Traversing borders across the Atlantic Ocean, Sophia Tkachenko’s story isn’t exactly one that fits the conventional. As a Ukrainian-American, Sophia attended elementary school in Ukraine, and immigrated back to the States to begin sixth grade. Learning how to adjust to a brand new environment, while holding onto the defining pieces of her Ukrainian identity, Sophia has learned the true value of community, and has become determined to display excellence, leadership, and constant curiosity in any endeavor that she seeks to pursue.

Beyond her culture, Sophia is known for her creative spirit and passion for the sciences. Constantly creating with her hands, she states that one of her proudest achievements dates back to when she created a small business titled Hooked By Sophia, and sold over $800 worth of her crochet creations. Sophia is also incredibly dedicated to the sport of tennis and has recently been named her varsity team’s 2024 “Most Valuable Player”. Furthermore, Sophia is actively involved in her school's National Honor Society, serving as the organization Vice President, and founded her own club titled MedExplorers to increase student access to healthcare professions.

In the future, Sophia hopes to pursue the medical field. Inspired by her grandmas, who are both practicing physicians back in Ukraine, Sophia's passions lie in neurology, surgery, and patient care. Sophia also hopes to give back to her community by creating an organization titled UkrNEXT, that supports Ukrainian students’ access to a higher education and empowers them to celebrate their unique Ukrainian identities.