ALEXSIS BARKUS

Alexsis Barkus, a senior at Wichita High School South, has been selected as a member of the 2025 class of Timothy O’Shaughnessy Foundation’s Scholars. With being named an O’Shaughnessy Scholar, Alexsis received a scholarship to aid her next decade of learning. Alexsis is the first O’Shaughnessy scholar from Wichita South and she is proud to represent her school that she loves so much. 

Alexsis was born in Wichita, KS, as the youngest daughter to Karen Ferguson and Terry Barkus, and she was raised alongside her four sisters, Teri, Kaitlin, Victoria, and Mariah. Her parents instilled values of leadership, academic excellence, empathy, and humility in her. 

At South, Alexsis has participated in many areas. She played for South on the basketball and golf teams and was involved in Ladies for Academic and Social Excellence (LAASE), the Multicultural Leadership Association (MCLA), and the National Honor Society. She enjoys working in the Child Development Center at school and being a Teacher’s Aid in underclassman courses. Additionally, she served as Vice President of the Wichita Public Schools Student Board and was Valedictorian of the class of 2025. Alexsis attributes all of her success to the support from the community around her, including her family, Tabernacle Bible Church, and South High teachers, counselors, and mentors, and Jesus. She believes that community is the foundation for success in life. 

Outside of school, Alexsis serves the Wichita community as a Wichita Riverfest Prairie Schoonermate. She enjoys mentoring and building relationships with younger students in her free time. She loves sharing her knowledge of how to be successful in school with underclassmen who might not have many positive influences. She is excited to continue to contribute to South High as an alumni. 

Alexsis is extremely honored to be a part of the O’Shaughnessy Foundation and looks forward to engaging with her fellow scholars, the O’Shaughnessy family, and the opportunities that will come her way because of the foundation. She plans to continue her studies at Howard University in Washington D.C., where she will major in criminology and political science. Alexsis aspires to live a life of service to others, so that they may see Jesus in her, and want to come to him.