The Community Foundation for Crawford County is pleased to introduce Emma Kirby, a 2026 recipient of one of the 20 Doug and Renee Leuthold Scholarship awards and one of the 20 Margaret and Donald Wenner, MD Scholarship awards.
Emma, the daughter of Misti Kirby and Jason Kirby, is a 2022 graduate of Crestline High School. She is attending The University of Akron and studying Marriage and Family Therapy.
What is your favorite aspect of college life and why?
"I believe my favorite aspect of college is getting to meet individuals who differ from myself. This is due to them being able to provide me with a new perspective and help me to think about situations in a different way."
What new interests or courses of study have you discovered at college?
"At this point in time I have not yet started my Masters, but I'm excited for all of the courses I am going to take while obtaining it."
In what way has the college experience changed/improved you?
"Having just graduated with my Bachelors and getting prepared to begin my Masters, the college experience changed me in a variety of ways. While obtaining my Bachelors, in the beginning, it allowed me to learn to problem solve on my own without the help of my parents. Along with that it helped me to learn a sense of responsibility and accountability. The college experience overall was very rewarding; I got the opportunity to meet new people, learn new skills, and obtain my degree. I'm very thankful for the experience and excited to begin my Masters and see how that experience will change or improve me!"
What advice would you give an incoming college freshman?
"As someone who just graduated with their Bachelors and is preparing to begin their Masters, the undergraduate time I feel is one of the most important. The advice that I would give to an incoming freshman is that it will allow you to create new memories, meet new people, and provide you with the opportunity to experience new things. You should absolutely try and do everything that you can. That can range from just going to sporting events, to even studying abroad if the opportunity presents itself. Along with trying new things, I would also tell them that it is okay to not have it all figured out in the beginning. Changing your major isn't as big of a deal as everyone says it is. It's more important to figure out what you truly want to do for the rest of your life rather than feeling stuck and finishing with a degree that you have no intention on using."
What is one item on your bucket list and why?
"One item on my bucket list is getting to experience the Christmas tree lighting in New York City."
Congratulations and good luck in the future, Emma!
To learn more about scholarships offered through the Foundation, visit www.cfcrawford.org/scholarships
