Spring 2013 Honorees

Will Johnson

1988 graduate

William "Will" H. Johnson, Jr., is a life-long Benton resident and serves as the Butler County Administrator, a position held since 2002.  He attended Circle schools K-12.  Following graduation in 1988, he went to Butler Community College on a football scholarship before finishing his playing career at Friends University where he received a degree in Biology and Environmental Sciences.  He later earned a graduate degree in Public Administration from Wichita State University.

Johnson is to be commended for the countless hours he gives to Circle youth by serving as the President of the Benton Sports and Activities Commission.  Along with being active in the Butler County 4H program, hunting and fish are two of his favorite pastimes.  Mr. Johnson is honored to be a guide for the Governors One Shot Turkey Hunt.

One of Johnson's strengths stems from his belief in giving back to the community.  He volunteers in Butler County and across the state on numerous boards and organizations.  He and he wife, Estell, have four children (Nick, Erin, Emma and Weston).

When asked to name the most important thing he learned while attending Circle, Johnson replied, "There are too many favorites, but the single greatest memory I have is of the coaches, faculty, and staff who always took a personal and supportive interest in me and my activities; not only during high school but still to this day.  There were and are so many wonderful people at Circle and I'm proud to see this tradition and dedication continuing.  This is why we live where we do and send our children to Circle."

Dr. Donna Roths Sweet

1966 graduate

Dr. Sweet is a lifelong resident of the Benton and Wichita area.  She attended Circle schools K-12 and is a 1966 graduate of Circle High School.  Sweet is world-renowned for her work in the field of AIDS research and treatment.

Dr. Sweet received her medical degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine in 1979.  She did her post-graduate work from 1979-1982 with the University of Kansas-Wichita and Affiliated Hospitals, Wichita, Kansas.  Her list of awards includes the W.C. (Carter) Goodpasture, M.D. Resident Performance Award in 1981 and 1982, The Jayhawker M.D. award in 1984, the Award of Courage from the American Foundation for AIDS Research in 1992, the Wichita State University Alumni Award in 1995, the 2010 Health Care Heroes Award from the Wichita Business Journal and University of Kansas School of Medicine Alumni Association Distinguished Medical Alumni Award in 2011.

When asked about her favorite memory of circle high School, she fondly remembers her science classes with Mr. Addison and Ms. Confer.  When asked for the most important thing she learned while at CHS, she replied, "By working hard you can achieve even your most far reaching goals."

USD 375 and the Circle Foundation will continue to work in unison to acknowledge outstanding community leaders who started their endeavors at Circle.  If you know of a CHS Alum who is deserving of a nomination for this award, please contact Richard Nibarger, Director of Community Relations, at rnibarger@usd375.org.