Amber Perkins with her dad, Clay Perkins, at the New River Gorge. (Photo Provided)

NEWPORT — Wood County Christian School senior Amber Perkins has established herself as a cross country runner and a member of the school’s track team.

However, her plans for the future are to earn her doctorate in physical therapy and possibly operate a therapy practice. She said she sees the practice as a way to make a difference for others.

Perkins is also a member of the school’s archery team.

She is also the president of the Wood County Christian School chapter of the National Honor Society, member of the National Art Society and the Chick-fil-A Leadership Academy. She has been a student at Wood County Christian since she was in the second grade.

She is the daughter of Clay and Rhonda Perkins. She has an older sister, Carrie Perkins, and a younger brother, Lane Perkins.

Amber Perkins in her cross country uniform for a portrait. (Photo Provided)

She said members of the art honor society have made ceiling tiles for a local pediatricians office and for a school.

Perkins said she plans to run while in college. She was introduced to cross country and track by an aunt who ran track in high school and college.

“After seeing her I said I want to try running too,” she said. “I started out with track in the sixth grade but that was during the COVID lockdown, so I did that during the seventh grade and I liked that enough so I did cross country.

“I just stuck with it.”

In track her events are distance events.

Amber Perkins, left, with cross country teammates Koa Navarro, middle, and Elliot Handley, right. (Photo Provided)

“I’m a distance runner so I’m in the 800 meters, 1,600 meters and 3,200 meters,” she said. “Sometimes I get in the four by four relay.”

For the past two years Perkins said she placed in the state competition in track and cross country.

“I finished 10th in the state meet in class A,” she said.

Perkins said she does not know what her inspiration was to take up archery.

“I honestly don’t know why I started archery, I just did and I’ve been doing it on and off,” she said. “I enjoy it.”

Amber Perkins at the Wood County Christian School homecoming. (Photo Provided)

Perkins said her school has an archery team and she is a member of that team. She added she played basketball while in middle school.

Perkins said the school has had the Chick-fil-A Leadership Academy program for a few years.

“Our school has had the program for a few years,” she said. “I just decided to join it this year and get involved in the community.”

She said the group is in the planning process on some service projects for the rest of the year.

After her graduation this spring, Perkins said she plans to attend Harding University in Searcy, Ark., a private liberal arts Christian college. She added her sister is also a student at the school.

Amber Perkins with her family. From left are dad, Clay Perkins, Amber, brother, Lane, mom, Rhonda, and sister, Carrie. (Photo Provided)

“I hope to become a doctor of physical therapy,” she said. “I hope to start my own practice.”

Perkins said she has good grades in all her classes, but she likes anatomy classes.

“I’m a very hands-on learner,” she said. “I find it intriguing to learn about something that I will someday use. If I’m going to be a doctor of physical therapy I’m going to need to know anatomy for that.”

Perkins said Harding University also offers a graduate program in physical therapy

Perkins said all aspects of physical therapy interest her.

At Christmas in the Park, sister Carrie Perkins, Amber Perkins and brother Lane Perkins. (Photo Provided)

“I think it would be a mixture,” she said. “I just want to make a difference for everyone if it’s a matter of helping someone learn to walk again or just help an athlete to run to their best potential.

“I’m not sure of what area I want, but I’m open to all of them.”

Jeffrey Saulton can be reached at jsaulton@newsandsentinel.com

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One of Amber Perkins’ senior portraits. (Photo Provided)

One of Amber Perkins’ senior portraits. (Photo Provided)

Amber Perkins in her archery team uniform. (Photo Provided)