Blue Springs South’s Maya McVey wins Kenneth Smith Award as KC area’s top female golfer

Blue Springs South High School senior Maya McVey on Wednesday was awarded the Kenneth Smith Award as the top female high school golfer in the Kansas City metro.

The award is sponsored by the Kenneth L. and Eva S. Smith Foundation and presented each year to the area’s top male and female golfers. The boys’ Kenneth Smith Award will be presented next spring at the conclusion of the boys’ high school golf season.

Nominees, submitted by golf coaches and athletics directors, are judged in four areas: performance in high school golf tournaments, academic achievement, leadership on the golf team and in other aspects of school, and community service through school, church or other activities.

During the fall 2022 high school golf season, McVey won five of six regular-season tournaments; placed second in the Suburban Gold Conference tournament; placed third in the district tournament; and won the Missouri Class 4 state tournament by 6 strokes.

McVey capped her four-year career as a varsity player by leading Blue Springs South to a second-place finish at state.

“Maya is one of the more dedicated young people I have ever been around,” Blue Spring South coach Casey Enright said. “She is a very focused and driven young woman who sets a great example for others to follow.”

In the classroom, McVey achieved a cumulative grade-point average of 4.167 on a 4.0 scale. She has been on the Blue Springs South honor roll every semester during her high school career, ranking in the top 10% of her class.

She’s been an active volunteer through both her school and her church, including activities at the Kansas City Rescue Mission, the Ronald McDonald House, Harvesters and the Mothers’ Refugee Center. She has also served as an ambassador for Central Links Junior Golf.

McVey plans to continue her education and golfing career next fall at Central Missouri, perhaps majoring in business-accounting.

In recognition of her achievements, the Kenneth L. and Eva S. Smith Foundation is contributing $5,000 to First Tee of Greater Kansas City to support their cutting-edge child development programs.