The 2019 All-Area Academic Excellence Team pose for a photo before the start of their honors banquet on Thursday night at Missouri Southern. Front row, from the left: Megan Petersen (Joplin,) Jase Cornett (Seneca,) Krusha Bhakta (Joplin,) Emily Tappana (Webb City,) Seth Frack (Carl Junction,) Lane Wilson (Thomas Jefferson,) Zach Smith (Columbus) and Madison Szell (McAuley.) Back row: Aaron Higgnbotham (Pittsburg Colgan,) Matthew Novalany (Seneca,) Ethan Brown (Carl Junction,) Lucas Kuehnel (Joplin,) Olivia Renfro (Thomas Jefferson,) Aaron Wells (Thomas Jefferson) and Paul Worsley (Pittsburg.) Not pictured: Carrie Wallace (Carthage,) William Secker (College Heights,) Caroline McCaffree (Nevada,) Faith Franz (Nevada) and Chandler Rheid Tarrant (Webb City.)
Globe | Laurie Sisk