Your Name
Kayla Hickok
What High School do you attend?
Mukwonago High School
Please highlight your accomplishments while in High School.
Throughout high school, I have been involved in a variety of clubs and sports. I ran cross country all four years of high school, including several varsity meets my senior year. I am also a member of National Honors Society and the Academy of Medical Professions. I have been a part of Key Club all four years of high school and volunteered over 200 hours for various organizations. Other clubs I have been a part of throughout high school include Junior Optimist Club, Sting Cancer, and Best Buddies. I am also a competitive studio dancer at Accent on Dance Mukwonago. I have dedicated most of my free time to practicing, competing, and performing with my team since grade school. I was named the Mukwonago High School February Student of the Month for 2022 and have also achieved the title of Scholar-Athlete all four years. I have taken three AP classes, two PLTW classes, and various honors courses while maintaining a cumulative 4.0 GPA. I recently was named Valedictorian of my class.
Please tell us a little bit about your family.
My family has played a large role in my successes over the years. My parents, Kim and Al, have never missed a dance competition or cross country meet. They have provided me with the skills I need to be successful and are with me every step of the way as I move through life. I am so grateful for their endless love and support. I am the youngest of three kids. My brother Ryan just completed his junior year at Iowa State University. My sister Kelsey graduated from UW-Madison in 2021 and now lives in Portland, Oregon. My siblings are my best friends and I am so lucky to have such close relationships with both of them, despite us living in three different states. They have been outstanding role models for me and I have learned countless lessons from watching them grow up. We also have a dog named Charlie who is everyone’s favorite family member. I am beyond thankful for my family and the support we have for one another.
What are your plans after graduation?
In the fall, I will be attending the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities to study Biomedical Engineering. I will pick an area of focus my junior year and I am currently leaning towards neural or kinesiology. I hope to find an internship that can provide me with experience in this field of work before I enter the workforce. I am also hoping to study abroad and gain experiences in other parts of the world.
What are two of your favorite restaurants in our community?
Fork in the Road and Antigua Real
If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
I am grateful for the many opportunities I have had to travel because traveling has taught me about the different cultures and geography in America. However, I would love to do more traveling outside of the country and my dream travel destination is Italy. I know many people who have been to Italy and their stories and pictures have been stunning. The architecture, landscapes, food, and beaches are what draw me to want to go there. I would love to study abroad here in college, and I would visit Greece while I am at it, as well!
What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
My favorite movie is Frozen 2 and my favorite TV show is New Girl.
If you were asked to give advice to your senior class and the younger students at your school, what would you say?
Even though it may sound cliche, my biggest piece of advice to the younger students at my school is to enjoy every moment of your high school career. I was told this by many people before I entered high school, but I did not quite understand how they thought four years could go by so fast. As I am now approaching the end of my fourth year of high school, I can now say with confidence that it flew by and I wish I would have taken this advice to heart sooner. Also, I would advise younger students to get involved in school clubs and sports. This was a great way for me to meet new friends and gain new experiences that I will carry with me forever.
If you were able to be cast as yourself into a television show or series, what show would you want to be in?
Friends
If you could choose anyone to have lunch with, who would you choose? Why? And where, locally, would you meet for this lunch?
I would choose to have lunch with my grandpa who passed away in 2018 after suffering a brutal 12-year battle with Alzheimer’s. I was only two years old when he was diagnosed, so I never truly got to know who he was. I have heard countless stories of his life including his time in the Army, and I have always felt that I missed out on knowing the man he was before Alzheimer’s took over. I would love to have lunch with who he was before the disease at Fork in the Road because I believe that everyone has to try their famous mac n’ cheese at least one time in their life!
What is your favorite thing about our community?
My favorite thing about our community is how tight-knit it is and how everyone supports each other. I love how this support spreads from sports to fine arts to businesses and is not only focused on one area.
What have you done to make Mukwonago a better place?
Since middle school, I have dedicated many hours to volunteering around Mukwonago. Some of my service in the community includes FOMA Fest, Night to Shine at Brooklife Church, organizing at the local thrift store, clearing out paths at community parks, and performing vision screenings at Rolling Hills Elementary School.
Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
In 5 to 10 years, I hope to see myself having a job that I truly love and am passionate about. My ultimate goal is to be able to provide for my future family while enjoying what I do at the same time. I also hope to do more traveling and explore different areas of the world that I have yet to see.
What is something on your bucket list?
Since I was in elementary school, my family has been in a race to see who can visit all 50 states first. I am currently at 43, and I cannot wait to cross this off of my bucket list one day!
What is your go to band / singer when you can’t decide what to listen to?
Morgan Wallen
Favorite month? favorite holiday? and best single day on the calendar?
My favorite month is July because there is no school and the weather is perfect. My favorite holiday is Christmas because my family gets to be together and everyone is so happy. I also love that it is celebrated for almost an entire month because that time of year is so enjoyable. The best single day on the calendar is May 23rd because it is my birthday!
What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
Iced chai with oat milk, lake days, pesto pizza/pasta, dancing on stage with my best friends, and leaving for vacation.
Who inspires you to be better?
My two best friends Becca Thornton and Jessica Schiltz inspire me to be a better person. They both put other needs before their own and are always there to help me with anything. They were also my trio partners for dance this year, and we pushed each other to be better for the whole season and ended up being very successful. I will always cherish our friendship and strive to be just like them.
Who would you like to give a Shout Out to that contributed to your success?
I would like to give a big thank you to my parents because without them, I would be nowhere near where I am today. They help me with everything in my life and are always there to guide me through the hard times. I truly do not say it enough, but I am so grateful for everything they do for me personally and for my entire family. I am also fortunate to have parents that I have an extremely close relationship with and can trust them with anything.
