Emma Okell named Governor’s Scholar

SHARON — Sharon resident Emma Okell, a 17-year-old junior at Housatonic Valley Regional High School, has been selected as a Governor’s Scholar for the state of Connecticut.Each year, one junior is nominated from every high school in the state to write an essay that will qualify him or her to win the scholarship. Out of 169 essays, 30 were chosen, including the one that Emma wrote about what it means to be a scholar and an intellectual.Emma, who said she tends to be a straight-A student, is involved with many extracurricular activities at school. She is a member of the junior class council, and also participates in many performing arts groups. She is a member of the school’s jazz choir and the girls-only Sweethearts choir.She also acts, and recently appeared in the Housatonic Musical Theater Society’s production of “Guys and Dolls.” She is on the high school’s Envirothon team as well.Emma is now beginning her college search. She doesn’t have a first choice yet.“I’m just looking around at different colleges. I want to get a feel for the campuses and figure out what I’m looking for in a school before I apply,” she said.