Ingredient 1: Lab research

Ingredient 2: Science Olympiad

Ingredient 3: National Honor Society [NHS]

Ingredient 4: Charcuterie Theory

Above are all the components needed to make up senior Sophia Kiker.

As a charcuterie business founder, NHS president and co-captain of the Science Olympiad team, Kiker holds many responsibilities, and she’s a valedictorian.

“I felt so thrilled and honored to be a valedictorian,” Kiker said. “I worked really hard all four years, but I still didn’t know if anything was guaranteed.”

The senior said her family’s support had the most impact on helping her throughout high school while managing various extracurricular activities.

“My parents were just so sweet and supportive the entire high school years,” she said.

ADDING SCIENCE TO THE MIX

As a Science Olympiad co-captain, Kiker led the team to its first in-person state tournament this year.

“We were so thrilled when we made it to state, seeing everyone’s hard work,” she said.

Kiker said she was elected as the captain through an interview process after spending her junior year as a vice captain.

Despite being involved in Science Olympiad since sixth grade, Kiker said she was shocked after she got the role.

“I was so excited and surprised because there were so many amazing and talented students in the Science Olympiad,” the co-captain said.

Adviser and chemistry teacher Alexander Hua said Kiker serves as a role model for other club members.

“She is a very enthusiastic, passionate and obviously very smart individual,” Hua said. “She has excellent work habits; I had her as a student her freshman year, but when she was in my class, she did really well.”

Sophomore Aziza Mojarro, a first-year Science Olympiad member and Kiker’s entomology partner, said Kiker’s kind personality led the team to success.

“She motivated our team and lifted our team spirit whenever we felt like we couldn’t make it,” Mojarro said.

Out of 23 events, the valedictorian said ornithology, the scientific study of birds, was her favorite event because of her experience with the topic since middle school.

Kiker’s passion for ornithology encouraged her to contact UCLA and the University of California, Irvine, professors in hopes of joining their research team for birds.

The senior said creating bonds with the people in the program and learning together supported her during the Science Olympiad journey.

“I think my favorite part is just the community and the joint motivation that we get to motivate each other,” she said. “Also, just studying with partners, you get up really close with the person that you compete with.” 

BECOMING A NATIONAL LEADER

Kiker said she joined the NHS when she was selected in her sophomore year, after being elected president her junior year through a voting process.

Similar to Science Olympiad, Kiker said she leads and conducts numerous events as the president.

“As a president, I made the society more active by creating an inductee ceremony and a senior party, as well as creating pizza parties,” she said.

Kiker said her urge to help those affected inspired her to host the Open Donation for the L.A. fires.

“It was obvious the fire was all over the news, and it was so scary for the families and communities that were displaced during that time,” she said. “So I called many different YMCA collection sites [and] fire departments, too, and I kept calling until I found out that the district office was still accepting donations of all kinds.”

English teacher and NHS adviser Randy Oudega said Kiker is a detailed person who gets her work done.

“She is a leader, an inspiration, and she’s like the center of the club,” Oudega said. “Her work ethic is incredible, she takes care of all the details, she spearheads things that need to be done.”

CHARCUTERIE THEORY: THE CHERRY ON TOP

While balancing other extracurriculars, Kiker also manages Charcuterie Theory, her board business.

Kiker said she started her business in the summer of her freshman year, inspired by her passion for creating charcuteries and her brother’s advice.

“So because I always made charcuterie boards a couple times a month for friends coming over, it was something that I loved doing and did very often,” Kiker said. “My older brother recommended that I turn it into a business because I loved it so much, and I could then have an excuse to make it more.”

Kiker said starting Charcuterie Theory taught her many valuable skills.

“I think it’s very empowering to start your own business because you have to learn a lot on your own, which teaches you independence and ownership,” she said.

Kiker said she faced challenges in managing her academic and extracurricular lives while also pursuing her interests. She said her motivation came from her curiosity and willingness to learn more about things.

“Honestly, I am just so excited about so many areas of life and just exploring them for my own genuine interest,” Kiker said.

The senior said she plans to get a molecular environmental biology degree at the University of California, Berkeley, receive a nurse practitioner or physician assistant master’s degree and go into pediatrics.

“I’ve met so many great upperclassmen and underclassmen that go to Berkeley, so I believe I already have a community there, and I love that because the school is so big — it feels inspiring,” Kiker said. “There’s so many different research opportunities as well.”

Aiming to maintain her artistic side, the senior said she plans to continue running Charcuterie Theory.

“I will definitely continue my charcuterie board business through college and afterwards as I’m an adult,” Kiker said. “Even though I’ll be working in the hospital or clinic, I’d love to have this side business to just bring food to friends and have that artistic creation.”