Maggie O’Connor of Lee’s Summit West High School and Cara Cha of Lee’s Summit High School were recently selected to receive the Missouri Outstanding Achievement in Citizenship Award. They are among seven high-school students being honored this spring by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

The winners were recognized at an April 16 banquet in Jefferson City. As part of the nomination process, O’Connor wrote about an individual who exemplified exceptional civic engagement and duty. Her award-winning essay featured Matt Good, Lee’s Summit West debate and forensics teacher.

Cha wrote about Paul Chapa, the founder of the Friends in Service of Heroes program, otherwise known as FISH. Her writing highlighted the accomplishments of the veteran-assisting organization and the quality citizenship exhibited by the featured individual. Additionally has been selected for the 2018 High School Honors Performance Series at Sydney Opera House. She will perform in July with the Honors Orchestra. Participation in the Honors Ensembles is limited to the highest-rated high school performers from across the world.