Emilia Horton after the Powder Puff football game against Parkersburg High School. (Photo Provided)

PARKERSBURG — Parkersburg South High School senior Emilia Horton enjoys taking on leaderships roles and said she has been involved with student government since her days at Edison Middle School.

“There was a student council there, and to be completely honest, I’m not sure what drove me to join student council in middle school but, I do consider myself a leader,” Horton said. “So, I joined and I’ve been in student council ever since.”

Horton said she was part of the student council for all three years she was at Edison and has been at least a voting member all four years at PSHS. She said she wasn’t aware there were class cabinets coming into her freshman year at PSHS.

“I wasn’t involved with anything my freshman year, in regards to that, but I did sophomore cabinet, I was just a regular member,” Horton said. “Last year I was junior class vice president and this year I’m senior class president.”

Horton said she feels she’s definitely taken on a more active role within student council this year as opposed to her junior year which consisted of mainly planning for prom.

Emilia Horton, right, with her sister Ella Horton before the Homecoming Parade this year. (Photo Provided)

“This year we’re talking about graduation, we’re talking about the speakers for graduation, SPOT (Special People of Tomorrow) Day, the parade we do on SPOT Day, and also the senior All-night Party,” Horton said. “Definitely very different responsibilities.”

Horton said it was the responsibility of the senior class president, and their parents, to plan the Senior All-night Party.

“My mom, my dad and I have been working diligently on that all year long. It’s been a process,” Horton said. “It was pretty slow moving at first, it hasn’t happened since before COVID, so people have kind of forgotten that it was a thing. But it’s starting to pick up and we’re hoping that it will be as fun as we have envisioned it. We have a lot of fun things planned.”

Horton is also president of the National Honor Society at PSHS and says it’s very similar to student council. She said members get together and donate their time to the community in whatever way they can and that they were also in charge of the food pantry at the school this year.

“I like to help when I can. So, I try to take on what I’m able to,” Horton said.

Emilia Horton, far right, after winning the Powder Puff football game against Parkersburg High School. (Photo Provided)

Horton extends that helpful nature outside of school where she says she is very active in her church at St. Margaret Mary. She said she helps teach Sunday School along with her younger sister, Ella Horton, and a friend. She said it consists of children from Pre-K to first grade and is a simplified version of Mass.

“Sometimes they are so uninterested that it’s boring to them, but sometimes they’re ready to learn,” Horton said. “It’s kind of cool to see that, because, faith means something different to everyone, but even that young age it’s pretty impressive they’re able to appreciate it.”

Horton is also a member of the PSHS crew team after joining the squad her sophomore year. She said she didn’t even know crew was a sport until her mother talked her into joining the team.

“I’m so thankful that she pushed me to do that,” Horton said. “It’s such a fun sport.”

Horton said she’s gotten to travel as far south as Oak Ridge, Tenn., and as far north as Milford, Mich., with the team and that she enjoys meeting all the different people at the regattas who row crew. She said she enjoys the camaraderie that comes with rowing the most, though.

Emilia Horton, center, along with Landon Abilmona and Shay Gault prepare to hand out candy during the Student Council Community Trunk or Treat event. (Photo Provided)

“Whether you’re in a large boat, or a small boat, that other person, or people, that are with you, you’re pouring your heart out, and you’re pulling with everything that you can, that’s a bonding moment, for sure,” Horton said. “When you’re dying down this water, cause it’s not like you can just stop, you’re still stuck on this river, you’ve got to go until you’re finished. It’s a very bonding moment.”

Horton will be attending West Virginia University in the fall where she will be an engineering major. She said she hasn’t narrowed down which field of engineering she would like to study yet but, she is hoping to figure that out after getting into the program and learning more about each field.

Horton said she enjoys solving problems and that is what lead her into choosing engineering as a career.

“It’s very gratifying to have a problem, and be able to understand what you need to figure out, and have the skillset to solve that problem,” Horton said. “That’s definitely the biggest reason I’ve been drawn to it.”

Horton said the senior quote she used for the yearbook, ‘Only you will decide what you will be remembered for.’ is something she tries to live by.

Emilia Horton, front left, with the National Honor Society preparing Christmas Bags. (Photo Provided)

“I think that’s a really important thing for people to think about,” Horton said. “If you’re a jerk to everyone, no one is going to like you, and they’re going to remember they didn’t like you. Our student council president, her name is Macie Watkins, she has the biggest smile at all times, and I’m always going to remember Macie’s enormous smile, because, to me, that’s just who she is. So, I think that’s important for people to think about. Keep that in mind when you’re interacting with people.”

Douglass Huxley can be reached at dhuxley@newsandsentinel.com

Emilia Horton helps to carry a boat during a regatta in Marietta. (Photo Provided)

Emilia Horton, front and second from the right, during a Parkersburg South High School Crew fundraiser event. (Photo Provided)

Emilia Horton attending an engineering and science camp at Marietta College in 2022. Horton will be pursuing a degree in engineering from West Virginia University this fall. (Photo Provided)

Emilia Horton, with her parents Eddie Horton and Elsie Horton, during Senior Night at Erickson Field. (Photo Provided)

Emilia Horton, president of the National Honor Society, during their induction ceremony this year. (Photo Provided)