Stories of Success
Miss Vermont 2022 , Alexina Federhen , first became inspired to compete in the Miss Vermont competition when she saw Miss Vermont at the Bennington Battle Day Parade at a young age . “ I looked at my mom and said , ‘ I want to be just like her !’” Federhen says that she was attracted to the aura of confidence that Miss Vermont exuded , which served as a source of inspiration for her . “ I was bullied a lot in elementary , middle school , and high school , so I started competing in the Miss Vermont ’ s Outstanding Teen competitions in order to find a community of people who cared about something bigger than themselves .”
By giving back to their communities through their chosen “ Social Impact Initiatives ,” competition winners are able to set an inspiring example for young women in all corners of Vermont . Every Miss Vermont and Miss Vermont ’ s Outstanding Teen winner embarks on a year of community service in line with their chosen Social Impact Initiative , and Federhen has already gone to extensive lengths to advocate for her cause . “ My Social Impact Initiative is Speak Out , Reach Out : Supporting Mental Health Awareness . I suffered from depression and anxiety during my childhood . It took years to grow the confidence to reach out for help , so I ’ m incredibly thankful that I ’ ve been able to speak at different events and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues . My goal is to visit every high school and middle school in Vermont during my year of service and share that message .”
Federhen is also thankful for the scholarship funding that she has received from participating in the Miss Vermont and Miss Vermont ’ s Outstanding Teen competitions . “ I will be forever grateful for the $ 3,000 scholarship that I received as a Vermont Outstanding Teen in 2014 . It allowed me to afford my education at my dream school , Cornell University . I have now graduated from Cornell , and I am currently getting my Master ’ s degree in
Fine Arts at Boston University . The $ 7.000 in scholarship dollars that I have recently been awarded by the Miss Vermont Organization will now allow me to hopefully graduate with my Master ’ s degree debt free .”
Miss Vermont 2019 , Jillian Fisher , has also greatly benefitted from the cash scholarships awarded by the Miss Vermont competition . Fisher is currently enrolled in a veterinary program at Iowa State
Miss Vermont 2022 , Alexina Federhen
University . After winning the Miss Vermont competition in 2019 , Fisher met many women at the Miss America competition who were actively involved in the STEM community . “ The women that I met there were accomplishing amazing things in their chosen fields ,” notes Fisher . “ I competed with future pharmacists , doctors , and engineers , and it was wonderful to see those fields represented . In the current social climate , women ’ s empowerment is a critical issue . The Miss America Organization and the Miss Vermont organization specifically empowers women to be their truest selves , and encourages us to achieve whatever goals we set out to accomplish .”
Miss Vermont 2015 , Alayna Westcom , is currently in her third year at the Larner College of Medicine at UVM . Westcom was awarded over $ 20,000 in scholarship money during the course of her involvement in the Miss Vermont and Miss America competitions , and she says that the skills that she learned during the competitions positively influenced her academic and professional trajectories . “ The money that I was awarded helped to pay for my undergraduate tuition . Separate from the scholarships , I have been able to successfully interview for jobs and implement the communication skills that I learned through my time in the Miss Vermont competition and Miss America competition . As I work towards becoming a physician , I ’ m using those skills to make that happen .”
Danielle Morse ( Miss Vermont 2021 ) is also passionate about medicine and healthcare . When Morse underwent an appendectomy in 2014 as a freshman in high school , she experienced significant complications . After staying in the UVM Children ’ s Hospital for more than a month , she became the Children ’ s Miracle Network Champion for Vermont . Morse went on to graduate from Castleton University with a degree in Nursing in 2021 . In the same year , Morse won the Miss Vermont crown and was able to continue her advocacy work for children ’ s hospitals through her Social Impact Initiative . “ My Social Impact Initiative was raising money for children ’ s hospitals in Vermont . I raised almost $ 12,000 for my cause , and I was able to donate comfort items , such as stuffed animals and blankets , to kids who needed them .”
Miss Vermont 2010 , Caroline Bright , currently volunteers with Miss Vermont Scholarship Organization as their Business Manager . She is also working towards a graduate degree in Divinity Studies at Meadville Lombard Theological School . Bright says that the skills that she learned while competing in the Miss Vermont ’ s Outstanding Teen , Miss Vermont , and Miss America Competitions have helped her greatly in her professional career . “ In order be ordained as a Unitarian Universalist
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