By Mindy Ragan Wood
Staff Writer
Twin brother and sister Katie and Rob Bomhoff share much more than the same birthday.
They possess a high level of talent and determination – but in different fields.
Katie has been accepted to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland and Rob to the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in New York City, New York.
Katie will pursue degrees in biophysics and engineering while Rob will seek a degree in fine arts to pursue a stage career.
Katie’s ambitions started young.
“She wants to be a prosthetist which is someone who designs and fits prosthetics,” mom Suzanne Bomhoff said. “Her dad (Steve) lost his arm when he was four in a farming accident. He wore an artificial limb until he was 18. A lot of the reason is sadly because of the cost.”
Until the age of 18, prosthetics are provided at little to no cost through foundations and children’s charity hospitals. The cost can range from hundreds of dollars to as high as $100,000.
Katie grew up watching her dad work the family’s farm and overcome the disability.
“All while I was growing up it’s something that interested me, my dad with one arm,” Katie said. “He doesn’t wear one anymore, but I’ve always wanted to help people and people who have needs like that. He was my original inspiration.”
Her first interest was medicine, but she discovered a talent for upper level mathematics and robotics. Katie has been on the Okarche robotics team the last four years and fell in love with it.
The decision to apply to John’s Hopkins was a shot in the dark as Katie applied to several other universities. When she received the news, she was stunned.
“I was mostly surprised because a few days earlier I had gotten rejections from a few of the colleges,” she said. “Then we opened it, I was surprised and excited and I was freaked out and called my mom.”
By train Katie will only be three hours away from her twin, but he will likely be just as busy as she. Rob will complete four semesters in New York City and the remaining four in Los Angeles.
He was accepted to AMDA after auditioning for acceptance in Oklahoma City last summer. The audition drew a dozen students who participated in a workshop that focused on auditioning for judges.
“It was a blast to get on stage and audition,” Rob said.
The prestigious performing arts college was founded in 1964 and was supported by Broadways’ elite including Sammie Davis, Jr., Carol Channing, Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor and Dina Merrill.
“I was kind of shocked,” Rob said when he learned the news. “I was in our game room watching our TV and my mom came in and showed me the email that I got accepted. I got really excited.”
His inspiration to become a stage actor began in Okarche High School with speech and drama performances. He and Katie both stole hearts with their fellow performers and have won several awards across the state for drama. Last week the siblings were awarded the State Superintendent Award for Arts Excellence.
Rob said he took the idea of a career in performing arts more seriously after a high school classmate of his mother’s encouraged him. His mom’s classmate – Paul Sparks – has enjoyed a long stage and film career.
“He’s a working actor in New York and we got to talk to him after the play he was in,” Rob said. “He showed me I can be an actor and I don’t have to be this big famous millionaire. I can still be an actor without all the pressure of being a celebrity.”
Rob said he is sure he will miss Okarche if he has a chance to slow down in New York. Both he and his sister seem are excited for a new adventure. Katie said she applied to Johns Hopkins in part to gain a new experience.
“It’s one of the top medical universities in the nation,” she said. “I just thought if I could aim high, I might be able to follow my goals better.”
