Emma

Emma Parks, a 16 year old junior at Notre Dame Academy was named Miss Heartland's Outstanding Teen 2011, on September 25, 2010 at the Hardin County Schools Performing Arts Center. Emma was selected by a panel of 7 judges from a field of 8 contestants. She was also the recipient of the Overall Talent Award and the Community Service Award. She sang "My Simple Christmas Wish" and her platform is Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids. She will compete for the title of Miss Kentucky's Outstanding Teen in June, 2011 at the Center for Rural Development in Somerset, Kentucky.

Emma, from Hebron, Kentucky, plans to obtain a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Musical Theatre and work professionally as an actor in New York City. She received the Overall Singer Award at the Mike Beaty Model and Talent Expo in Dallas, Texas; she appeared in "The Night of the Hunter" off Broadway in the role of "Mary" as part of the New York City Musical Theatre Festival in New York City; Emma has appeared in television commercials, voice over commercials, a music video, and an educational video "Seeds of Peace" while working in New York City and Cincinnati, Ohio; she was the very first Overall Talent Winner for the Little Miss/ Preteen Miss Kentucky Pageant in 2003; she is a member of the Speech and Drama Team and the Philosphy Club at Notre Dame Academy. Emma is Who's Who Among American High School Students: she was Honors English, 2009; Honors English, Science and Social Studies, 2008; Martha Mayer Tonnies Scholarship recipient for 2010 and 2011, Notre Dame Academy.

Emma was Historian - Conner Chorus, 2008; Earth Club, 2008; WAVE Student Volunteer at Newport Aquarium summer of 2009; Choral Club, NDA 2009; Singing Dames, NDA 2010; Burlington Baptist Church Volunteer and Mentor; Mentor for School Aged Children, Prodigy School from 2008 to present. She received the Miss Kentucky's Outstanding Teen Non - Finalist Talent and Interview Awards; recognized as Accomplished Talent with Governor's School for the Arts Auditions; and selected to participate in Overture Awards in Cincinnati, Ohio in the winter of 2011: she was a finalist in the Blue Ash Idol 2010. She has played the role of "Annie" in the musical "Annie" in three different productions with three different theatre companies at the ages of 11, 13, and 16. Emma works as a Substitute Assistant at the Prodigy School.

Emma's platform is Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids (BCEFA), a non-profit organization created by actors in New York City in 1987 to raise money and awareness for people living with HIV/AIDS. BECFA is funded by events sponsored by members of the Actors' Equity Association. The proceeds of these events benefit the Grant Program for BCEFA. The funds are distributed to hundreds of community based organizations made up of small grass roots organizations which assist victims living with HIV/AIDS and their families. She has chosen her platform because she sees this community is marginalized in a way people with other illnesses aren't. She was fortunate to see the live production of "Rent" in Chicago as part of a National Tour. The story centers on a group of eight young artists living in New York City during the AIDS pandemic. This experience changed her forever and she wants to pass her hope and enthusiasm to others. Making even a small difference to a suffering person is her way to, "Measure her life in love." This is the message she received from seeing "Rent." Her organization, Artists Caring Together (A.C.T.) was created to encourage other young actors, like herself, to become involved. She has contacted every high school in Nortern Kentucky and all of the Universities in Kentucky requesting to speak to their Drama or Musical Theatre Departments about becoming involved with BCEFA. She has started working with STOP AIDS Cincinnati on projects to help local people living with HIV/AIDS.

As Miss Kentucky's Outstanding Teen, she will be persistent in her quest to educate teachers, students and community leaders across the State so each of us has the opportunity to choose how we can make a positive difference for those suffering with HIV/AIDS. She knows by doing so, everyone becomes stronger people to create a stronger society and a stronger world. She know the happiness we bring to others is a statement of how we "Measure our lives in love."