It was difficult for Central High School student Koon-Peng Missana, 18, to ignore the trash floating in the Cabin Branch stream near the Capitol Heights school’s athletic fields.

It was even harder to ignore the car and the refrigerator lodged in the stream, said the Accokeek resident.

Upset with the pollution, the then-junior spearheaded the school’s first Central High School Eco Club, an environmental awareness group. The club was just one example of leadership Missana was recognized for when he received the school’s “Citizenship Award” for his leadership and volunteer work during a senior awards ceremony Friday at the school prior to graduating Wednesday at Upper Marlboro’s Show Place Arena.

More than 40 students joined him in April 2011 removing tires, bottles and trash from the stream, which “did a good dent in removing the pollution,” Missana said.

“It was important because if people aren’t aware of their environment, they’ll continue to destroy it,” said 18-year-old Missana, who added Prince George’s County’s Department of Public Works removed the car after he brought it to the department’s attention.