May 26, 2023

As Olivia Edwards progressed through her time at Eureka High, she started to find that she was hitting some of the same accolades that her father achieved when he was a student at Rockwood Summit High.

Olivia was selected for the National Merit Scholarship Program, and so was her father. Olivia was a representative in this year’s class of Missouri Scholars 100, and her father was a member of the class of 1995.

“It has been fun to follow in my dad's footsteps, even though we're both a little competitive about our accomplishments,” Edwards said.

Now that college awaits, Edwards will experience greater opportunities to forge her own path.

She plans to attend the University of Missouri­-St. Louis and study music education and/or chemistry. An accomplished cello player, Edwards also plans to continue playing and studying music in college.

She is also entering college with, potentially, more than 50 credit hours already completed, thanks to Advanced Placement and other advanced credit opportunities at Eureka.

“Being able to play cello and receive quality music instruction in college is very important to me,” she said. “I have been working with the UMSL music department, and I know I will have the best experience playing cello at UMSL thanks to them. I also wanted to stay close to my family, so UMSL is a great choice for me.”

In addition to orchestra – she served as secretary of the Orchestra Student Board – Edwards was vice president of French Club and a member of National Honor Society at Eureka.

“The activities I am a part of made my high school experience so much more fulfilling and gave me opportunities to make new friends with similar interests,” she said.

Edwards said orchestra teachers Nicole Cramer and Mary White played important roles in her development as a musician, challenging her while offering encouragement and support.

Educators such as science teacher Andrew Ribbing and teachers in the Rockwood Gifted Program – such as Alison Smith and Allison Seitz at LaSalle Springs Middle – have also helped prepare Edwards for her next steps.

“Mr. Ribbing is an amazing science teacher who helped me realize I love chemistry, and Gifted teachers – especially Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Seitz -- taught me problem solving skills I will use throughout my life,” she said. “Rockwood has been an important part of my life and experiences, and I know that they have prepared me for college.”