Meet Our 2015 National Role Models

Hometown: Sparrows Point, MD

Hobbies: Dance, Tae Kwon Do, Junior Rangers, Girl Scouts, Chorus, Playing Piano, Collecting Bugs, Raising Butterflies, Writing and Illustrating Short Stories and Books

Education: Homeschooled 6th grader who loves history, art, drawing, painting and looking forward to learning Spanish

Career: Aspires to be a National News Anchor and grow her community program, Grammy Grams to a national level.  She also hopes to write and illustrate children’s books.

Volunteer Work: Cheerful Grammy Grams, her program to unite youth and elderly through cheerful visits to end senior looniness.  That is her main focus and she has reached 8,000 elderly so far.  She also is a Community Clean Up Junior Captain, works with area soup kitchens and food pantries and raises money for Casey Cares, Santa’s Helpers, John Hopkins and Susan G Komen, She is also a Tease Free Ambassador for Tease Kids.

Favorite Thing About RIM: “My favorite thing about RIM is the National Role Model Program because it emphasizes leadership in community service because volunteering is really important to me.  It is how we can make the world a better place.  I think it is great that RIM recognizes this too and that is what makes it so special.  RIM also offers scholarship essays, one of which I was honored to win and I think that sets them apart.  I loved the secret sister exchanges, the amazing dinner parties and the game night where I made new friends and won some cool prizes.  All of the parties were family oriented and I will never forget my dad doing the hula lesson at the luau!  I am honored to wear the RIM Role Model Crown!”

Hometown: North Richland Hills, Texas

Hobbies:  I love reading! There is nothing better than curling up with a new book and getting lost in another world.  I also enjoy anything crafty! I love refurbishing old furniture and decorating!  Traveling is also one of my favorite things to do.  I love being able to expand my experiences, try new foods, learn about new cultures, and fully emerging myself with the natives.  Some of my favorite places I have traveled are England, Greece, Costa Rica and Hawaii.  I can’t wait to travel this year with my sister queens!!

Education:  Graduated Cum Laude from Stephen F. Austin State University in May 2015 with a Bachelors of Science in Interdisciplinary studies with a focus in Special Education.  I am currently certified to teach all-level Special Education, 4th-8th grade, and English as a Second Language.

Career:  I am in my second year of teaching at Richland Middle School.  I work at a Title I (low income) school with some amazing students.  I teach 6th grade English Language Arts.

Volunteer Work:  My older brother Colby has been blessed with the gift of Down Syndrome, so I have been very active in organizations that give back to individuals with special needs.  I volunteer with Special Olympics, the Down Syndrome Partnership of North Texas, Down Syndrome Guild of Dallas and Autism speaks.  At 17, I created my own non-profit, the Miss Sweetheart Special Needs Pageant.  After competing in pageant, I wanted to give these amazing individuals the same opportunities I have had.  So, the Miss Sweetheart Special Needs Pageant was created to give young ladies of any age with intellectual and physical disabilities THEIR crowning moment.  I have expanded my pageant from one in North Texas with 15 contestants and 10 volunteers to five pageants in Texas over 250 queens and 300+ volunteers.