Oklahoma’s Kid Governor Emma Stephens about the student

Emma is a fifth-grader at Oak Hall Episcopal School. Outside of school, she likes to play the flute, sing in the chorus, and read. The 11-year-old also enjoys 4-H, a youth afterschool program that teaches kids leadership, responsibility, and life skills through hands-on projects in areas like agriculture, science, and community service. For example, the group did a craft for Veterans Day and made cards on Valentine’s Day.

On October 26, 2024, Emma attended a daylong civics workshop the state 4-H program held for students in fourth, fifth, and sixth grades. When program leaders announced the Kid Governor program, all 25 of the fifth graders at the workshop decided to run, including Emma. “A new sixth-grade friend talked me into running,” Emma told News-O-Matic. Her friend couldn’t run for Kid Governor, since that program is only open to students in fifth grade. Emma was nervous at first, but said her new friend “helped me get out of my comfort zone.”

“I was saying I wouldn’t win, and she was like, okay, we can still do it,” explained Emma. Each of the fifth-grade candidates made a short speech about a topic he or she cares about. Emma spoke about improving education for kids in Oklahoma. “I really want to help them with school, like better reading,” said Emma. Other kids spoke about topics such as helping animals, clean energy, helping the homeless, and preventing littering. Then, Emma’s friend helped her go around to the other kids and ask them to vote for her.

After all of the fifth-graders at the workshop cast their votes in a primary election, Emma found out that she had “made the first cut.” She and the other seven finalists each made another speech. Then, kids voted in a run-off election. Emma heard she had won the top spot. “As the names were called off,” she said, “I couldn’t believe I was the last name called!”

Emma began her one-year term as Kid Governor on February 3, 2025. She and her parents headed to the state capitol in Oklahoma City for the inauguration ceremony. The other seven finalists also attended the ceremony. The second runner-up, Shawn Ferrell, will serve as lieutenant governor, and the other six students will work with Emma in her Cabinet. All eight kids met the last Oklahoma Kid Governor, Mila O’Brien, as well as former Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating. Emma also met Tammy Townley, the state representative for the district where Emma and her family live.

Former Judge Noma Guerri did the swearing-in ceremony for Emma, Shawn, and her Cabinet — the same swearing-in she does for the elected officials in the state. After she was sworn in, Emma made another speech. She talked about her plan to start a program for reading buddies or mentors to help struggling students.

The student leader has advice for other kids interested in the Kid Governor program. “It would be a fun experience to just try and do it, but it’s okay if you don’t get it.” Emma added, “It would still be a really fun experience to just try and give a speech in front of people.”