Two OHS seniors have been named to the top Missouri Scholars list. Morgan Murphy and Meredith Bayer were among the 100 Missouri students to receive the honor this year.

Considerable work goes into being a top Missouri Scholar. Students have to have a high GPA, take advanced classes in many subjects, complete significant community service, show leadership, be a member of a varsity program, and have good standardized test scores (29 minimum on the ACT).

“It’s more of a holistic approach to the success of the scholar,” said Murphy, “as opposed to just looking at a test score or just looking at your involvement within the school.”

The Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals (MoASSP), who sponsors the list, does this to provide a full academic and moral understanding of the student.

While Murphy has accomplished a lot academically, she has also received awards as a member of OHS’s Varsity Golden Girls. This past year, the Golden Girls won nationals for their performance in the pom category.

Murphy, as a dancer and a student, has always pushed to be her best self. “I knew students that have been awarded or named to the list in the past,” said Murphy, “so I had always held myself to that standard.”

When Bayer found out she was nominated for the list along with Murphy, she was really excited. “I was just really surprised that the school was gonna nominate me,” said Bayer. “I didn’t think it was gonna happen, there’s a lot of really advanced people in my grade.”

Bayer is among the top ten percent of the senior class, is vice-president of National Honor Society, and continually volunteers at her local church. These qualities, combined with her essays and overall application, are what earned Bayer a spot on the coveted Top 100 list.

A banquet will be held on April 28 in Columbia to honor all of Missouri’s Top 100 Scholars. Both Bayer and Murphy, along with their families, and Mrs. Kellerman, in her last year at OHS, will be in attendance.