My name is Emma Kiko. I’m 22-years old and Kent has been my hometown since 2009. I lived in Cortland, OH and Yorkville, IL during my toddler ages before we had to move. Pictured on the right is my family from 2016 in the place where our grandparents grew up. I have a brother who’s two years younger than me, a mom, and a dad.
Throughout my last two years of high school, 4-H was a big part of my life. My best friend introduced me and got me involved with it. Shown on the left are two images of me with the ribbon I won for each project: in the first photo, I’m at the Ohio State Fair holding the portfolio I created. In the second photo, I’m standing next to the Portage County Fashion Show sign, wearing the outfit I put together and modeled.
On the right is me holding my GED diploma at my high school graduation. I attended Bio-Med Science Academy, a STEM+M school in Rootstown. This school was very different and unique compared to others; it taught six pillars which are personal agency, problem solving, engaged learning, innovation, collaborating, and sense of community. These are traits I’ve learned to carry with me since then for when I need them.
Every summer since I was in middle school, my grandparents and I have had a tradition of taking a trip to Amish Country to get homemade peach sundaes. It’s one of my rare favorite things to do and something I always look forward to doing. Below is me and my grandpa holding ours from six years ago.
Below is me (in the middle) meeting my favorite band, Why Don’t We, for the first time. They’ve had a huge impact on and are a big part of who I’ve become. The social media fan account on Instagram that I run for them sparked my passion for video and picture editing, and made me finally decide to pursue a career in Digital Media Productions. They’ve grown my love for pop music and concerts. When I discovered them in 2018, I started forming friendships and memories with other fans as well as expressing creativity.
