February 13, 2021

By Fred Liggett
FredL@lstribune.net

Morgan McGurk, a standout student/athlete at Lee’s Summit North, is this year’s winner of the Rising Star Award, an honor bestowed by the Kansas City Sports Commission on behalf of its WIN for KC program.

McGurk, a senior, is a four-year varsity tennis player and is currently ranked first in her class. She is also president of the LSN chapter of National Honor Society and president of the Student Activity Advisory Council.

Morgan has been deeply impacted by the rise in teen suicide rates so she organized a suicide prevention walk to raise money and awareness as well as hosting an art-focused fundraiser for the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention. Her efforts have been getting attention for a while as she received the Lee’s Summit mayor’s character award in 2019. McGurk was given the award for “her quality of character in her service to family and community.”

The Rising Star award is presented to a local girl age 18 and under who demonstrates outstanding leadership qualities and has made a special impact on the community. The WIN for KC Women’s Sports awards is an annual event that traditionally is a luncheon but this year will take the form of a television event. To see McGurk and others receive their awards the program is set to air on KMCI-TV 38 on Saturday, Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. A rebroadcast on KSHB-TV41 will be on Sunday, Feb. 14 at 6 p.m.

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