Emilee Akins has been a Buford cheerleader for the past 13 years, starting out as a football cheerleader in kindergarten and joining the basketball cheerleading squad in seventh grade — this makes her a “lifetimer,” having attended Buford City Schools since starting school at the elementary level. As a student at Buford High School, she has participated in football and basketball cheerleading since her freshman year. The senior cheerleading standout is now captain of the varsity cheerleading teams, a role she also held during her junior year. During her senior year, she has received the Most Spirited Award and the Green and Gold Award.
“… it is safe to say I bleed green and gold,” she says.
But Emilee’s cheerleading hasn’t been limited to football fields and basketball courts — she is a cheerleader for Buford, her hometown, and she wants to be remembered after she graduates as someone who loved her city.
“I hope to be remembered as someone who had compassion and love for all of those around, and for the city of Buford,” she said. “I also hope to be remembered as someone who held great value in the traditions of Buford and what they stood for in keeping them around. Because after all you are nothing if you don’t remember where you came from. Buford has shaped me into everything I am and everything I have been a part of, and I hoped to be remembered as someone who cherished every second of being a part of this town.
“This is the town I love, and everyone around me knows that,” she said.
Emilee also represents the city as Miss Buford 2022 — she was crowned during the 75th annual pageant held in September 2021. Emilee says through Miss Buford, as well as her involvement in National Honors Society, Key Club and Beta Club, she has been able to perform more than 75 hours of community service during this school year.
“This has been most influential because these platforms give me the perfect outreach to serve others and give back to the community that has shaped me to who I am today,” Emilee said.
While Emilee holds pageant titles (she was also Sophomore Miss Buford her 10th grade year and Miss Congeniality her junior year) and considers herself a “girly girl,” she said some people might be surprised to know she loves the outdoors, including bass fishing and working with farm animals. Emilee has been a member of the Buford High School bass fishing team since her freshman year. She placed 12th in the 2021 GHSA State Bass Fishing Championship alongside teammate Peyton Rinker. The duo were among 66 teams that competed in the May 2021 event.
Emilee is also a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Leadership and Servant Team, Student Council, Leadership Council, the Gwinnett County Student Leadership Team, IDEALS Athletic Leadership program and BHS’ Executive Student Council. She has served as athletic assistant at Chattahoochee Country Club and an MAEV Academy summer camp teacher. She is also involved in student ministry at 12Stone Church in Buford.
In addition to athletics, extracurriculars and community involvement, Emilee maintains a 4.0 GPA and is an AP Scholar. She will finish high school as an honor graduate with a host of AP classes on her transcript. She is also dual enrolled at the University of North Georgia.
Rounding out the Triple A Excellence Buford High School is known for — excellence in academics, athletics and the arts — Emilee has been a member of chorus and she participates in dance.
After graduation, Emilee plans to attend Georgia College and State University and study abroad before transferring to the University of Georgia to major in agriculture business.
Emilee is the daughter of Chris and Amanda Akins of Buford. She has two siblings, Hunter, 21, who attends the University of Georgia, and Dylan, 20, who attends Emmanuel College in Franklin Springs.
The Buford City Schools Student Spotlight is made possible by the generosity of the City of Buford.
