![19 Student Award of Excellence winners in SMAC PTA Citizenship Writing Contest]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1772143406/smsdorg/olbeafjdt7zvatockazy/Citizenshipweb1.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1772143406/smsdorg/olbeafjdt7zvatockazy/Citizenshipweb1.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1772143406/smsdorg/olbeafjdt7zvatockazy/Citizenshipweb1.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1772143406/smsdorg/olbeafjdt7zvatockazy/Citizenshipweb1.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1772143406/smsdorg/olbeafjdt7zvatockazy/Citizenshipweb1.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1772143406/smsdorg/olbeafjdt7zvatockazy/Citizenshipweb1.jpg","width":2002}])
The Shawnee Mission Board of Education and Shawnee Mission School District (SMSD) recognized student honorees in the Shawnee Mission Area Council (SMAC) PTA Citizenship Writing Contest.
The program encourages students in fifth grade through 12th grade to write a poem or essay reflecting on a selected theme. The 2025-2026 statewide theme, “What is Kindness and How Do I Show It?” was submitted by Mill Creek Elementary student, Mia Watt.
At the February 23, 2026 board meeting, student honorees were presented with medals and ribbons and were congratulated for their accomplishments in writing by board members and the superintendent. The recognition ceremony was followed by a reception held in the Center for Academic Achievement (CAA).
The Citizenship Program is sponsored by Kansas PTA.
Award of Excellence winners have advanced to Kansas PTA for state judging. Those results will be announced in April.
Awards of Excellence and Awards of Merit for outstanding interpretations of the theme were presented as follows.
Award of Excellence:
Gwen House - Mill Creek Elementary School - 5th grade, Essay
Adelyn Smith - Mill Creek Elementary School - 5th grade, Poem
Jackson Gregory- Mill Creek Elementary School - 6th grade, Poem
Isla Hudgens - Briarwood Elementary School - 6th grade, Essay
Ananya Raja - Indian Hills Middle School - 7th grade, Essay
Naomi Oliver - Indian Hills Middle School - 8th grade, Essay
Victoria Grace Easton - Shawnee Mission East - 9th grade, Essay
Pavithra Raya - Shawnee Mission East - 9th grade, Poem
Darius Bean - Shawnee Mission West - 10th grade, Essay
Mia Clark - Shawnee Mission South - 10th grade, Poem
Victoria Olberding - Shawnee Mission South - 11th grade, Essay
Lydia McColligan - Shawnee Mission South - 11th grade, Poem
Hannah Clark - Shawnee Mission South - 12th grade, Poem
Award of Merit:
Dalia Klein - Briarwood Elementary School - 5th grade, Essay
Blake Monahan - Brookwood Elementary School - 5th grade, Poem
Eleanor “Ellie” Stewart - Trailwood Elementary School - 6th grade, Poem
Caitlin Blay - Mill Creek Elementary School - 6th grade, Essay
Fiona Francis - Westridge Middle School - 7th grade, Essay
Alexander Bean - Shawnee Mission West - 12th grade, Poem
Honorable Mention:
Turner Hannawald - Briarwood Elementary School - 5th grade, Poem
Natalie Jin - Brookwood Elementary School - 5th grade, Essay
Adalynn Matlack - Benninghoven Elementary - 5th grade, Poem
Claire Linebarger - Tomahawk Elementary School - 5th grade, Poem
