Old Rochester Regional High School student Emun Legesse has an ambitious post-graduate plan: She is going to give Oprah Winfrey a run for her money.

To get started, the senior has launched her own talk show on the Tri-Town Education Channel.

“Emun” is styled much like her idol’s former talk show, complete with an opening credits segment before each show.

“I’ve always admired Oprah,” said Legesse, a Marion resident. “I always said I wanted to be the next Oprah. It started as a joke, but then I thought more about it and decided I really wanted to do this. She does a lot of good and doesn’t just use her podium for entertainment. She does a lot of charity.”

For her first show, Legesse interviewed Superintendent Doug White.

“I wanted people to know him on a professional level,” Legesse said.

ORR’s TV production teacher Deborah Stinson first proposed the idea of doing a talk show earlier this year. It was Legesse’s outgoing personality that Stinson said prompted her to approach the senior.

“She’s just a pleasure to work with. She’s so enthusiastic,” Legesse said.

“I’m really thankful to [Stinson] for giving me this opportunity,” Legesse said. “Not many people can say they’ve had their own talk show.”

Having never taken a video journalism course, Legesse said she relies on her trusty cameramen and fellow students Tim Gonsalves and Josh Bardwell.

Before her first interview with White, Legesse said she and Bardwell conducted a mock interview. Bardwell pretended to be White, and the trick worked.

“I was nervous to interview Mr. White because he is ‘the guy’,” Legesse said. “I had a mock interview with Josh before the actual interview. He made it so much fun that I knew I could interview anyone after that.”

Born in Ethiopia, Legesse lived in Wisconsin before moving to Marion two years ago with her family.

Besides having her own talk show, Legesse is an honor roll student as well as a member of the school’s drama club, dance team, and band. Legesse said she plans on attending college and possibly majoring in communications or journalism, but she hasn’t decided quite yet.

So far, Legesse has one show in the can with many more to come. Legesse said she is planning a segment on school choice, the state program that allows students to attend schools outside of their school district. She is also planning a miniseries on one of the biggest events of the year for high school seniors – the prom.

“I am really excited about that one,” Legesse said. “It’s going to be about anything and everything you need to know about prom – from getting the right hairstyle to getting a ‘yes’ from a girl to be your date. All the tips and tricks to make prom go well.”

She is also turning to her audience for suggestions for future episodes of "Emun."

“I want to know what they want to hear about,” Legesse said.

Of her show, Legesse said, “I have a lot of ideas. A lot of people saw my show and said they learned a lot. That was my goal so mission accomplished. I love it here. It’s a good place with good people and a good school.”

"Emun" airs on the Tri-Town Educational Channel (Channel 37 for Verizon customers and Channel 97 for Comcast customers.)