Manhattan Optimist Club’s Manhattan High School Student of the month is Ashi Wickramasundara daughter of Ganga Hettiarachchi and Chatura Ariyaratne of Manhattan.
Ashi is a member at MHS of Key Club, student council, environmental club, HOBY KS, feminist club and national honor society.
Her accomplishments include being student body vice president, leadership in the International Science and Engineering Fair and receiving a first place at the Kansas State Science and Engineering Fair two years in a row.
Ashi is a past volunteer at the Manhattan Public Library and has also volunteered at Habitat for Humanity.
Hobbies include baking, skateboarding, volunteering and writing poetry.
Ashi plans to continue her education in psychology and criminology (or anthropology) at either University of Maryland, Barnard College, Amherst College or possibly Kansas State University.
Her goal is to become a professor and researcher, work for a nonprofit organization, and work with teenagers in the foster care system.
The Manhattan Optimist Club’s student of the month is designed to recognize Manhattan High School seniors that make a difference in their community through volunteerism and leadership activities that have a positive impact on MHS and/or the Manhattan community. The goal of the program is to inspire and encourage youth to get involved in their community in an effort to benefit others.