Highland Park Hall of Fame inductees include veteran teacher and tenured Army lieutenant colonel

Two decorated Highland Park High School products — one a veteran educator and school administrator, the other a career Army officer — will be inducted into its Hall of Fame this Saturday, alongside two former athletes inducted into the schools' Sports Wall of Honor.

Beryl New, a longtime Topeka resident who attended Topeka High but had several stints as an administrator at Highland Park, and U.S. Army Lt. Colonel Gregory Howard Jr., a 1988 alumnus, will receive the distinguished honors for their exemplary careers and contributions to their community.

The two inductees onto the Sports Wall of Honor are Antwan "Tony" Barkdsale and Kenny Hartzell, both 1996 alums.

Beryl New, Gregory Howard are Highland Park Hall of Fame's 32nd class of inductees

While she attended other Topeka USD 501 schools, New has long had a strong connection to Highland Park High School.

After serving as an English teacher at her alma mater Topeka High between 1988 and 2000, New became an assistant principal at Highland Park High School before she briefly left in 2005 to Lawrence High School. She returned to Highland Park in 2010, where she was principal until 2017.

Since then, New had been serving as a director of certified personnel and equity for the district, retiring last year.

Beyond her dedication to education, New has also been involved in several community and statewide boards and organizations, including gubernatorial-appointments to the Kansas African American Affairs Commission and the Kansas Advisory Group for Juvenile Justice.

"Dr. New is known as not only an educator, but is a friend and mentor for many of the students she has had the privilege to serve," the Highland Park Alumni Association wrote about New.

Howard, a 1988 Highland Park grad, enlisted in the U.S. Army soon after graduation, serving as a subsistence supply specialist in the 295th Supply Company, 80th Ordnance Battalion, 593rd Area Support Group.

He later attended and graduated from Army Officer Candidate School at the Iowa Military Academy in 2000, earning a commission as a second lieutenant in the Quartermaster Corps.

Since then, Howard has had various assignments, including as a transportation platoon leader, executive officer, logistics advisor, team leader, division chief, and company and battalion commander for various Army logistics unit.

Over the course of more than 20 years as an officer, Howard has also earned several military awards and medals.

Highland Park Sports Wall of Honor honorees were prolific Scot student athletes

Barksdale, a 1996 graduate, competed in football and track for two years and basketball for all four. That student-athlete career included being named Sophomore of the Year in 1994 and City Player of the Year two years.

In basketball, he retains the single-game scoring record of 44 points and remains Highland Park High School's all-time scoring record.

Barksdale later played for Coffeyville Community College before transferring to Western Michigan University. He played six years of professional basketball overseas, including in countries like Finland, Lebanon and Mexico.

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Hartzell, also a 1966 grad, was on the school's football and wrestling teams, serving as a varsity starter for football for three years. In wrestling, he earned various city-wide and league honors.

After showing improvement each year, his 37-0 record his senior year lead to a 5A regional and state championships in the 215-pound weight class.

He later attended Washburn University and now works at Futamura Films, still coaching with the Tornado wrestling club.

The Hall of Fame and Sports Wall of Honor induction ceremony is 4 p.m. Saturday at the Highland Park High School Media Center.

Rafael Garcia is an education reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached at rgarcia@cjonline.com or by phone at ‪785-289-5325. Follow him on Twitter at @byRafaelGarcia.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Highland Park inducts Beryl New, Gregory Howard to Hall of Fame