![PTA Citizenship Writing Contest Honorees Recognized]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1744221863/smsdorg/ej9sh5nzpxsbcrpwsagk/IMG_7859.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1744221863/smsdorg/ej9sh5nzpxsbcrpwsagk/IMG_7859.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1744221863/smsdorg/ej9sh5nzpxsbcrpwsagk/IMG_7859.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1744221863/smsdorg/ej9sh5nzpxsbcrpwsagk/IMG_7859.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1744221863/smsdorg/ej9sh5nzpxsbcrpwsagk/IMG_7859.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1744221863/smsdorg/ej9sh5nzpxsbcrpwsagk/IMG_7859.jpg","width":2200}])
The Shawnee Mission Board of Education and Shawnee Mission School District (SMSD) recognized student honorees from the PTA Citizenship Writing Contest prior to a Board of Education meeting.
Using the theme, “Small things I can do to impact my community are..”, student entries were submitted in essay or poem form.
During a reception, honorees were congratulated for their accomplishments in writing and presented with medals and journals to encourage future writings.
The Citizenship Program is sponsored by Kansas PTA, encouraging writing for students in fifth through 12th grade. The Shawnee Mission Area Council PTA (SMAC PTA) leads the opportunity for students in the SMSD. Award of Excellence winners have advanced to Kansas PTA for state judging. Those results will be announced in April.
The 2024-2025 statewide theme was submitted by Fiona Francis, a sixth grade student at Sunflower Elementary.
All school winners will have the opportunity to submit ideas for next year’s Citizenship theme.
Congratulations to our talented writers and their schools and families!
Awards of Excellence and Awards of Merit for outstanding interpretations of the theme were presented as follows.
Award of Excellence:
Mia Watt, Mill Creek Elementary, 5th grade, essay
Violet McCarthy, Mill Creek Elementary, 5th grade, poem
Jiya Bhavsar, Briarwood Elementary, 6th grade, essay
Celia Hook, Mill Creek Elementary, 6th grade, poem
Dinesh Ezhil, Indian Woods Middle School, 7th grade, essay
Mia Clark, Shawnee Mission South High School, 9th grade, poem
Victoria Olberding, Shawnee Mission South High School, 10th grade, essay
Lydia McColligan, Shawnee Mission South High School, 10th grade, poem
Hannah Clark, Shawnee Mission South High School, 11th grade, poem
Opal Walden, Shawnee Mission West High School, 12th grade, poem
Award of Merit:
Sophie Flores, Tomahawk Elementary, 5th grade, essay
Ellie Stewart, Trailwood Elementary, 5th grade, poem
Milly Bauman, Santa Fe Trail Elementary, 6th grade poem
Fiona Francis, Sunflower Elementary, 6th grade, essay
Honorable Mention:
Aniyah Morgan, Santa Fe Trail Elementary, 6th grade, essay
Award of Participation:
Viola Du, Mill Creek Elementary, 6th grade, essay