By : Dalton Dickson Kansas This is the state’s flag here. This here is the state’s shape.

State Motto and Nickname The state of Kansas’ motto is “To the stars through difficulty ” and the nickname is “The Sunflower State” and “The Jayhawk State

State Governor,Mark Parkinson Mark Parkinson became Kansas’ 45th A successful businessman and former Governor on April 28, 2009.egislator, Governor Parkinson is a native Kansan and was born in Scott City, where the Parkinsons still own the family farm. Born in Wichita, Governor Parkinson attended Wichita Public Schools and graduated from Wichita Heights High School before going on to graduate summa cum laude from Wichita State University in He graduated first in his class from the University of Kansas School of Law in Governor Parkinson then entered private practice, forming his own law firm in He also served as president of the Johnson County Bar Foundation. Governor Parkinson was elected to the Kansas House of Representatives in Two years later, he was elected to the Kansas Senate. While in the Legislature, Governor Parkinson was known as someone who bridged party lines. He worked to strengthen Kansas schools and enhance local control. In 1996, Governor Parkinson’s career path focused on a new passion: helping enhance older Kansans’ quality of life through first-class elder-care retirement facilities. One of his assisted living facilities received national recognition for its design and his company was named as an outstanding business in Northeast Johnson County. Governor Parkinson served as chairman of the Shawnee Area Chamber of Commerce board in 2004, and in 2005 was the “Chair of the Chairs” of the nine Chambers of Commerce in Johnson County. In 2006, he joined Governor Kathleen Sebelius as her Lt. Governor. Under Governor Parkinson’s leadership, Kansas has a balanced budget which protects our schools and our communities; our state’s economy is continuing on the road to recovery; Kansas now has a comprehensive energy policy and a new ten-year transportation plan to maintain their strong infrastructure. In 2009 the Topeka Capital Journal named Governor Parkinson ‘Kansan of the Year’ citing his bipartisan support and ability to move the state forward even in challenging economic times. Following his term as Governor in January 2011, Governor Parkinson will become the new President and CEO of the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL), the national non-profit organization which represents assisted living, nursing facility, developmentally-disabled and sub-acute care providers.

State Capital The capital city of Kansas is the city of Topeka.

State Landmarks