National Queen making headlines AGAIN!!!!!!!
Straight from the Papillion Times( Papillion Nebraska), look at how our National Queens continue to stay in the press!!!
Summers wins national pageant title
By Melissa Anderson
Times Staff Writer
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| Sarah Summers was crowned 2009-2010 National American Miss National Junior Teen Queen in Anaheim, Calif., the weekend of Thanksgiving. |
Another dream came true when Summers, 15, was officially crowned 2009-2010 National American Miss National Junior Teen Queen in Anaheim, Calif., the weekend of Thanksgiving. The freshman from Papillion-La Vista South High School said even now she is still in awe of her new title but is also honored to be the first national queen from Nebraska.
Queens are chosen by panels of judges on the basis of their academic status, poise and personality on stage; poise and personality in an interview; communication skills, and community service, according to a National American Miss news release.
There are four categories in the National American Miss National pageant — interview, which accounts for 30 percent of the judging; formal wear, also 30 percent; personal introduction, 30 percent; and community involvement, 10 percent. Summers said she enjoyed all of the competition’s categories, but her favorite one was community involvement.
“I get to give back, help out, meet all sorts of new people, and just do what I love,” she said.
The interview portion of the competition used to be her least favorite, but now Summers said she no longer finds any part of the competition to be tough.
“I love it now because it’s really just talking to people and being yourself,” she said.
Along with participating in pageants, Summers is a team captain with Relay for Life for the American Cancer Society and is involved in Project Linus, a group that gives gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need, according to the Project Linus Web site.
“I am currently in the process of making blankets for the Linus Project,” she said. “My goal is 50 this year and I have 11 done so far. I have my family and friends to thank for donating fleece for me to make these wonderful blankets.”
She will also be fundraising for her Relay for Life team this year. She became involved in Relay for Life after she lost her grandma to breast cancer when she was younger.
“This brought me close with the American Cancer Society and has inspired me to want to explore becoming a pediatric oncologist because I love children,” she said.
Summers is also involved in her own community organization project, Jeans for Teens, where every fall she helps collect jeans and distribute them at Safe Haven for children and teens without a home.
“Thanks to my family, friends and schools throughout our area I was able to donate over 200 pairs of jeans to Heartland Family Services Safe Haven in 2009, which doubled the total from 2008,” she said.
Summers said she hopes to continue the Jeans for Teens project and expand it even more throughout the metro area.
Now that she has earned the 2009-2010 National American Miss National Junior Teen Queen title, Summers will be traveling across the country for the National American Miss Pageant Program and representing Nebraska. She has already been to Las Vegas with the other five national queens from other age categories.
She also had the opportunity to attend the 2010 Miss America Pageant on Jan. 30.
“My favorite part was cheering on our Miss Nebraska, Brittany Jeffers!” Summers said. “She did fantastic and made top 10! Another exciting part was being in the audience of a live show. I had never experienced that before and would tell everyone that ever has the chance to take it.”
Summers will also be going to Houston, Texas soon for a photo shoot and throughout the summer she will be traveling around the country visiting numerous state pageants.
“I hope in the next year as I travel to show everyone that Nebraska is more than just corn, beef and football,” she said.
She also said she is looking forward to visiting new places, spending time with her mother, meeting new friends and visiting old ones.
Summers also knows that her experiences in pageants will help her in her future endeavors, such as getting a job by being well-rounded in interviews, and she has gained confidence in public speaking and performing.
“Pageantry has helped me to set goals, work hard and believe that dreams do come true,” she said.
If you would like to donate fleece for the Linus Project or new or gently-used jeans of any size from toddler to adults to Jeans for Teens, please contact Dee Summers at 339-7234. Donations to the American Cancer Society Relay for Life Sarpy County are being accepted at the official American Cancer Society Web site.
Summers is the daughter of Mike and Dee Summers of Papillion. She is on the honor roll and participates in show choir, student council, and the Sapphires Varsity Dance Team.
She will crown her successor in Anaheim during Thanksgiving week 2010.