SAN MARCOS: An Army reservist from San Marcos has received a high-level award from the U.S. State Department for her work as a civil affairs officer in Iraq.

Capt. Laura Peters, 31, received the Superior Honor Award last week at Fort Bragg, N.C. She deployed to Iraq in March 2007 as part of a provincial reconstruction team, which specializes in humanitarian and rebuilding work.

Peters served as a liaison between Army officials and Iraqi tribal and political leaders in Samarra and Tikrit.

The Superior Honor Award recognizes a specific act or “sustained extraordinary performance” over at least one year. The State Department rarely gives the honor to military personnel.

Peters taught biology at San Marcos High School and later Mission Hills High School from 2002 to 2006.

–S.L.