Emily LottEmily Lott is a forward thinker. 

     Her mom, Rhonda, is a cosmetologist and Emily spent time going to the salon with her and seeing what she did for a living. Initially, she just enjoyed helping out — “I’d help her clean up and stuff because when I was little I couldn’t really do much,” she said.

     “As I got older I started thinking about going to college so I was thinking cosmetology would help me pay for college.”

     Now a senior, Emily has applied to Rio Grande and Ohio University-Chillicothe with plans to study early childhood education and become a kindergarten teacher.

     Her drive has served her well in school and out. When she was 6 years old, her dad, Bill, started teaching her to play golf and she hasn’t stopped.

     “My dad has taught me everything I know about golf,” Emily said, “I’ve had, maybe, two lessons.”

     Her home school, Unioto, doesn’t have a girls golf team so she plays on the boys team, having played varsity since she was a freshman.

     “My dad took me out all the time and I practiced from the men’s tees and I eventually got really good at it,” she said.

Emily, left, is featured with Kam Smith (Chillicothe) and Camryn Carroll (Adena) on the cover of Great Seal Sports. Emily was chosen to be one of the Ross County high school athletes on the cover of Great Seal Sports December issue.

     “When they came to me and said ‘Yeah, we’d like you to be on the cover of our magazine,’ I was, like “Oh my gosh,’ ” Emily said

     Social studies teacher Katie Siers admires Emily’s dedication and determination.

     “Her plate is full with school and sports, yet she always comes to school willing to learn and is honestly happy to be here. She pushes herself to be the best that she can be and does not settle for average.”

     Emily said she loves attending Pickaway-Ross.

     “I feel like the teachers really care about students and care about their futures, instead of just getting them to pass their class. They care about your grades and won’t let you fail. All of the staff is really nice.

     “There are amazing lab teachers and I feel like I’m getting a great education.”