2026 "Best Kids in America" Scholarship Presentation

Each year, retired Ritenour teacher Ken Crowder's "Best Kids in America" Scholarship is awarded to a select group of Ritenour High School seniors who are at risk of not graduating on time for any reason. The scholarship is presented by Mr. Crowder each spring. It honors Rodney Berri, one of his students who tragically lost his life in an accident after his eighth-grade year. Selected students have turned things around in their educational journey and this scholarship allows them to change the trajectory of their lives. Members of the scholarship committee also serve as mentors to scholarship recipients. Students in this group who submit an essay and demonstrate that they are willing to work hard and graduate on time are eligible for a $1,000 scholarship through this program. This scholarship has been awarded since the 2016-2017 school year when Mr. Crowder was inducted as a Lifetime Achievement Award recipient in the Ritenour Hall of Fame. On May 12, 2026, Mr. Crowder presented the scholarships to three Ritenour students who will be graduating this spring.