Ed. note: The Enterprise publishes “Catch a Rising Star” to recognize students who stand out among their peers academically, athletically, artistically or in in their attitudes. Students from Glen Lake, Lake Leelanau St. Mary, Leland, Northport, Suttons Bay and those living in Leelanau but attending Traverse City West High School will be featured. Catch a Rising Star is compiled by news editor Amy Hubbell and is published twice a month when school is in session.

Emma Cook

Emma Catherine Cook is the “Rising Star” among county high school students this week.

Emma, a Glen Lake senior, is the daughter of Gary Cook and Sue Wood of Cedar and the youngest of two children. Her older sister, Sarah, also graduated from Glen Lake and attends the University of Michigan. Emma is an outstanding student who has earned a reputation as an excellent musician, vocalist and songwriter through her performances with North By Northwest, Glen Lake’s select choir, and appearances with the New Third Coast.

“Emma is an extremely talented young lady — academically and musically. Her zest for learning and life is contagious,” said Melissa Okerlund, English teacher and instructor for Emma’s Advanced Placement (AP) literature class.

She is also a 3-year varsity soccer player.

Favorite class: “I enjoy my AP Spanish class. We have interesting philosophical discussions in both Spanish and English. I love talking to my peers about those sort of things.”

Do you have a role model? “I don’t have one single role model. I look to my mom, friends and family … a lot of strong independent women in my life, I look to women who are confident in themselves, living their life on their terms. Those are qualities I admire.”

Career plans: “I’d like to pursue music at some point, at a 4-year university. I hope wherever I go (to college) I can participate in a choir or on the side … to go one step further in my music and go public with it more.”

Where’s your favorite place to hang out? “It doesn’t matter on the place. As cliche as it sounds, I think I’d have to say at our cabin on Glen Lake. I spend a lot of time there in the summer with my friends hanging out at the beach.”

Describe the “perfect day”, who would you be with, what would you do and where? “It would be Aug. 12, when there’s usually good summer weather. I’d be with close friends and family socializing. We don’t really have to do anything. Then we’d go home and I’d play music with my mother. We’d have a big potluck meal and enjoy everyone being together.”

What’s the best book you’ve ever read? That’s the toughest question so far. I read a lot of good books. I’ll just go with my most recent … The World According to Garp, by John Irving, because of his ability to create characters and convey to readers how they would react to different situations.”

Who is your favorite musician/musical group? “This is a thinker. I love all music and appreciate it for what it is, not that I can’t appreciate it for what it inspires. I’ll say Seth Bernard and Daisy May and others in the Earth Work Music Collaborative and local Michigan musicians. I admire their ability to do what they do and write music without compromising