Kira Emmons

Kira Emmons first became involved with Science Olympiad as a competitor, where she developed the habit of asking questions, the persistence to stick with difficult problems, and the resilience to learn through both success and failure. Over her seven years as a competitor, Science Olympiad helped her take ownership of her own goals, find joy in learning, and build trust in the strengths of others—lessons that continue to shape how she works, leads, and serves today.

Ms. Emmons started volunteering with VASO as a high school student and quickly discovered that competing was only the beginning. Over the years, she has served as a test writer and reviewer, local and national event supervisor, appeals committee member, and VASO social media manager, while also helping train volunteers, shape organizational policies, and build the systems needed to support a growing program. She especially values the community that Science Olympiad creates for students and volunteers alike, and the friends, mentors, and colleagues she has found within it.

Ms. Emmons is a systems engineer at Technology Service Corporation, where she works on the testing and evaluation of radar systems. She earned a B.S. in Engineering and a B.A. in Computer Science from Swarthmore College and is currently pursuing an M.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.