Saline County Students Madeline Baier, Lilly Duran and Jose Pinedo De La Torre Named Rudd Scholars

Three students from Saline County schools named 2026 Rudd Scholars

Three students from Saline County schools have been named 2026 Rudd Scholars, earning one of the state’s most competitive scholarship awards. The Rudd Foundation’s winners list includes Madeline Baier and Lilly Duran of Southeast of Saline High School and Jose Pinedo De La Torre of Salina High School South.

The Rudd Scholars program provides a full-ride scholarship package for qualifying Kansas students. According to the foundation, the award covers tuition, room and board, books, supplies, and other costs, along with additional development and networking support.

Southeast of Saline publicly congratulated Baier and Duran after the announcement, while Salina South also recognized Pinedo De La Torre as a recipient of the scholarship.

The three local students are part of the foundation’s 2026 Rudd Scholars class, which includes students from across Kansas heading to partner universities in the state.