Section 36 has another visitor! Cassie Roby is passionate about the getting women involved in STEM, a talented twirler, and the current Miss Jacksonville. I was thrilled that she was willing to visit with us to discuss those topics, and a few more!
So, let's see what happens when Cassie Roby visits Section 36!
At Miss Jacksonville I learned to be more confident in the interview room. I learned how to better prepare and how to stay true to myself. I always try to show the judges my goals, values, and what I am passionate about. Now before interviews I write down a couple key talking points I want to hit and try to steer the direction of the conversation towards those points.
One of my main goals as Miss Jacksonville is to be present in the schools. Unfortunately, COVID-19 cancelled a lot of my school appearances. At these appearances I planned on during a quick cryogenic science experiment called ‘Frozen Flowers’. Using liquid nitrogen I demonstrate phase change by freezing the water in the flower causing it to shatter when smashed on the ground. This is a great activity for students because it’s so interactive.
I selected Women in STEM because I am a Women in STEM. I received both my bachelors and masters degrees in mechanical engineering at Florida State University. Now I work full time with Northrop Grumman. I had three different internships and a research position within my five years at school. At every internship and my research I found myself to be the only woman among a team of men. This is due to the fact that women make up only 29% of the STEM workforce. This leads to an uphill battle for women as they face gender discrimination, imposter syndrome, and unconscious bias. I hope by inspiring the next generation of women to join STEM I can help move the needle to reduce these problems. To do this I started #WhyYouCanWednesday on social media and created a free Women in STEM Mentorship program. This connects young women in first through twelfth grade to female STEM college students, professionals, and retirees. The registration process is simple and free at womeninstemamerica.com.
What I enjoy most about performing is feeling the audience. When I was Feature Twirler for Florida State University I had a lot of freedom with my routines. This allowed me to really cater to the crowd of up to 80,000 people. I love playing into what the audience likes, I think it makes me a better performer. I want to be a performer that people remember and are excited to see again. I cannot wait to use the lessons I learned from being Feature Twirler in the talent portion of competition.
Personal fitness is really important to me. It makes me feel strong and confident and is a great way to destress. Before COVID-19 I would workout at a gym with a focus on cardio and bodyweight exercises. Since COVID-19 I have switched to an online program called Boxing and Bubbles (B&B). This program was created and founded by Christa Dipaolo, who currently resides in Miami Florida (I love supporting Florida businesses). I found this program the right fit for me because Christa is constantly changing up the workouts while keeping them all engaging and fun! She even writes a weekly schedule which ensures I hit all the major workout zones. The B&B community is super supportive and encouraging whether you’ve been working out for years or for a day! If you’re looking for a fun home workout program be sure to check out christadipaolo.com.
I get great satisfaction when I inspire people.
As always, I want to thank Cassie for visiting with us, and for sending along the amazing pictures to go with the interview.
How did you celebrate winning the Miss Jacksonville crown?
I celebrated winning the Miss Jacksonville crown by going to dinner with my parents! I ordered a chicken quesadilla, which is one of my guilty pleasures. I also spent the night on the phone facetiming my friends and family with the exciting news! My family and friends are really important to me. While many weren’t able to make it, I was overwhelmed by the love and support I received.
What did you learn about yourself at the Miss Jacksonville competition that will help you whenever you compete for Miss Florida?
Is there a specific goal you’d like to accomplish during your time as Miss Jacksonville?
One of my main goals as Miss Jacksonville is to be present in the schools. Unfortunately, COVID-19 cancelled a lot of my school appearances. At these appearances I planned on during a quick cryogenic science experiment called ‘Frozen Flowers’. Using liquid nitrogen I demonstrate phase change by freezing the water in the flower causing it to shatter when smashed on the ground. This is a great activity for students because it’s so interactive.
While I am excited to join the schools in person at a later date, I currently have at-home STEM activities on my Miss Jacksonville Instagram and Facebook pages. These activities are designed to provide simple science experiments to students using few common household items. This makes it easy on parents and teachers to provide a visual aid for learning.
How did you select your social impact initiative, “Women in STEM”?
As a talented baton twirler, what do you enjoy most about performing?
What I enjoy most about performing is feeling the audience. When I was Feature Twirler for Florida State University I had a lot of freedom with my routines. This allowed me to really cater to the crowd of up to 80,000 people. I love playing into what the audience likes, I think it makes me a better performer. I want to be a performer that people remember and are excited to see again. I cannot wait to use the lessons I learned from being Feature Twirler in the talent portion of competition.
What is your personal fitness routine?
Eating healthy and making smart decisions is also an important aspect of my personal fitness routine, but that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy pizza and ice cream! I always say to enjoy everything in moderation.
How would you complete the sentence “I get great satisfaction when ___”?
I always tell people to believe they can. There is so much power in believing in yourself. Through my Women in STEM platform I try to inspire young women everyday to join these innovative fields. I help by sharing my journey to becoming a Spacecraft Thermal Engineer, but my story isn’t enough. This is why I started my women in STEM mentorship program to grow a community of empowered women in STEM.
Aside from my Women in STEM initiative, I work as a Real Talk ambassador. Real Talk is an educational program for middle school to college aged students that teaches them about alcohol and drug substance abuse. I help reinforce the importance of this message by sharing how I’ve seen both alcohol and drug abuse within my family. This helps make me and the message more relatable and impactful. Through Real Talk I hope to inspire young students to take a stand when faced with peer pressure. I also hope to inspire them to do what is right, even when it’s hard. Real Talk is provided free by the advanced recovery systems and anyone interested in setting up a presentation just needs to message me!
If you had an extra ticket to a Marlins-Rays game, who would you take with you? Why?
If I had an extra ticket to a Marlins-Rays game I would take my father with me. He not only loves sports, but has also been my number one fan. He has always supported me in everything I’ve done. Whether that’s sitting in a gym for 10 hours for a baton competition, traveling to Tallahassee for every home game, or helping me relocate for my internships he always makes sure to be there. When I moved from baton twirling into pageants he was super supportive again and was in the crowd when I was crowned Miss Jacksonville. Since he loves sports I think this would be a fun way to thank him.
Is there a feature or activity at a baseball game that you’d especially like to experience?
Yes! I have always dreamed of throwing out a first pitch at a baseball game. Jacksonville has a minor league baseball team, the Jumbo Shrimp, which Miss Jacksonville usually gets scheduled to throw out first pitches and present their talent. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 the MLB has announced that there will not be a minor league 2020 season, but I am hopeful I will get the opportunity to throw out a first pitch someday!
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I really hope she gets that chance!
I really hope she gets that chance!
As always, I want to thank Cassie for visiting with us, and for sending along the amazing pictures to go with the interview.
As Cassie continues her time as Miss Jacksonville, I encourage you to check out her official Facebook page and Instagram account. It’s a great way to make sure you don’t miss out on anything she’ll have going on.
Cassie also mentioned several websites you should remember to visit. To find out about her Women in Stem mentorship program, check out Women in STEM America. If you're interested in the fitness program she follows, check out Boxing and Bubbles. And, if you're looking for information on alcohol and drug abuse, check out Real Talk.
Cassie also mentioned several websites you should remember to visit. To find out about her Women in Stem mentorship program, check out Women in STEM America. If you're interested in the fitness program she follows, check out Boxing and Bubbles. And, if you're looking for information on alcohol and drug abuse, check out Real Talk.
I definitely want to wish her the best of luck whenever she competes for the Miss Florida title. It would be wonderful to have the first Section 36 visitor wear that crown!
Thanks again Cassie, and good luck!
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