Class of 2025 Senior Spotlight: Emma Carcamo, Marquette High

Emma Carcamo has always been fascinated by animals.

She attended specialty camps at the zoo when she was younger and is currently part of the Zoo ALIVE teen volunteer program at the Saint Louis Zoo. She loves birds, though whales have also been drawing her interest lately.

“I’ve always felt a really close connection to animals. I’ve known from the age of 4 that I’ve wanted to do something with them,” said Carcamo, a Marquette High senior. “We know a lot about humans but not as much about animals, how many there are in the world and how many different species. I want to know everything I can.”

After graduating this spring, Carcamo plans to attend Saint Louis University to study biology and Spanish. She attended Kehrs Mill Elementary, Crestview Middle and Marquette after moving into the Rockwood School District for her fifth-grade year.

During her time in Rockwood, she has utilized every opportunity possible to explore and expand on her interests.

“We have so many different classes here – especially science classes – that have helped me become more passionate about research and helped me learn how to write research papers,” Carcamo said. “I feel like that has helped give me a little look into career options for science-related fields.”

Carcamo has taken Authentic Science Research (ASR) 1 and 2 – and is currently taking AP Biology – with Dr. Cathy Farrar.

Last year in ASR 2, she researched how different temperatures affect aspects such as birth rates, size and life span in fruit flies. She’s in the process of submitting her paper to be published in a student journal. 

“AP Bio goes more in depth than other biology classes, and I’ve found things like genetics really fascinating,” Carcamo said. “It’s a class where I don’t feel like I’m learning for a test. I’m learning to gain knowledge, and it’s interesting to me.”

She also enjoyed AP Environmental Science with Kevin Koch and, outside of the classroom, is part of the Marquette Environmental Coalition and completed a field research internship at Shaw Nature Reserve.

Carcamo is half-Honduran and cherishes opportunities to explore and share her family’s culture. Outside of school, she has been involved with Latin ballroom dancing since she was 10. At Marquette, she and her fellow Student Belonging Club members founded and have organized the Marquette Culture Fest event for the past three years.

“That’s given me a chance to share my culture and get to know all the different cultures at Marquette,” she said. “I’m very passionate about bringing awareness to how different each continent, each country is and how cool it is that everything is so different. Rockwood is very open to new clubs and events. Culture Fest is very much student-run. It gave me the experience of what it’s like to start something and get it going.

“It’s really cool seeing all of it come together. Beforehand, you’re nervous thinng about how things could go wrong. But all the performances and hearing how happy everyone was at the event, it’s a good time.”