The Board of Directors of Kansas Next Step on Monday announced the Star Student and Teacher of the Month for December.

This month’s Star High School Student of the Month is Melissa Pfeifer, an 11th grade student at Thomas More Prep-Marian High School. Melissa is the president of Key Club, a Student Council representative, the historian for TMP’s chapter of FBLA, and a member of Ambassadors, National Honor Society, the Tech Team, and CYO. She also participates in band, Scholar’s Bowl and athletics.

In nominating Melissa for this award, the TMP Leadership Team stated, “She is a steady, quiet, but strong peer that sets a standard worthy of following.”

The Star Teacher of the Month is TMP-Marian High School Spanish teacher Melissa Pinkney.

Pinkney is the TMP-Marian senior class adviser and coordinator of the school’s Spanish Club. The club provides the opportunity for TMP students to participate in cultural experiences such as Spanish dance lessons and concerts. Pinkney also works with her students to apply what they are learning in the classroom through involvement with the young participants of the Hays Public Library’s Bilingual Story Time.
Outside the classroom, Pinkney has worked with her academy students to volunteer for the St. Joseph Food Pantry, host a canned food drive, and make blankets to donate to the Mary Elizabeth Maternity Home.
Pfeifer and Pinkney each received a monetary prize along with a certificate of recognition.

Kansas Next Step is a nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting and facilitating the exploration of unique and exciting educational opportunities for motivated learners.