
50 (Former KAY State Director) |
"It's an incredible honor and privilege to be included in this amazing group of leaders," said Marlene Cailteux, one of the Hall of Fame inductees and the current KAYAN President. "As our organization celebrates its 75
th Anniversary this year, it is amazing to reflect on the great opportunity we have had to work with thousands of Kansas youth as we help to develop young leaders with a passion for service."
KAYAN is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization that was founded in 2012 to Preserve, Utilize, Maintain, and Promote (P.U.M.P) the KAY organization. Comprised of KAY Alumni, KAYAN serves as a resource to Kansas schools and KAY clubs in many ways, including administering the Be the Spark grant opportunity in partnership with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas that allows student-led initiatives to promote a healthy lifestyle, granting annual camp scholarships to send students to Leadership Camp, providing annual conference support, facilitating service projects in Kansas communities, and so much more. KAY is a character building, leadership training, service organization that is unique to the state of Kansas and sponsored by the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) Any student at a KSHSAA-member school is eligible to participate in this organization, which challenges student leaders to make a positive difference in their schools, community, nation, and world. For more information, visit www.kayankansas.org.