Lions Club
Mary Yanik was named the Emporia Lions Club Student of the Month on Nov. 15, 2006. She is the daughter of Joe and Betsy Yanik.
She has participated in many community services, including Community Beautification, Expanding Your Horizons (a conference for young women in mathematics), Relay for Life, Walk to D’feat ALS, debate judge and Hurricane Katrina Fundraising Week. She held a leadership position in the high school blood drive and was coordinator for the Project Emporia city-wide canned food drive.
At Emporia High School she has been a member of the Student Council, National Honors Society, Model U.N., National Forensic League, Orchestra, Wildlife and Backpacking Club, Psychology Club, Science Club and pit orchestra for “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” school play. In competitions she was Novice Debater of the Year during her sophomore year; in her junior and senior years, she was state debate champion third place and Heart of America Debate Institute Tournament finalist and Jayhawk Debate Institute Tournament Champion and 4th Speaker award.
Yanik participated in forensics in the duo interpretation, improvisational duet acting, oral declamation, public forum debate, original oratory, extemporaneous speaking and student congress; and also entered Math Day and Scholar’s Bowl.
In athletics, she was a member of the varsity swimming team, JV cheerleading squad and the JV Dance Team. Special honors include National Merit Commended Scholar, Girls State and Girls Nation senator, National Forensic tournaments, Principal’s Honor Roll, district orchestra, academic letters and scholar athlete. She was class president in her sophomore year, president of student council her senior year, president of Model United Nations, president of the National Forensics Society and Debate Tournament director.