Leopard Look: Katie Rink

Anna Hurlbert, Special to The Red Ledger • May 1, 2019

Olivia Lauter

Junior Katie Rink volunteers her computer science talents to her church and community.

Junior Katie Rink is a computer science student who uses her interest in technology to impact her community.

At A Glance

Go to outfit when you’re feeling confident: A tank top and jeans

Favorite music genre: Electronic dance music

A topping you never want on a burger: Tomatoes

Describe yourself in one word: Awkward

Worst fear: Getting a papercut in my eye

Looking Deeper

The Red Ledger: How do you influence others with technology?

Katie Rink: Well, I’m definitely trying at church to help out a bunch. I’ll go up and I’ll work lights and sound, even though I do mess that up. I get to help people and, occasionally, with different things like if my friends are having a graduation or something, I get to go up and help them because I’m really good at figuring out technology and stuff like that. So, it’s really nice because if I get to pave the way for someone to express their passion, then I get to give them the spotlight by making everything super smooth for them. That’s how I make a big influence on people.

TRL: Who is the most important person in your life?

KR: Probably my best friend because she’s inspired me in so many ways. If it wasn’t for her, then I wouldn’t be talking right now. I wouldn’t be doing anything. I would be sitting in the corner of my room. So, she’s the reason I am the person that I am today.

TRL: What classes do you excel in?

KR: Computer science and math, most definitely. I know it’s kind of the cliche answer for a technology person, but it’s really what I do well in. I have never studied for a math test in my life.

TRL: What do you plan to do after high school?

KR: Hopefully, go to college. I want to try to intern for computer science to hopefully get a job that allows me to code a lot and try new things, maybe in the AI field.

TRL: How many girls do you know who work and experiment with technology?

KR: Maybe 50. I mean, I went to my dad’s work once, and he has a bunch of women he works with. And I have gone to quite a few women and STEM conferences so that always lends itself to meeting a lot of cool people.

TRL: What are the STEM conferences?

KR: Well, one was just a computer science competition for only women, and I’m about to go to it in two weeks because it’s an annual thing. A lot of them are just trying to get girls more into STEM, so some have been engineering, some have been STEM-based all together, and there have been a couple of science ones. I’m actually applying to a summer program for women, and we’re trying to get into mechanical engineering and stuff like that.

About the Contributor

Olivia Lauter, Section Editor

Heading into her fourth and final year in TRL, senior Olivia Lauter could not be more thrilled to soak up every last minute of shooting sports, events and portraits for her favorite publication. Lauter has spent every day of her high school career with a camera around her neck, and you won’t catch her without it until graduation day. As well as being the photo editor for TRL, Lauter is a varsity cheerleader and involved in PALS and NHS. When she’s not on the sidelines with her camera or cheering on the Leopards, Lauter is with her friends, who she adores more than life itself. You will probably hear “last time, best time” and how “bittersweet” senior year is continually from Lauter this year, but she is just excited to spend one more year doing what she loves alongside the people she loves on TRL.