Sandburg, who graduated from Tonganoxie High in May, received the Kenneth Smith Award on Thursday in a ceremony at Tonganoxie Performing Arts Center. The award is presented each year by the Kenneth L. and Eva S. Smith Foundation to one male and female high school golfer who best demonstrate excellence in tournament performance, academic achievement, leadership and community service.

“(Sandburg) is a fine young man,” said foundation representative Pat McMahon. “I didn’t know him before, but I talked to him on a number of occasions leading up to (Thursday) and he’s a very mature young man. I’m really impressed.

“I think he understood you don’t get to the level of accomplishment that he has, whether it’s academics or on the golf course, without a lot of help from teachers, coaches and parents.”

A Washburn University signee, Sandburg led the Chieftains throughout his final high school season, placing in the top three individually in nine of 10 tournaments. He won his first individual title April 9 at the Mill Valley Invitational, then won a Kaw Valley League title May 12 in Lawrence.

He wrapped up his high school career with a second-place individual finish at the Class 4A state tournament May 27 in Mayetta. Sandburg graduated as one of just two four-time state qualifiers in program history, joining 2012 grad Colby Yates. The duo helped THS to back-to-back runner-up team finishes in 2011 and 2012.

Yates was one of several people Sandburg thanked as he fought back tears during his acceptance speech Thursday. He listed his family, coaches, teachers and former teammates among those who helped him achieve so much success in his Chieftain career.

“I will long remember the support this school has shown me,” Sandburg said. “We are here to celebrate my accomplishments during high school, but I also look forward to the future and what the journeys hold for me. In the next part of my career at Washburn University, I will consistently remember the past. Words alone cannot express my gratitude for the support all of you have shown over the years.”

Sandburg said his high school career truly began with a prank before the regional tournament his freshman season in 2011. During a barbecue at coach Jared Jackson’s house, that year’s seniors wrapped Sandburg in duct tape and bungee cords on the deck.

Jackson, who resigned this season to take an administrative position at Bonner Springs, originally nominated Sandburg for the Smith award. Jackson also had Sandburg in business classes during the last four years and spoke highly of his progression as a student, as well as an athlete.

“As the application came across my desk and I looked at what the criteria was for this award, it was leadership, academic achievement and it was golf achievement,” he said. “It was really easy to fill out that application for Drew because he’s excelled in all three areas.

“The thing I saw with Drew this year was his ability to have a task assigned to him and, with very little oversight and very little supervision, bring back a result that exceeds expectations. That’s something a lot of us don’t have, and it’s a skill that’s going to be very beneficial for him as he takes his next step into college.”

Sandburg is just the second golfer from a Kaw Valley League school to win the Smith award, joining Piper grad Jennifer Clark, a two-time recipient who won the award in 2006 and 2007. In honor of Sandburg’s recognition, the foundation also presented a $5,000 check to The First Tee of Greater Kansas City, a youth development organization with which Sandburg was active from third through fifth grade.

A mainstay on the THS honor roll, Sandburg graduated with a 3.97 GPA. He plans to major in accounting and finance at Washburn, we’re he’ll play golf for coach Jeff Stromgren.