Dilanka Ranaweera is the Manhattan Optimist Club's Manhattan High School student of the month. Ranaweera is a senior at MHS and the son of Lalhshika and Priyantha Ranaweera.
Dilanka serves as vice president of the MHS Student Council, is president of Model United Nations of Kansas and is secretary for the same organization at Manhattan High School.
Dilanka helped form the Civic and Community Engagement Club at MHS, and chose that club as the recipient of the $100 donation by the Optimist Club to the student of the month.
Community service by Ranaweera includes as a youth volunteer with the Youth Volunteer Corps and as a youth volunteer for the Flint Hills Discovery Center. He also serves as a vice president of the Asian Student Union, president of the AFS Club and president of the Red Cross Club at Manhattan High School. He plans to continue his future education in biology and post secondary education.
The Manhattan Optimist Club's student of the month is designed to recognize Manhattan High seniors that make a difference in their community through volunteerism an 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.