Here's Why Emilia Was Shouted Out As A Derby Star Student

DERBY, CT — Star Students are found in classrooms, on concert and theater stages and at debate lecterns, and out in the community doing good things to make life better for all of us.

Here at Patch, we've launched an initiative to help recognize Star Students, and we’re working to tell the stories of these outstanding kids to their neighbors.

This submission comes from Rose Murphy who nominated Emilia, a 12th grade Derby student.

Star local student’s name

Emilia

Star local student’s home state

Connecticut

How do you know the star local student?

I have been her teacher for three years.

Why do you believe the star local student should be recognized?

Emilia was my student in English II Honors, in an accelerated SAT preparation summer course, in a college readiness summer course, and excelled as a student and a leader in my dual-enrollment journalism class through Southern Connecticut State University.

Emilia is a leader in every area of her community. She is captain of the school's volleyball team, and received an award for having the highest GPA of any student athlete in her season. She was an editor for the school newspaper as well as a staff writer and journalist, and received a full scholarship to UConn's Health Investigative Reporting journalism summer program. Emilia is determined to pursue a career as a physician, and was recently accepted to study biology at UConn. She is the treasurer of HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) at our health/medicine magnet school. She is in charge of budgeting and fundraising; additionally, she is charged with planning and running school blood drives with the American Red Cross.

Emilia is an outstanding leader, and Derby should be proud to recognize her as a star student. Her accomplishments are already incredible, but are made even more amazing by her personal achievements; Emilia did not speak any English before arriving in Derby from Chile. Now, having spent half her life in Derby, Emilia has shown that she is both an exceptional student and member of her community, and Derby is lucky to have her.

What's one thing you want everyone to know about the star local student?

Emilia is tenacious! She is never content to settle for "good enough," or for anyone else's expectations. She throws herself into activities, academics, sports, and community service wholeheartedly. Her exceptional GPA shows that she is dedicated to her academics, but she’s dedicated most of all to improving her community. I can't think of many people, whether teens or adults, who could accomplish all that Emilia has-- and she has done it all in her second language, and after moving thousands of miles from Chile to Derby.

Congratulations on your achievements, and all of our best wishes to you in the future, Emilia!

This content is brought to our community in partnership with T-Mobile.

Know an outstanding student?

Nominate them here.