This week’s student of the week is Omaya, an eighth-grader at Scuola Vita Nuova Charter School (SVN).

Born in Thailand, Omaya came to the United States as an infant and began her education at Gladstone Elementary in the Northeast. 

After a brief time in Omaha, Nebraska, she has spent the last three years at SVN and said she loves her school and the diversity that is seen in the classrooms. 

“It’s really fun,” she said. “There’s a lot of different people and a lot of diversity. The people here are really great. They don’t judge the way you are. They really accept people for who they are.” 

Omaya has spent her sixth, seventh, and eighth-grade years at SVN, a K-8 charter school, and is now looking toward her future high school experience. 

She has her sights set on attending Lincoln College Preparatory Academy (Lincoln Prep), one of Kansas City Public School’s Signature Schools, that has ranked as a “premier school on a local, state, and national level.” 

“I’m focusing on high school and getting my grades up to get into the school I want.”

She has applied and is just waiting for her acceptance letter to arrive. 
Omaya is part of SVN’s Photography Crew, a group of students who compile photos of events, students, and classroom settings for the school. 

“It’s really cool to be able to step into each class, see what they’re doing, and take pictures,” she said. “I learned that there’s a lot of creative people, we all have to work together.”

Her personal career goal is to become an oncologist to help those diagnosed with cancer.

“My mom was diagnosed with cancer and passed away, but before she passed, she told me she wanted me to become a doctor so I could help people that are sick like her.”

Omaya’s focus, hard work, proven leadership abilities, and teamwork have been evident to SVN staff, who praise her achievements. 

“She is such a great leader,” said Jessica DiGiovanni, K- 8 Principal. “She is always focused, is a great friend, and has been nominated as leader of the month a few different times because she’s always focused on what she needs to be doing and on being the best Omaya she can be.” 

While Omaya is looking forward to high school, she said she will greatly miss SVN. 

“It’s really great being here and it’s really sad that it’s my last year. It’s like a family here.” 

SVN is the 2019 Missouri Charter School of the Year.