Yamuna Turco Visits Section 36!

Section 36 had another visitor! Yamuna Turco is passionate about reading, a talented singer, and the current Miss Vermont. I was glad she was willing to visit with us to discuss those topics, and a few more.

So, let's see what happens when Yamuna Turco visits Section 36!

How did you celebrate winning the Miss Vermont crown?

Winning Miss Vermont was an incredible honor and experience. I was incredibly lucky that my friends and family were able to attend. After pictures and meeting everyone who had come to attend the competition, my family and friends took me to dinner! We got sushi, which was much needed.

Is there a specific goal you’d like to accomplish during your time as Miss Vermont?

During my year as Miss Vermont there are several goals I’d like to accomplish, but the most important is the expansion of my Community Service Initiative (CSI). I hope to get as many different books as possible into schools, libraries, community centers, and into the hands of kids all across Vermont. My “big goal” is to go to every library in Vermont!

As the first member of this Miss America class to be crowned, how does it feel to be able to see new sisters being added to the class?

I am so excited to meet my new sisters! Getting to watch my class grow means I can experience their excitement with them and support them as they compete.

How did you select your social impact initiative, “One Book, One Child”?

I chose my CSI “One Book, One Child” because books have always been an integral part of my life. My parents read to my sister and me every night and have always encouraged us to explore the different kinds of books that exist in libraries and in our schools. As a first-generation American, books allowed me to learn about the culture I was growing up in, and the cultures my parents and friends came from as well. Books help get you lost in stories different than your own and broaden your view of the world. 

As a talented singer, what do you enjoy most about performing on stage?

There is something indescribable about performing on stage for people. The lights, the stage, and the people, they all add to the experience of performing and it brings out something that you can not practice. You can engage with the audience and they motivate you to sing the best you can; you feed off each other’s energy. I love being able to see my friends and family in the audience, they give me a boost and help me power through a song and add the flourishes that really make a performance.

If you could be a Disney character for a week, who would you choose? Why?

If I could be a Disney character I would probably be Ariel, when she was a mermaid. I love the ocean and the sun, also being friends with a group of singing fish seems pretty cool!

If you had an extra ticket to see the Red Sox play at Fenway, who would you take with you? Why?

If I had an extra ticket to see the Red Sox, I would probably take my friend Meagan. Not only did she take the time to explain baseball to me, but she is also a huge fan of the Red Sox and is from Boston. Attending a game with her would be so much fun!

Is there a feature or activity at a baseball game that you’d especially like to experience?

I really want to pitch at a game. Admittedly I would have to practice a couple of times, but it seems like so much fun and would be such an honor to do. 

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Oh, I'm sure we'd all have to practice a bit if given that opportunity!

As always, I want to thank Yamuna for visiting with us, and for sending along the pictures to go with the interview.

I also want to wish her luck when she competes for Miss America! It would be fantastic to have another Section 36 Forever wear that crown.

I'm sure you'd like to follow along with Yamuna during her journey. You should be sure to check out her title's Instagram account. It's a great way to keep track of everything she has going on, and you'll be sure not to miss anything.

Thanks again Yamuna, and good luck!  

Emily Benz Visits Section 36!

Section 36 had another visitor! Emily Benz is passionate about reading, a nursing student, and the current Miss Maple Leaf. I was so flattered she wanted to visit with us to discuss those topics, and a few more. 

So, let's see what happens when Emily Benz visits Section 36!

What made you decide to try for the Miss Maple Leaf crown?

Last year I represented my home county under the title of Miss Chittenden County, but I knew that this year I wanted a title that represented my love for all parts of Vermont. They say home is where the heart is and I almost feel as if there are pieces in my heart scattered all across Vermont; I am so lucky to be able to say that this whole state is my home. The Sugar Maple tree is our state tree and plays a big part in our economy. Vermont is the largest producer and supplier of maple syrup in the nation and the changing colors of the trees during foliage season is a huge leaf-peeping attraction; it felt fitting to represent my love for this state under the title of Miss Maple Leaf. 

What has been the biggest surprise about your time as Miss Maple Leaf?

Last year I gained so many new and lifelong friends competing for the title of Miss Vermont; I was overjoyed to hear that many of those friends were returning this year to compete along with a bunch of new delegates! Getting to know everyone competing this year and cheering each other on through our time as local titleholders is hands down one of the best parts of this organization. I have especially enjoyed being able to work with Miss Maple Leaf’s Teen and collaborate with each other on our Community Service Initiatives. The connections made and sisterhood gained through the organization was something that I had always heard about, when I competed for the first time I was shocked at just how real it was. I have two older brothers and always wanted a sister growing up; this organization has given me the support of a whole century’s worth of sisters and for that I will be forever grateful for! 

What part of the upcoming Miss Vermont competition are you most nervous about?

I’m bringing a new talent to the Miss Vermont stage this year! While I am very excited and absolutely love every part of what I am putting together, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a little bit nervous to showcase it in front of the audience. I’ve always been a creative person! I love the challenge of learning a new hobby or starting a new project when it comes to arts and crafts; my talent this year feels like a combined representation of that. It’s been a challenge learning this new skill, but the process has also truly been so much fun. I can’t wait to reflect that excitement, passion, and love into my performance on the Miss Vermont stage in April. 

How did you select your social impact initiative, “Let’s Read: Empowering Today’s Readers to be Tomorrow’s Leaders”? 

I have always been an avid reader, my love for literature was established early on and has followed me throughout my life. My mom is also a Kindergarten teacher, I spent many days in her classroom growing up watching her foster a love for books in her students. When I got old enough, she would let me read to her class during read-aloud time. In high school, I became a literacy tutor and began helping elementary students build strong literacy skills. This experience made me realize just how many students did not have access to age-appropriate literature outside of school. When students don’t have access to books they are put at a disadvantage in their education and at an increased risk of dropping out of school down the line. I wanted to make sure that these students had every opportunity they could to pursue their dreams; every child deserves to share in the joy of reading and the chance to advance to higher education. So, in 2019 I started Let’s Read as a community-based project. I primarily collected new and used books to be distributed to students all across Vermont and served as a mentor for students in their reading journey; I have since collected and distributed over 1,000 books! Today, I have a Let’s Read website that features posts to get children excited about books, a literacy resources page to connect families to free reading material through the power of the internet, a reading club to encourage students of all ages to read for at least 20 minutes a day, and a goals setting workshop to teach students how to map out their path towards achieving their dreams through setting SMART goals. 

What is your favorite part about performing your talent on stage?

I mentioned earlier that I am bringing a new talent to the stage this year! However, regardless of what I am performing, my favorite part of performing my talent is being able to share something that I am passionate about outside of my Community Service Initiative and my love for the Miss Vermont Scholarship Organization. Every woman who competes is truly so talented and well-rounded in what they do; I always see that reflected in the talent portion! I’m thrilled to be able to share my creative side and love for art through my talent performance this year. 

You are currently studying nursing at Castleton University. What drew you to that field?

I always knew that I wanted to go into the medical profession! Science was my favorite subject in school. I loved how the complexity of all the different science courses I took in school challenged me and how there was always something new to learn. I landed on nursing because of the caring aspect of it; I have always been a very caring and empathetic person, after getting a small taste of nursing through working as a Personal Care Assistant I knew it’s what I was meant to do. I have plans to work as a mother-baby nurse after I graduate in May. I’ll be working with a variety of antepartum, postpartum, and newborn patients! After a few years of nursing experience, I hope to return to school to become a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner and work in the NICU. 

If you could be a Disney character for a week, who would you choose? Why?

That’s a tough question; I love so many Disney characters! However, I would probably have to choose Ariel. She was my favorite Disney princess growing up and I think it would be so cool to explore the ocean from her point of view. Also, who wouldn't want to be a mermaid or live at an oceanside castle for a week?

If you had an extra ticket to see the Red Sox play at Fenway Park, who would you take with you? Why?

I would probably have to choose my dad. We always went to Vermont Lake Monsters games together when I was little. I would love to be able to go to Fenway with him and see the Red Sox play, especially if it was against the Yankees as he is a New Yorker!

Is there a feature or activity at a baseball game that you’d especially like to experience?

I’ll be honest, I’m not the biggest baseball fan. I am however a HUGE hockey fan! This past Winter Classic was held at Fenway and I would have loved to be able to attend; maybe I’ll be able to see it the next time Fenway hosts. Although, if I had to choose a baseball event at Fenway then I would have to say Vermont Day for sure! 

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I want to go to the Winter Classic at Fenway too! 

As always, I want to thank Emily for visiting with us, and for sending along the pictures to go with the interview.

I also want to wish her luck when she competes for Miss Vermont! It would be fantastic to have yet another Section 36 Forever wear that crown.

I'm sure you'd like to follow along with Emily during her journey as Miss Maple Leaf. You should be sure to check out her title's Instagram account. It's a great way to keep track of everything she has going on. You should also check out the Let's Read website to see how you can help Emily empower readers.

Thanks again Emily, and good luck!

Karson Pennington Visits Section 36!

Photo: Matt Boyd

Section 36 had another visitor! Karson Pennington is passionate about reading, a talented dancer, and the current Miss Georgia. I was excited that she was willing to visit with us to discuss those topics, and a few more.

So, let's see what happens when Karson Pennington visits Section 36!

How did you celebrate winning the Miss Georgia crown?

I celebrated by spending lots of time with my family! They are the reason behind everything I do. I am very close with my mother, father, and sister, so when I finally got home after spending almost two weeks in Columbus, GA, we did what we always do—play card games and watch movies! I’ve been competing in the Miss America Organization since I was 13 years old, and couldn’t have been more surprised when my name was called as Miss Georgia 2021. It’s been an absolute honor thus far, and I’ll be celebrating this victory for the rest of my life.

What part of the upcoming Miss America competition are you most nervous about?

Honestly, I’m probably the most nervous about the onstage interview! Even though I’m a Teaching Assistant at the University of Georgia for introductory American Government classes and spend much of my time in front of my classroom, I still get nervous when put on the spot. However, I love being the connection that students have between the classroom and real life. So, being a Teaching Assistant has helped me in overcoming some of the nervousness I experience during onstage interview!

You were recently able to appear in the iconic Show Us Your Shoes parade at the Miss America 100th anniversary celebration. What was that experience like?

The Show Us Your Shoes parade has been one of my favorite events of my reign! I was able to represent my college, the University of Georgia. While in my undergraduate studies at UGA, I was a four-year member of the Georgettes Dance Team with the Redcoat Marching Band. I had the opportunity to dance at 3 SEC Championships, 2 Sugar Bowl Games, and the 2018 National Championship. UGA sports have played a huge role in my life, so I was honored to demonstrate my love for the school by wearing the iconic Georgette white boots in the parade. I’ll never forget riding in the parade and yelling “Go Dawgs” to everyone I saw!

How did you select your social impact initiative, “Reach Out and Read”? 

When I was three years old, I was diagnosed with onset fluency disorder, or stuttering. I had trouble connecting my thoughts to my speech, and struggled to get words out of my mouth. My pediatrician recommended to my parents that they teach me to read as a way to build confidence in my speaking skills. I haven’t put books down since! Reading saved my life, so now I travel the state in hopes that education and literacy can save the lives of others as well.

While at UGA you were a member of the Georgettes dance team. What was that experience like?

Being a Georgette was an experience unlike any other! I will never forget the feeling of dancing in Sanford Stadium in front of 93,000 fans. One of my favorite memories was the Notre Dame game in the 2019 season, which was my senior year. I traveled with the band to Notre Dame in 2017 when we pulled off a close win, so getting to see the Dawgs beat Notre Dame again, at a night game in Sanford Stadium was truly chilling. I love sports, and being a Georgia fan hasn’t always been easy! But, I’m very proud to have been a small part of our recent success. Go Dawgs!

You’re currently a doctoral student in Political Science and International Affairs. Where do you see that field taking you?

I never imagined that I’d be getting my PhD in Political Science & International Affairs, but, now I can’t imagine my life without my research and teaching opportunities. I found my passion for political science in fall of 2016 as a freshman in an Honors Introduction to American Government class, which I had truthfully dreaded taking! I was an English and Journalism major at the time, and didn’t believe I knew enough about politics and government to be successful in the class. When I realized how important history was to political science, it began to peak my interest. By the end of my first semester at UGA, I had changed my major to political science and had a million questions about how our government operated. Now, I complete research about the judiciary and teach classes each week. I love what I do and cannot wait to become a collegiate professor and advocate 

If you could be a Disney Character for a week, who would you choose? Why? 

I would absolutely be Belle! Though the prospect of being trapped in a castle with a beast sounds horrible, I would love to have access to all the books in the library. I would spend the entire week reading, which is basically my idea of a perfect week anyway! And, my favorite color is yellow, so I’d love to have her ball gown in my wardrobe.

The Braves just won the World Series this year for the first time in over 25 years. As a Braves fan, what was it like to have them do that during the year you’re representing the state as Miss Georgia? 

I’ve been a Braves fan my entire life, so I am absolutely overjoyed that the Braves have won a World Series title for the first time in my lifetime! I had the opportunity to attend Game 3, and of course brought my sash into the game for some pictures. It was such a surreal experience to be wearing “Georgia” across my heart while sitting in Truist Park. I can remember being a toddler, wearing my dad’s oversized Braves t shirts, and sitting on his lap during the games. When the Braves won the World Series in 1995, my dad bought a denim jacket with the Braves logo on it. 26 years later, I wore my dad’s jacket to Game 3! I’m so proud to be a Georgian, and a Braves fan. What a year to be Miss Georgia!

Is there a feature or activity at a Braves game that you’d especially like to experience? 

My favorite tradition is when Timothy Miller sings “God Bless America”. It’s incredibly moving to see the entire stadium sing along. It makes me more proud than ever to be a Braves fan and an American!

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That sounds like a fantastic experience! 

As always, I want to thank Karson for visiting with us, and for sending along the pictures to go with the interview.

As Karson continues her time as Miss Georgia, I encourage you to follow her title's Instagram and Facebook accounts. You should also check out the official Miss Georgia website. They're great ways to keep track of everything she has going on! 

I also want to wish her the best of luck when she competes for the Miss America crown next month. It would be fantastic to have another Section 36 visitor wear that crown!

Thanks again Karson, and good luck!

Lora Current Visits Section 36!

Section 36 had another visitor! Lora Current is passionate about reading, a talented dancer, and the current Miss Ohio. 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 Lora Current visits Section 36!

How did you celebrate winning the Miss Ohio crown? 

Really reflecting on where I’d been. A lot happened (Covid-19) during my first year competing but through that there was a lot of growing done on my part. After getting crowned I spent much of my time in conversations with my mentor to unpack the experience.

What part of the upcoming Miss America competition are you most nervous about?
Talent! During my freshman year of college I broke my pelvic bone pole vaulting. Due to complications, I still have some pain in my hip and it can make jazz dancing a challenge. However, I didn’t want to switch my talent to anything else because of my love for dance that I want to showcase!

You were recently able to appear in the iconic Show Us Your Shoes parade at the Miss America 100th anniversary celebration. What was that experience like?
It was so much fun! I was able highlight my background in agriculture with a 4H theme. It opened up many conversations about Ohio agriculture, food production, and the 4-H program. It was also so fun seeing all the other candidates in their costumes and learning about things that make their home state special and unique.

How did you select your social impact initiative, “Read On: Empowering Literacy, Learning, and Leadership”?
Entering my first year of junior high, I was enrolled in tutoring for my reading and cognitive skills. I hated being in this tutoring because it made me feel different from my peers and less valuable. However because of these resources and the support from my family and teachers, I was able to catch up to the reading levels of my peers and graduate high school early. Now is a senior in college, I am able to provide those same resources that I received to students who struggle in school just like I did. This was the goal behind creating ReadOn and it continues to shape and push my goals going into Miss America and beyond.

As a talented dancer, what do you enjoy most about performing on stage?
I love that it brings out emotions that there are no words for. There are times when I can feel emotions inside of me and the only way to let them out is by movement. I also love sharing those same emotions on stage as people watch me dance. Because of a song choice or a routine, I’m able to make people feel joy, hope, and peace.

You’re currently studying social work at OSU. Where do you see that field taking you?
I’m currently a senior at the Ohio State University studying social work with hopes in obtaining my masters level degree in macro level social work. I want to get involved with government policy. This could be through a number of different avenues however my main goal is to serve people and communities through government.

If you could be a Disney Character for a week, who would you choose? Why?
I would be Pocahontas. I love her because she’s more than just a character. She was a real person. Also being Pocahontas, I would continue to share about my Native American heritage and how it’s impacted my life and my family.

If you had an extra ticket to see a Guardians - Reds game, who would you take with you? Why?
I would take my little brother, Lin! He loves all things sports and with six years between us (and my busy schedule) our time spent together is very special.

Is there a feature or activity at a baseball game that you’d especially like to experience? 
I would LOVE to throw an opening pitch! I just think that would be the coolest! 

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Oh, that would definitely be the coolest! 

As always, I want to thank Lora for visiting with us, and for sending along the picture to go with the interview.

As Lora continues her time as Miss Ohio, I encourage you to follow her title's Instagram and Facebook accounts. You should also check out the official Miss Ohio website. They're great ways to keep track of everything she has going on! 

I also want to wish her the best of luck when she competes for the Miss America crown this winter. It would be fantastic to have another Section 36 visitor wear that crown!

Thanks again Lora, and good luck!

Grace Keller Visits Section 36!

Photo Say Uncle! Photography

Section 36 had another visitor! Grace Keller is passionate about reading, a talented dancer, and the current Miss Iowa. I was so glad that she was willing to visit with us to discuss those topics, and a few more. I was also thrilled that she was our first visitor from the state of Iowa!

So, let's see what happens when Grace Keller visits Section 36!

How did you celebrate winning the Miss Iowa crown?
The night I won my family and friends who came to the competition all met up with me in the hotel lobby and we popped a bottle of champagne!  They all knew how long this has been a dream of mine, and it was really special to sit among some of the most important people in my life and just let the moment sink in.

Do you have a specific goal you’d like to accomplish during your time as Miss Iowa?
I've already been working with a number of organizations at the state and national level to advance my social impact initiative, Read to Succeed: Promoting Literacy in Grades K-3.  So far, I've personally worked with 400+ students implementing literacy curriculum and programming to help students reach proficiency by that third-grade level.  By the end of my year, I'd love to have personally worked with over 5,000 students.  I've also been working on securing funding to provide literature to low income students who do not have books at home.  My goal in this area is to donate over 1,000 books to students in need.

What part of the upcoming Miss America competition are you most nervous about?

This answer is kind of a double-edged sword because I amalways most nervous for talent, but it's also my favorite phase of competition!  I started classical ballet training at age three, and my talent is ballet en pointe, so I feel like all my whole life has kind of been leading up to this moment for me to have the opportunity to perform on a stage as big as Miss America.  So, while I do tend to get nervous for talent more so than anything else, my years of classical training has also taught me to do my best work under pressure, and I know if I lean on that experience, I'll be just fine.  I can't wait to show America what I have in store for my talent piece!

How did you select your social impact initiative, “Read to Succeed: Promoting Literacy in Grades K-3”?

One of the most impactful moments in my education was a one-on-one conversation I had with my fourth-grade teacher.  She told me in this conversation that the more you read, the smarter you get.  This comment led me to discover my love for literature, and through that love, I discovered my passion for writing, and then speaking. It was these discoveries that pushed me into studying journalism in college, and being interested in competing in competitions like Miss America where I could put my speaking skills to the test.  So, I kind of trace a lot of who I am and where I'm at now in life back to that moment.  But I know not all students have the same role models or experiences and opportunities I did as a child. A lot of students don't see the importance of literacy, and being able to read and write well - I know there was a time when I didn't.  So, I wanted to be able to be that role model or inspiration that pushes students to reach their fullest potential and succeed in school so they can realize their dreams like I had the opportunity to do.  Studies show that students who do not reach proficiency by third-grade are four times less likely to finish high school, and that figure jumps by over 20% when a student experiences poverty.  Knowing the direct link between meeting literacy benchmarks and future academic success, it becomes imperative for us to ensure every child, especially those from low-income hoes, is reading at grade-level by third grade to set them up for a brighter future.

As a talented dancer, what do you enjoy most about performing on stage?
I get such a rush from performing!  I think my favorite part is being able to "act" in character while I dance, especially during classical pieces.  The most talented dancers don't just perform the choreography, they take on the persona of the person, song, or story they are portraying through the piece.  This is something that takes a lot of work, and something I'm nowhere near mastering, but acting the part through your facial expressions, movements, and mannerisms really brings a piece to life in a way no baseline choreography can. In my talent song for Miss America, I get to portray a really fun persona, and I've been hard at work mastering it so my performance has that extra something special that acting the part will bring to the table.

You host the "Grace is on the Case" podcast. What can you tell me about that?

Yes!  My life pre-Miss Iowa was all about podcasting as I serve as Vice President for a podcast production startup.  Never in a million years did I think I'd be paying the bills by podcasting, but it's something that really marries my love of journalism and strategic communication, and it allows me to help others tell their stories, which is something I'm very passionate about.  "Grace is on the Case" came out of my love for true crime.  I'm a total crime junkie, and I've always wanted to have my own investigative podcast, so it honestly worked out pretty well that I started podcasting for a living!  Each episode tells the story of a famous case of true crime, and it mixes in interviews from those central to the case to provide the audience firsthand accounts and inside information.  It's been a great learning experience to make, and I'm still trying to keep up with making content while being Miss Iowa!

If you could be a Disney Character for a week, who would you choose? Why?
Absolutely 100% Belle from Beauty and the Beast!  I've always identified with her because she was constantly reading, and that's something I was made fun of for as a child.  She's also so independent and really controls the narrative of her story, which I've always loved.  I was actually her for Halloween multiple times in a row - my mom couldn't get me to be anything else!

If you had an extra ticket to an Iowa Cubs game, who would you take with you? Why?
My little brother is a colligate pitcher for University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh, and baseball is his whole life.  He's always up on the minor league prospects and stats in general, so I'd probably take him since he'd enjoy it the most.

Is there a feature or activity at a baseball game that you’d especially like to experience?

I was actually able to throw the first pitch out at both a Cedar Rapids Kernels game and a Waterloo Bucks game this past summer, which was really fun!  I grew up surrounded by baseball thanks to my two brothers, and it's now my favorite sport to enjoy next to Hawkeye football! My whole family and I are Sox fans because my Grandpa was originally from the south side of Chicago, so I'd LOVE to throw a pitch out at a Sox game, even though I'm Miss Iowa!

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That would be so much fun! 

As always, I want to thank Grace for visiting with us, and for sending along the pictures to go with the interview.

As Grace continues her time as Miss Iowa, I encourage you to follow her title's Instagram and Facebook accounts. You should also check out the official Miss Iowa website. They're great ways to keep track of everything she has going on! 

 
I also want to wish her the best of luck when she competes for the Miss America crown this winter. It would be fantastic to have another Section 36 visitor wear that crown!

Thanks again Grace, and good luck!