STORY BY BENJAMIN LERNER PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY MISS VERMONT
Miss Vermont 2019 , Jillian Fisher
Strength & Confidence
Miss Vermont Scholarship Organization Inc . helps to develop Vermont ’ s next generation of female leaders through their competitions , scholarship programs , and community initiatives
In the 77 years since Mary Staikos took home the crown as the first Miss Vermont in 1945 , hundreds of intelligent , driven , and passionate young women have participated in the empowering competitions facilitated by the Miss Vermont Scholarship Organization . From the moment that participants ( known as “ candidates ”) first enter the Miss Vermont and Miss Vermont ’ s Outstanding Teen competitions , they become part of a nurturing sisterhood of strong and supportive Vermont women . Candidates develop effective communication skills and natural confidence during the competition process , which has a profoundly positive effect on their future professional endeavors . Thanks to the generosity and effort of numerous corporate sponsors , volunteers , Board Members , and private donors , the scholarships awarded through the Miss Vermont and Miss Vermont ’ s Outstanding Teen competitions have changed the lives of many candidates . The scholarships help candidates achieve their educational goals , allowing them to actualize their dreams and find fulfillment in their chosen fields .
56 VERMONT MAGAZINE