Ben Lerner honed his mastery of the word through the THS debate program, where he earned national titles. Since then, he has written eight books of poetry and three novels while teaching English as a Distinguished Professor at Brooklyn College. His writing has earned him fellowships from the Guggenheim, MacArthur, and Fulbright Foundations, which took him to Spain.

Ben created his own undergraduate curriculum at Brown University to complete a degree in political theory. He went on to earn a master’s in poetry. His new book of poetry, The Lights, was published last fall.

His most recent novel, The Topeka School, won numerous accolades, including the Los Angeles Times Book Award, and he has been a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Fiction.

Mary Huntoon (1896-1970) was a pioneer in art therapy, working with Karl Menninger and with patients at Topeka’s veterans’ hospital.

After graduating from Washburn University, she attended classes at the Art Students League of New York. From there she worked and studied in Paris.

Huntoon returned to Topeka in 1931 and continued her art career, including taking part in art projects for the Works Progress Administration during the Great Depression. She also worked with the Birger Sandzen’s Prairie Printmakers.

She taught art therapy at the Menninger Clinic starting in 1934 and at the end of World War II joined the staff at Winter General Hospital to continue that work with veterans.

Her work continues to be an example for artists and art therapists.

Darren is a performer, playwright, and professor. Starting early at Helen Hocker Theatre’s Bath House Players, Darren performed in all THS productions during his high school years. He earned state and national recognition in forensics. His eleven plays have been produced internationally—with his Hardtland premiering with Topeka’s Ad Astra Theater group. His writings center on complex African American families dealing with life altering conflicts in the Midwest during the tumultuous changes of the second half of the 20th Century. His storytelling is legendary as he believes writing about personal experiences makes for a compelling story. Darren earned a BA in creative writing from Carnegie Mellon University, his MFA from New York University, and an Artists’ Diploma from The Juilliard School. Darren is extending his love of education through his position as an Assistant Professor of English at the University of Kansas teaching playwriting and Honors Seminar. His desire to create a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive society is ever present in his teaching and writing.

Larrie Bates demonstrated early leadership skills at Washburn University in his social fraternity Alpha Delta and the AFROTC Drill Team, Sagamore Men’s Honor Society, and the Kaw yearbook. He graduated with a BBA degree and was designated a Distinguished Military Graduate. Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the USAF on the day of graduation. Larrie was a pilot in the USAF, progressing in rank from 2nd Lieutenant to Brigadier General. He accumulated a total of 8,500 flying hours of which 283 were combat support hours in Viet Nam. He completed the Air Command and Staff College and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. After retiring from the Air Force, Larrie joined the National Transportation and Safety Board at its headquarters in Washington, D.C. as the Safety Recommendation Program Administrator of Aviation where his team helped develop safety recommendations for both civilian and commercial aviation. Larrie served as a Trustee of Washburn University’s Foundation Board and his fraternity has awarded him an Alumni of the Year Award

Jack Alexander’s legacy in Topeka stretched from athletics to military, government, and public service. He lettered as a point guard on the Ramblers, Topeka High’s last segregated basketball team, and captained the team his senior year. He worked at Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company after high school before serving in the U.S. Navy from 1952-1956 in communications positions aboard the USS President Jackson. Upon discharge he returned to Goodyear before election as the City of Topeka’s Water Commissioner, the first African American to serve on the city commission (1973-1985). Jack then worked for the State of Kansas until 1996. Jack served the NAACP Topeka Chapter, the Topeka United Way, Shawnee County Community Assistance and Action Agency, and the Kansas Historical Foundation. In 2004 he was appointed State Fire Marshal by Governor Kathleen Sebelius, retiring in 2007. Often recognized as spokesperson for the African American community, he was a tireless promoter of Topeka and organizations seeking to make the community a better place for all citizens.

David G. Woods (THS 1960) is known for his pioneering work in music curriculum development and as an expert in early childhood music education. He has presented workshops, lectures, papers and clinics worldwide.

Dr. Woods earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Washburn University in 1965 and his master’s and Ph.D. in music from Northwestern University. He also studied at the Copenhagen Conservatory of Music and at the Aspen Institute. He is co-author of “Jump Right In!” a comprehensive music series for grades K-8; “Teaching Music in the Twentieth Century”; “Teaching Music in the Twenty-first Century”; and “Creating Curriculum in Music.”

His honors include being named Teacher of the Year in 1981 at Iowa State University and the Governor’s Arts Award from Frank Keating of Oklahoma in 1995.

Dr. Woods remains active in retirement in Topeka with the Topeka Symphony and the Sunflower Music Festival

In the more than two decades since Tommar Wilson (THS 1994) graduated from Carnegie Mellon University, he has trod the boards on Broadway, toured in the cast of “Hamilton,” and made appearances in television shows of all genres. In 2023, he has been busy developing his talents for screenwriting.

Mr. Wilson’s stage credits also include “The Book of Mormon,” “The Music Man,” “Hair,” and “Mamma Mia.” He has appeared on regional theater stages across the United States. In addition to his Bachelor of Fine Arts in acting, Mr. Wilson also graduated from the UCLA Professional Program in TV Drama Writing. Outside the theater, Mr. Wilson has helped raise funds and awareness for Covenant House International, an organization that supports youth facing homelessness and trafficking; the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS; and the Phyllis Newman Women’s Health Initiative in New York City. At THS, Mr. Wilson sang with the Madrigals and appeared in school productions, including “Fiddler on the Roof.”

Wesley Revely (THS 1990) earned a B.S. from Kansas State University and worked for 14 years as a mechanical engineer, systems engineer, and project lead engineer at Lockheed Martin in Eagan, Minnesota. His projects ranged from structural modifications for airplanes to security solutions for New York City Transit. Mr. Revely was awarded six U.S. patents, most of them for innovations in shock-dissipation and shock-isolation systems, and received numerous honors from his employer, including five mission success awards, three “trade secret” awards, and two special recognition awards. Wise, genuine, and caring, Mr. Revely was beloved by his many friends and was the godfather of two of their children. His passion was racing motorcycles, and he enjoyed playing softball and volleyball, fishing, and tinkering with all things mechanical. He passed away in 2010.

Janice Miller Karlin’s 40-year law career took her from civil litigation for the Justice Department to chief of the 10th Circuit Bankruptcy Appeals Court.

After receiving undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Kansas, Mrs. Karlin took a position as assistant U.S. attorney and was with the Department of Justice for 22 years. She also was an adjunct professor of trial practice at the University of Kansas School of Law.

In 2002, Mrs. Karlin was appointed a U.S. bankruptcy judge for the District of Kansas. In 2008, she moved to the appellate bankruptcy court for the 10th Circuit and became its chief justice in 2016, the first woman to hold that position. Throughout her career, she was active in federal and state bar associations and groups for women in the legal profession. The foundation for Mrs. Karlin’s career started with her participation in debate and forensics at THS.

Director of Collections & Curatorial Affairs, American Jazz Museum

After graduating from Topeka High in 1985, Dr. Dina Bennett received her B.A. in Communication Studies from Washburn University, completed her master’s in College Student Personnel from Kansas State University and a Ph. D in Ethnomusicology with a minor in African American & African Diaspora Studies from Indiana University. Bennett has over 30 years of experience in the music field. In 2021, Dr. Bennett became the Director of Collections & Curatorial Affairs of the American Jazz Museum in Kansas City. She is also an accomplished pianist.