Hawaii’s Super Students




Saturday, February 1, 1997

Name: Kara Stickney
Age: 17
School: Radford High School
Favorite subject: English
Future: High school English teacher

"I'm a little bit of a procrastinator," she said, describing how she wrote a contest essay the night before the deadline. For her effort, Filipinas Magazine published Stickney's essay and presented her with $500 for first place.

"I wrote about my mom as my role model," Stickney said. "I was advised not to because that's what everybody does. But I couldn't think of anyone else. She's the strongest person I know."

Stickney lives with her mother, Carol, and younger brother, Aren. Carol Stickney said she is honored her daughter thinks so highly of her.

"There is balance at home. The three of us are like friends living together," she said.

In addition to winning essay contests, Stickney is a National Merit Scholar and was a finalist in the 1996-97 National Hispanic Recognition Program.

Not only can Stickney successfully manipulate words, she can slam a tennis ball past the state's best high school varsity players. She has played on Radford's tennis team for four years.

"Kara is a well-rounded kid," said principal Robert Stevens. "She's an excellent student, kid, all-around human being."

Studying fits in naturally with Stickney's typically teen-age life. "I study at the beach or at home while listening to Bob Marley," she said.