Kayleigh Twining has excelled in the classroom, in athletics and much more. But for the Lima Senior High School senior, she never does quite enough.
She blames (and thanks) her dad for passing on his competitiveness to her.
“Everyone knows how competitive I am,” the daughter of Greg and Jenna Twining said. “I think it has helped me stand out. I always want to do more than others. I always want to keep pushing myself.”
With a 3.95 grade-point average, Kayleigh is at the top of her class and a member of the National Honor Society. She is also in Key Club.
Kayleigh credits her mom for suggesting she get involved with DECA. She is now vice president of finance and is setting her sights on getting to the international competition this year.
Competing in apparel and accessories, Kayleigh took second at districts and advanced to the state contest last year. She is competing in the same at districts this year, but is working with classmates Hunter Vermillion and Elijah Pughsley on a public relations project for the state competition.
The students will do different projects in the community over the coming months to highlight and raise awareness of things like human trafficking, suicide, bullying and drug abuse. A candlelight remembrance walk and kickball and dodgeball tournaments are among activities planned.
“Getting to internationals would be a really big deal,” she said. “It would be the first time the three of us have advanced past state.”
Mostly, Kayleigh likes how DECA has given her the opportunity to meet different people at competitions and DECA camp. She also says her experience in the Lima City Schools has exposed her to different kinds of people.
“I have been able to interact with a lot of different people and different cultures,” she said. “I think it has helped me to become a bigger and better person. It has helped me not judge others. Everyone has their own story, but you don’t get to know their story until you interact with them.”
Kayleigh is Lima Senior’s Honda OSU Math Medal recipient this year, and the school’s DAR Essay Contest winner. Students had to write about “Preserving the American Heritage and Why It Is Important.”
Kayleigh is a four-sport athlete at Lima Senior. She plays soccer and softball, is on the Spartan swim team and this year joined the bowling team, offered for the first time.
“I have bowled my entire life with my family for fun,” she said. “Now I can do it competitively.”
Kayleigh hopes to head to either Ohio State University or Ohio University to study criminology and psychology. She may play intramural sports, but wants to focus on academics. She at first wanted to become a police officer, but is now looking at working for the FBI or CIA.