Niwot High School Senior Spotlight Katherine Cui

The Left Hand Valley Courier is known for its coverage of athletes and arts students at Niwot High School. The Courier also honors an array of students who pursue activities such as community service, robotics, academics, and topics that fall under the S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) umbrella.

Niwot High School senior Katherine Cui has been complimented in many ways by Niwot High School staff and students, but the one thing that every person emphasizes is Cui's intelligent and ambitious nature that is seen in everything she does.

As an International Baccalaureate (IB) student, Cui is already filling her time with rigorous coursework. Not only is she thriving academically at Niwot, but she both leads and participates in multiple clubs. Recently, she has been leading the Asian Student Association (ASA) alongside a group of her friends, as well as participating in Dance Club where she performs alongside her club-mates at various NHS assemblies.

Cui said, "Through ASA, I work towards nurturing a more understanding and inclusive school community by sharing my culture - and others' - with my peers."

Cui has found passion in both coding and robotics, making an effort to involve both in her life. In her free time, she practices coding and spends time working with her robotics team at Up-A-Creek Robotics. STEM is a passion that Cui hopes to continue pursuing in some way throughout her life.

Although she has explored all genres of dance since a young age, Cui recently decided to go back to her ballet roots. When she first discovered a passion for dancing, it was through ballet. This upcoming spring, Cui will be performing in a ballet with Centennial State Ballet's production of "Cinderella."

Entrepreneurship plays a massive role in Cui's life. In fact, Cui is a small business owner herself. Through her Instagram @lovekae_nails, she sells press-on nail sets.

Cui said, "It began with my interest in nail art and press-on nails, especially since I wanted cute and intricate designs that I couldn't find at any nail salon or press-on nail brand. I've explored all sorts of different nail art types and techniques from 3D-gel creatures to cat-eye/metallic gel. Through my business, I've designed and created nail sets for both my peers at school and strangers around the world, from Portland to Brazil. This project/business has really shown me the importance of creative self-expression, even if it is just a tiny accessory at the tips of your fingers."

Cui has yet to commit to a college, but she has applied to over a dozen she is interested in. She intends to major in business and concentrate or minoring in finance or entrepreneurship.

Cui continues to implement pieces of her passions other than academia into her life. She said, "In the future, I hope to learn how to work with small businesses around the nation to make a positive impact on local communities. I want to study how culture and technology influence local economies, combining my passions for cultural exploration, sociology, STEM, and business to make a positive impact."