KTWU Celebrates America’s 250th with New PBS KIDS® Series America’s Awesome Kids©

Topeka, Kan. - As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, KTWU is proud to announce its role in the production of America's Awesome Kids, a new live-action short-form series premiering May 22, 2026, on PBS KIDS.

Produced by GBH Kids in coordination with 23 partnering PBS stations across the country-including KTWU-the series is part of the PBS KIDS Across America initiative. America's Awesome Kids features 25 mini documentaries that showcase kids from across the country sharing what is special about where they live, their hobbies and passions and how they are making a positive impact in their local communities.

From taking care of llamas in Iowa, to Bollywood dancing in Georgia to exploring Cajun culture in Louisiana, the series celebrates the unique spirit of the next generation. Episodes showcase what makes local communities special and how kids are making a positive impact on the world around them.

KTWU contributed to the series by filming the story of 9-year-old Sarai of Topeka, who talked about leading her local dance team, the Unity High Steppers; volunteering at Topeka Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit that builds homes for families; her strong faith; the importance of family, in particular her close relationship with her great-grandmother; and her love of expressing herself through art.

"Kansas is full of awesome kids, so we jumped at the chance to be involved in this high-quality project," said Shelia Summers, director of marketing & promotions at KTWU and co-lead on the project. "We are thankful to the kids and parents who submitted a casting video. The competition was fierce and it was hard to select just one Kansas Awesome Kid. We are proud of the final piece and are excited to share Kansas' Awesome Kid, Sarai!"

KTWU mass media intern Elena Toenjes, a 2025 Washburn University graduate, was instrumental in KTWU's involvement with the series and was co-lead on the project, "When we were told about the opportunity to apply for the grant (provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting), I was immediately excited about the possibilities. Being involved in a real film shoot was super exciting, especially because I was able to help with the audio equipment. The whole experience was rewarding and it was so meaningful to be involved in the process. It was great to be able to meet Sarai and her family and learn more about them and their experiences. Getting to know them on a personal level made the project feel even more important and reminded me why opportunities like this matter so much. Overall, this experience was both inspiring and unforgettable, and I am grateful to have been part of it."

Producers Lyall Ford and Jay Hurst, along with KTWU General Manager Val VanDerSluis, also were integral in the production of the episode.

"America's Awesome Kids reflects the lives of our young audience while also introducing them to the wide array of places, cultures and customs from around the country," said Dorothea Gillim, executive producer and creative director of GBH Kids. "Working with other PBS stations on this series has been a great opportunity to leverage the strength of public media to capture a uniquely local story for a national audience."

Viewers in Topeka can watch America's Awesome Kids beginning May 22 on KTWU, the PBS KIDS 24/7 channel, and streaming for free on the PBS KIDS video app, pbskids.org and on the America's Awesome Kids YouTube channel.

America's Awesome Kids joins a robust summer lineup for the PBS KIDS Across America initiative, which kicked off May 1 with WOWSABOUT, a new special from The Jim Henson Company. Other highlights include the animated miniseries City Island: USA! (June 12) and four new specials of Xavier Riddle Celebrates American Heroes (June 22).

For more information about local airtimes and community events surrounding America's 250th, visit https://ktwu.org/.

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