Emma Grace Thompson

Emma Grace Thompson loves to investigate the past and tell its stories, and she has been involved in National History Day since sixth grade. In 2010, as an eighth grader, she received second prize for her film: “Innovation Ends Isolation: The Effect of the Telephone on a Small Appalachian Community,“ which examined her own community, Coker Creek, Tennessee, and the effects brought about by the introduction of telephones. Commenting on her award she said, “It’s not about history classes; it’s about making history come alive.“ Now a senior, Emma won a gold medal, placing first at the 2014 National History Day Program for her documentary on a 1924 textile mill strike. Her project was titled: Rough in the Bunch: Appalachia’s Rayon Girls Fight for the Right to Strike.

Emma Grace is a self-taught video editor and producer.  In 2010 she created the Those Meddling Kids Production Company and began to produce videos on a contractual basis for businesses, families, and individuals.  Each video begins production with a personal interview.  She has created films for high school graduation celebrations, engagement parties, birthday parties and weddings.  Her production company was selected by the senior class of Berean Christian High School to create a Memories Film for viewing at graduation. 

In addition to making documentary films, Emma Grace explores many outlets for her creative spirit. She is a dancer, a performer, a pianist and singer, and published author.  Performing in both community theatre and in semi-professional theatre, Emma has had lead roles in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Little Mermaid, Alice in Wonderland, and The Princess and the Frog.  She has published articles in anthologies, newspapers, magazines, self-published books, and has written a historically accurate play for the local elementary school.

Emma leads a team in fundraising efforts for St. Jude’s Children Hospital.  As a teaching volunteer at a summer dance camp, she teaches ballet and tap to disadvantaged youth. She teaches Vacation Bible School classes in an impoverished community.  Each class brings challenges:  preschoolers who have not eaten in more than a day, children that have no shoes, first graders who do not understand how to use crayons because they have never seen them before, kindergarteners mesmerized by hand-washing because they do not have running water in their home.  The challenges are great, but her love of these children allows her to meet each challenge with enthusiasm for a solution.