City manager: Topeka entry doing well in online vote

With a week to go, Topeka is in second place in the online voting competition to earn a spot among finalists for the $50,000 Gen2Gen Encore Prize, city manager Brent Trout said at Tuesday evening’s city council meeting.

People can cast votes daily, Trout said, and he encouraged residents to do so.

Topeka earned a place in the online vote as one of 25 semifinalists out of 110 applicants for the prize, which is awarded to an organization that comes up with an innovative solution that will tap into the talent of people over the age of 50 to partner with youths and help them thrive.

The money would help finance the implementation of a pilot program called “Common Unity” at Highland Park High School, with plans calling for the program eventually to include all Topeka public high schools. That site indicated the money would help students here with things that include ACT exam preparation and fees, college application fees and college visits.