Rogers New Tech senior assumes president’s role

By Delaney Reaves

Editor-in-Chief

Koie Kebert is accustomed to juggling multiple roles off stage. Now, she has landed a role that puts her front and center.

Kebert attends Rogers New Technology High School and is in her senior year. She’s also a student at NorthWest Arkansas Community College, where she seeks to earn associate of science and associate of arts degrees.

Kebert holds the title of president of the theatre club at NWACC for the 2023-24 term after being interim president during the summer. She joined the theatre program during spring 2023 when the club had only a few members. The organization gained Kebert from a table reading of “Music & Other Arts of War” written by Miles Fish, music professor at NWACC.

During the election in spring 2023, Kebert was voted in as secretary for the theatre club. Filling the shoes as secretary was a comfortable shift for Kebert who had previously served in similar jobs in other organizations. She was voted in as president of the theatre club in September 2023.

As the president of the club, her responsibilities include running meetings, prepping/planning events and working with the committees within the club that plan for specific events.

Kebert will graduate in the spring with a high school diploma from Rogers New Tech and aims for an associate of science as well as associate of arts from NWACC.

Stephanie Freeman, theatre professor and NWACC theatre club faculty adviser, said that Kebert is extremely reliable, selfless and community-minded, which is key to a successful career in performing arts.

“Koie is a natural leader, and the Theatre Club would not have grown so steadily last semester without her,” Freeman said.

Along with serving in a leadership position, Kebert had the opportunity to take on an acting role for an NWACC production last semester, “Circle Mirror Transformation” by Annie Baker.

“She was able to step into a role last semester for our spring production, and she did an amazing job,” Freeman said.

She works alongside her advisers and fellow students to help the theatre club succeed and inspire other students. Other officers of the theatre club are vice presidents Genaro Reyes and Miles Ortiz and secretary Jack Hodge. It was a bit of a natural transition for Kebert to be the president of the group.

Kebert said she’s always been somewhat of a student leader and has had the opportunity to attend multiple leadership conferences.

“I strive to be the best leader I can be,” Kebert said. “A leader to me is someone you can trust and helps you reach your full potential.”

Kebert is also highly involved within the Interact club at her high school and hopes to soon be in a leadership role in the community service based club. Interact is a community service based club offered at Rogers New Tech.

What’s next for Kebert?

After her time in high school and community college, she plans to continue her education and eventually seek a doctorate in chemistry; her target schools include Yale, Harvard and MIT. She says she also may pursue a minor in theatre somewhere along her college journey. She likely will be ready for whatever future roles come her way.