Emma Broyles Visits Section 36!

Photo: Kevin Hedin

Section 36 had another visitor! Emma Broyles is passionate about the Special Olympics, a talented singer, and the current Miss Alaska. I was so thrilled that she was willing to visit with us to discuss those topics, and a few more. I'm especially excited that she is the first visitor from the state of Alaska!

So, let's see what happens when Emma Broyles visits Section 36!

How did you celebrate winning the Miss Alaska crown? 

To be completely honest, I was really not expecting to win the title of Miss Alaska! Hearing my name called on stage felt surreal and I definitely hesitated for a minute because I wasn’t sure that I actually won. After the competition, my family and I went to a local Mexican restaurant to meet the Miss Alaska Organization volunteers, candidates, and judges. Chowing down on nachos while surrounded by my family and friends was truly the best way to celebrate.

What had been the most pleasant surprise about your time as Miss Alaska?

One of my favorite things about being Miss Alaska is getting to be a part of the incredible sisterhood. I am constantly in awe of titleholders in the Miss America Organization and feel so incredibly grateful to know such intelligent and driven young women. Additionally, this title and this organization have offered me so many unique experiences and opportunities that I will cherish for the rest of my life. 

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?

I have always seen photos of the historic Show Us Your Shoes Parade and loved looking through the state costumes and shoes, so getting to participate in the parade was a dream come true. Putting together my costume was also such a fun aspect of the parade because it allowed me to embrace my creativity and showcase my state in a unique way. I also really enjoyed getting to see each candidate’s costume and shoes, and our class had some fabulous outfits!

How did you select your social impact initiative, “Building Community through Special Olympics”? 

Special Olympics has been a significant part of my life for over 12 years, and my journey began when my older brother first became an athlete. Since then I have been a coach, president of the largest Special Olympics school program in Alaska, a unified partner, and an advocate. My family even received the honor of being named Special Olympics Alaska's Family of the Year.

As a sibling of an individual with an intellectual disability and Special Olympics athlete, I have witnessed the positive impact Special Olympics has on the lives of people with intellectual disabilities, their families and communities. Special Olympics is an organization that plays a critical role in every community, and I am so excited to continue to share its mission on the Miss America stage. 

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

I absolutely love the thrill of performing! As many other performers will tell you, being able to express yourself through your art and feeling the adrenaline in your veins as you stand in front of an audience makes you feel so alive. When I’m performing, the world stops and I exist in a fantasy where my problems disappear and I know the trajectory of the story. I am freed of feelings of uncertainty because I have already seen the character’s path and I can simply communicate and embrace it. 

You’re currently studying biomedical sciences and voice performance at ASU. Where do you see those fields taking you?

After graduating from Arizona State University I plan on attending PA school, though I ultimately hope to return to medical school to become a dermatologist. I knew that I couldn’t give up singing so I decided to pursue a minor in voice performance to continue my vocal studies. 

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

I would be Genie from Aladdin! Aladdin was one of my favorite movies growing up and Genie’s powers are top tier. At some point I would definitely create an unlimited buffet of every possible food. 

If you had an extra ticket to see an Alaska Baseball League game, who would you take with you? Why?

I would take my brothers to see a baseball game! Though this question is a bit difficult because I would not be able to choose between my brothers, so I would likely end up buying an extra ticket XD. 

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

Throwing the first pitch! Unfortunately, my hand-eye coordination is lacking, so I don’t trust myself. But someday I dream of having an epic first pitch like Simone Biles. 

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Now, that would be fantastic! 

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

As Emma continues her time as Miss Alaska, I encourage you to follow her title's Instagram and Facebook accounts. You should also check out the official Miss Alaska 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 Emma, and good luck!

Katrina Kincade Visits Section 36!

Photo by K. Garcia Productions

Section 36 has another visitor! Katrina Kincade is passionate about inclusion, a television reporter, and the current Miss North Shore. I was so excited that she was willing to visit with us to discuss those topics, and a few more.

So, let's see what happens when Katrina Kincade visits Section 36!

How did you celebrate winning the Miss North Shore crown?

Right after I won, I was so happy that I called my best friends crying! I had to go to work at 4AM the next day so I didn’t have much time to celebrate after haha. But I definitely treated myself with some fast food from a McDonalds on the Pike on my drive back! 

What made you want to compete for the Miss North Shore title? 

I have wanted to be a part of the Miss Massachusetts Organization since I was a child. I have a dream to represent my home state on the Miss America stage and be the first Miss Mass. to take the crown back home to Massachusetts. So in pursuing my goal and paying off my massive amount of student debt, I competed for the title! I’m very passionate about fixing the student debt crisis in this country and the Miss America Scholarship Organization is a huge force in that mission that I’m grateful to be a part of. 

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

I’m always nervous about talent. I was pretty insecure about my singing voice as a teenager, despite doing musical theater and A cappella in high school. I’m constantly working on my fear of performing in front of crowds. I love entertaining so I try to think of it like I’m acting to perform a solo in a musical! 

How did you select your “inclusion” social impact initiative?

Well I’ve been volunteering with Special Olympics for 14 years so it was natural to choose “Special Olympics: Inclusion Revolution” as a my Social Impact Initiative. My brother is on the autism spectrum and has been a Special Olympian since we were children, that’s how my passion for inclusion started. A lot of children bullied my brother when we were growing up because he was neurodiverse. I realized that when people are more involved in inclusionary activities such as Special Olympics that they gain an understanding of people who are neurodiverse. So through my SII I want to educate people on being more inclusive with the neurodiverse community.

You work as a reporter for WWLP-22 News. What’s your favorite part about that job?

Photo by K. Garcia Productions

I love meeting new people and hearing their stories! I’m a communicator and storyteller. I’ve always enjoyed listening to the stories that make people who they are or why they are passionate about a subject. I believe through my job I have the power to tell the stories of those who are often underrepresented in media. I love to amplify diverse voices so that the community can hear many different perspectives!

What is your personal fitness routine?

I love outdoor sports. I have a hard time concentrating at the gym. So I love a good steep hike, rock climbing or biking! I love indulgent food and honestly I just workout so that I can eat more food and still stay in shape haha. 

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

I’ve always wanted to be a princess and my favorite is Tiana. I would choose her because her motto is “A dream is a little big of magic and a lot of hard work.” Shes focused on her goals and works hard to achieve them and I admire that and hope I embody that spirit.

As a longtime Red Sox fan, who is your favorite all-time Sox player? Why?

Easily, Papi. I’ve been a fan of Big Papi since I was a child and I’ve gotten to meet him a couple times. He’s always a nice guy and willing to talk to fans! Also this restaurant he owned once was really good! But every player on the 2004 World Series team has my heart! 

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

I want to be on the Jumbotron so badly hahah! I always try to get its attention by dancing to songs that are being played but I guess my skills haven’t been Jumbotron quality yet! 

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I sure hope she makes an appearance on the Jumbotron soon!

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

I encourage you to follow Katrina on her Instagram account. It's a great way to keep track of everything she has going on!

I also definitely want to wish her the best of luck when she competes for the Miss Massachusetts title. It would be wonderful to have another Section 36 visitor wear that crown!
 
Thanks again Katrina, and good luck!

Samantha McGraw Visits Section 36!

Samantha McGraw is a self-described huge Red Sox fan, and the current Miss Collegiate Area. I was pleased when she agreed to

take time out of her busy schedule to visit with us. It was a lot of fun.

So let’s see what happens when Samantha McGraw visits Section 36!

How did you celebrate being crowned Miss Collegiate Area? 

When I got home after winning Miss Collegiate Area, I had about one hour to kill before I had to start driving back to campus to work on some homework. In that hour, my 2016 Miss Massachusetts roommate, Joclyne Nunes (Miss New Bedford 2015), joined me in chowing down on some Chinese food! 

Which part of the upcoming Miss Massachusetts competition are you most nervous about?

I honestly do not get nervous when competing, but during crowning I am shaking in my heels. When I am onstage, I can control everything I do, so I am not nervous.  Miss Massachusetts is a job, and I want the judges to be able to see who I really am, so that they can determine if I would be best for that position. During crowning though, everything is out of my hands and over with, which is super nerve racking. 

You’ve held several local titles in your life. What lessons can you bring with you from previous competitions to this year’s Miss Massachusetts competition?

My first rodeo (Miss Massachusetts 2015), was life changing. The week was full of volunteer events, rehearsals, and endless amounts of coffee. The main lesson past Miss Massachusetts weeks have taught me would be to not take a single moment for granted. As stressful as the week can be, it was an opportunity that many women dream of. For me to be there, during that week, up on that stage, is what I worked hard for and need to enjoy every minute of.

I will continue to remember that during the Miss Massachusetts 2017 competition on June 30^th and July 1^st at the Hanover Theatre in Worcester, Massachusetts. 

How did you become involved with your platform, “The Wheelchair Foundation"?

When I was in the fourth grade, I was misdiagnosed. Doctors believed I was just experiencing “ordinary growing pains,” when I really had a condition called Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis. Unfortunately, my case was rather extreme due to the condition being misdiagnosed and caught to late, which led to a full a bilateral slip. If I had taken just one more step, I would have had an unfixable ambulatory disability. August 2012, after a total of three surgeries and what had felt like endless amounts of physical therapy, I beat all odds against me and took my first steps again. From that point on, I wanted to stand up and make a difference in the disabled community. I began by donating my wheelchair to The Wheelchair Foundation; a non profit organization that promotes disability acceptance and uses donations to provide wheelchairs to anyone who needs one but cannot afford one. Since donating my first wheelchair, I have become progressively more involved, and am now a Massachusetts ambassador for The Wheelchair Foundation.

You’re a Track and Field coach with Special Olympics of Massachusetts. What is that experience like?

Adaptive athletics is something I am extremely passionate about. A disability doesn’t limit the ability to be successful in a sport. I couldn’t be happier to share my first coaching experience with a team full of dedicated individuals with amazing sportsmanship. This experience is extremely positive, and strengthens the reason why I want to become an Occupational Therapist for those with developmental disabilities.  

This is the first Red Sox season in a while without David Ortiz. What’s your favorite Ortiz memory?

After the Boston bombing, Ortiz gave a speech that explained the strength and resilience of Boston. “This is our (expletive) city!” Although the swear wasn’t particularly necessary, this speech forever will make me proud to be Boston Strong. 

Which of the young B’s (Bogaerts, Betts, Bradley, Benintendi) are you most excited about?

I am most excited about Benintendi. After the first month of his rookie season, he led the team in hits and RBIs… The last Red Sox player to do that was Red Sox hall of famer Freddie Lynn!

How has it been to watch Chris Sale this year?

Samantha is joined by Kristen, Lyndsey, and Emily

Watching Chris Sale has been exciting, however they can't get him any run support when he's on the mound. I was at his debut where he struck out 7 and didn't give up a run. At the end of 11 innings, the score was 0-0.

Other than Section 36, where do you (or where would you) like to sit to watch the Red Sox in Fenway?

If I couldn’t pick section 36, then I would have to go with any other right field bleachers. They are the some of the best seats in Fenway, no doubt. The fans are always outspoken, excited, and passionate. 

How will the Red Sox finish in 2017?

The Red Sox will be American League Champions and contending for the World Series title in October! 

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Sounds like a great year to me!

As always, I want to send out a huge thank you to Samantha for doing this interview. These visits are always incredibly popular, and I have no doubt that hers will continue that trend. I also want to thank her for providing the pictures to accompany the interview. Pictures make every post more fun.

As Samantha continues her reign as Miss Collegiate Area, I encourage you to follow her on the official Facebook page and Instagram account. 

And, of course, I want to wish Samantha luck in July as she competes for the Miss Massachusetts crown. It would be fantastic for another Section 36 visitor to claim that title.

Thanks again Samantha, and good luck!