Jaycie Greenberg Visits Section 36!

Section 36 has a new visitor! Jaycie Greenberg is a skin cancer awareness advocate, a talented twirler, and the current Miss

Liberty. 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 Jaycie Greenberg visits Section 36!

How did you celebrate winning the Miss Liberty crown?

I celebrated with my family, directors, and the other titleholders! We all got dinner at Margaritas and talked about the exciting things we have to look forward to throughout our year. It was a great way for us all to get to know each other and start our year off right. 

What did you learn about yourself at the Miss Liberty competition that will help you at Miss New Hampshire?

Most of all, I learned that I am my most successful when I feel at ease and relaxed.  Competing for local titles can be stressful because it is a huge opportunity and stepping stone.  Women like myself put many hours and months of preparation into just those few hours of competition.  It is easy to let the nerves get the best of you, but I believe the judges are truly looking to learn about you as a person and it’s difficult to do that if you’re not relaxed. 

What are you most looking forward to about your time as Miss Liberty?

I am really excited for the chance to work with large organizations like the Melanoma Foundation, American Academy of Dermatology, and The Skin Cancer Foundation to continue learning about Skin Cancer and distributing educational materials.  The Skin Cancer Foundation has programs like “Your Skin is In” which target high school students and encourage them to avoid tanning beds for prom.  It’s pledges and curriculums like these that can have huge impacts on the lives of those most at risk for Melanoma. I hope to use the title of Miss Liberty to reach a larger audience and give real life examples of how skin cancer impacts the lives of many.

How did you select your social impact initiative “Skin Cancer Awareness & Prevention”?

I chose my social impact initiative because my grandfather died

from malignant Melanoma. He owned his own plumbing and heating business, and worked many hours outdoors. During this time, he was unaware of how his time outside was negatively impacting his health.  I want to be sure that no one goes unaware of the hazards of extended sun exposure.  My mother has also had cancerous moles removed and I feel it is extremely important to make sure that people know how best to protect themselves and spot possibly life threatening moles.  A large aspect of my social impact initiative is empowering young adults to choose the health of their skin over the short-term "benefit" of having a tan. 

You were a twirler at North Carolina State University. Does that experience help you when performing your talent during a competition?

It definitely does! I had the opportunity to perform for 50,000 people at Carter-Finley Stadium and even larger audiences for away games and Bowl Games.  I try to channel the booming excitement of a football stadium when I perform for any audience.  

What is your personal fitness routine?

Baton twirling helps to keep me fit, but I love to have a wide variety of activities when I exercise.  I typically start my morning with a walk and will go to different exercise classes like Body Pump, Barre, and hot yoga.  I try to set small but frequent fitness goals to keep myself motivated and on track!

Who is your favorite Red Sox player? Why?

Big Papi is and probably always will be my favorite Red Sox player.  He is a true legend!

Is there a feature or activity at Fenway Park you would especially like to experience?

It has always been a dream of mine to throw out the first pitch at a Red Sox game!

What were you doing when the Red Sox won the 2018 World Series?
I was surrounded by fellow Northerners in Raleigh, NC at the Talley Student Union watching on a giant projector.  There were Red Sox hats flying with excitement!

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That must have been so much fun!

As always, I want to thank Jaycie for doing this interview, and for sending along the incredible pictures. They really make the post a lot more fun to read.

As Jaycie continues her time as Miss Liberty, I encourage you to follow her on her official Facebook page. You should also follow her on her official and personal Instagram accounts. They’re all great ways to see what she’s up to during her year with the crown.

I also want to wish Jaycie luck when she competes for the Miss New Hampshire crown. It’s been quite a run of former visitors winning that crown, and it would be amazing to have another former visitor take home that title!

Thanks again Jaycie, and good luck!

Kaley Missert Visits Section 36!

Section 36 has another visitor! Kaley Missert is a talented musician, a Red Sox fan, and the current Miss Liberty. I was

thrilled when she agreed to visit with us to discuss those topics, and a few more. Hope you enjoy what she had to say!

So, let’s see what happens when Kaley Missert visits Section 36!

How did you celebrate winning the Miss Liberty crown?

I celebrated winning by going out to a local restaurant in Concord with some friends that came to cheer me on at the competition! It was really nice after a long day competing being able to relax and catch up with them.

What has surprised you the most about your time as Miss Liberty?

One thing that has really surprised me about being Miss Liberty has been how close the community of Concord is! I grew up in Southern New Hampshire so I have only really been up to the State’s Capitol on special occasions. However, at every event I’ve done up at Concord so far during my year everyone in the community has been very supportive of each other, as well as my journey to Miss New Hampshire.

What have you learned from your past pageant experiences that will help you at the Miss New Hampshire competition?

If I have taken away one big lesson from competing so far, it’s to just take a step back to relax and enjoy myself! I truly do love competing and have met some amazing people through this organization: from local directors, the board, other contestants, and everyone in between! 

How did you select your platform, “Devon Nicole House”?

Devon Nicole’s House is a charity that is very near and dear to my

heart. It was actually opened in June of 2004 by my parents Thomas and Deanna Missert in memory of my younger sister, Devon Nicole. Devon Nicole’s House has provided a “home away from home” for hundreds of families who have children seeking treatment at Boston Children’s Hospital from all 50 states, as well as from nations around the world. Taking trips to Devon Nicole’s House to drop off home cooked meals, greeting cards, and other donations from local businesses is one of my favorite things to do. Even just going to the house to visit with staff and families is truly an amazing experience.

You play the piano for the talent portion of competitions. How do you decide which piece you'll be playing?

I take a lot of different aspects into consideration while choosing my piece! I love playing more technically difficult pieces and I absolutely love classical music. However, at the same time I want to make sure I play a piece that will grab the audience’s and judge’s attention with entertainment value! Usually, I try to aim for a piece somewhere in between. I’m very excited for this year’s selection!

You’re also an accomplished French Horn player. What do you like most about that instrument?

That’s a tough question! I really appreciate classical music and the Horn has a lot of great pieces of literature to read! I’ve had the opportunity to play a lot of amazing pieces throughout the years including The Planets Suite by Gustav Holst and Festive Overture by Shostakovich. I am currently working on Mozart’s third horn concerto in Eb as well as Tchaikovsky’s 5th symphony, which features the horn. However, one of my favorite parts about being involved with music in general has got to be the community! I’ve met so many great and talented people from different ensembles I’ve played in, festivals and workshops I’ve performed in, and more! Having the opportunity to work with such talented musicians on a daily basis from my peers to my professors is quite inspiring.

Who was your favorite Red Sox player growing up? Why?

My favorite Red Sox player growing up was definitely David Ortiz! He helped reverse the curse and he was really prolific in the community as well as a great player and role model. His efforts both on and off the field are outstanding. It’s hard not to look up to him!

What is your favorite Red Sox memory?

My favorite Red Sox memory has got to be going to see a game

with my senior class right before graduation in 2016! It was so awesome going to Fenway with the people that I grew up in one big group. Not only did we get to celebrate a Sox win, but all of our successes throughout the year as well!  

What are you most looking forward to about the 2018 Red Sox?

I’m looking forward to see how Alex Cora takes control of the team! The last time the Red Sox had a new manager they won the world series, so I am hoping there will be a similar result!

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I like the sound of that plan!

As always, I want to thank Kaley for visiting. I’m flattered she agreed to spend the time with us. I also want to thank her for sending along the fantastic pictures that accompany the interview. They matched up perfectly with the answers. 

As Kaley continues her time as Miss Liberty, I encourage you to follow her on the official Facebook page. 

And, of course, I want to wish Kaley luck this summer when she competes for the Miss New Hampshire crown. At this point, more than half the competitors on stage will have visited Section 36. How awesome would it be for one of them to come out on top?

Thanks again Kaley, and good luck!