The Manhattan Optimist Club has encouraged all students to lead in community involvement activities to benefit others. To that end, the Club recognizes six outstanding Manhattan High School Seniors during each school year as their “Students of the Month” based upon their contributions to the community. This year’s recipients are:
Oct. 2021 Ashi Wichramasundara
Nov. 2021 Sam DeLong
Dec. 2021 Hannah Loub
Feb. 2022 Ibrahim Ciftci
March 2022 Kylie Peterman
April 2022 Monroe Say
At the close of the school year, The Optimist Club awards one student with a $1,000 award for making a difference in the community by volunteering and leading activities that have a positive impact on the people living in Manhattan.
The 2022 Student of the Year is Monroe Say. She is the daughter of Travis and Keely Say of Manhattan.
Monroe has been involved with student council all four years of high school, a member of the National Honor Society since her sophomore year, a Youth Impacting Community member for the past three years, a member of SADD her freshman and sophomore years, Pride spirit club member the past two years, and a member of the Interpersonal skills class at MHS.
Monroe is CPR certified, water park and lifeguard certified and was a Red Cross blood drive co-chair. She is a member of the Fellowship of Student Athletes and served as president her senior year.
Monroe has played MHS volleyball all four years, was a varsity letter winner for the past three years and a team captain her senior year. She was named the 2022 FCA Kansas female athlete of the year. She has participated in track and field and has been a competitive dancer all four years of high school.
Next year Monroe plans to attend Kansas State University with a major in Kinesiology with the goal of being a physician’s assistant.