Pickerington Central senior dedicated to helping others

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Emerson Goldenbagen has always been a team player, whether it’s on a sports team, in student government or in her community.

The Pickerington High School Central senior played soccer for a few years before discovering volleyball in the third grade. She loved the sport, but after eight years of playing in rec leagues, travel teams and with the Tigers, Goldenbagen made the decision to give up volleyball her junior year and focus on academics and her new role as vice president of student council.

“I didn’t want to just have a title,” she says. “I wanted to be involved. I want to make a change in the school.”

One change Goldenbagen and her peers on student council hope to bring to Central is a boost in school spirit. The council hopes students will see school as not only a place for learning, but a place to engage in the community through clubs, sports and other activities.

Fun is a big priority. It’s why the student council held a lip sync battle against the principal and vice principal during one of last year’s pep rallies, and spent long hours planning a Hollywood-themed homecoming dance.

“People were telling us it was the best homecoming they’d been to,” says Goldenbagen.

This year, Goldenbagen is looking forward to serving as the vice president of her class and student council for the second year in a row. She’ll also take on the role of president for Central’s National Honor Society chapter.

Students qualify and are nominated for NHS membership based on excellence in four key areas: scholarship, leadership, service and character. The 70 hours of volunteer work – 20 over the summer and 50 during the school year – required shouldn’t be a problem for Goldenbagen, as she loves giving back.

She joined Key Club, a student-run volunteer organization, and volunteered at the iRun for Jonah event during her freshman year. The next year, she volunteered with the iRun planning committee. By the time she was a junior, she had earned a position as a committee board member.

“It’s very close to my heart,” says Goldenbagen.

Her older brother was good friends with Jonah Hoser, whose family was the original beneficiary of the event. Each year, the race raises money to help a local family pay medical expenses, a cause Goldenbagen says is more than worth the time invested.

“It’s really cool to see all these people on the start line together because they want to make a change in someone’s life,” she says.

Goldenbagen also maintains an impressive academic record: three years of honors courses and four AP classes to date. This year, she’s taking AP Physics, AP Calculus II, AP Government and AP Psychology, plus college-level English.

“I like to challenge myself,” she says.

Goldenbagen hopes the rigorous course load will help prepare her for college. While she hasn’t decided on a specific major – she wants to do something with biology – she has her sights set on The Ohio State University.

Despite her numerous achievements, Goldenbagen remains humble, especially when talking about her leadership roles.

“I don’t want to say I’m ‘in charge’ (of NHS) because I don’t really think anyone is ‘in charge’ in those situations,” she says. “It’s a group effort. … I’ve been fortunate enough to work with some great people and great students. It’s never been just me.”

She also credits her family for teaching her about working hard, giving back and being responsible. She owes everything she is to her mother, Jennifer, a social worker, she says.

“If I’m frustrated with school or upset about something, she always knows what to say,” Goldenbagen says.

She’s also thankful for the support and example of her grandfather James Murray and her older sister and brother, Kennedy and Griffin, who are studying chemical engineering and welding engineering, respectively, at OSU.

“They’re my best friends,” she says. “I know I can go to them with anything.”

Katie Ellington is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at gbishop@cityscenemediagroup.com.

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