Jessica Hammer
Miss Northern Lights 2016
Education: University of Wisconsin- Baraboo/ Sauk County
Hometown: Portage, WI
Platform: Girl Up: Uniting Girls to Change the World
Talent: Lyrical Dance
What do you hope to accomplish as Miss Northern Lights? As the very first Miss Northern Lights, one of my main goals is to expand the program to reach its full potential as a local preliminary of the Miss America Organization. To do this, I hope to gain sponsors and support in order to offer a greater amount of scholarship dollars and awards to the future Miss Northern Lights contestants and winners. Aside from expanding the organization, I wish to focus heavily on spreading awareness of my platform, which revolves around the mission of the Girl Up campaign of the United Nations Foundation. My platform aims to ensure that every girl, no matter where she comes from, understands her worth and impact as a woman and has the resources to be successful. Providing girls with resources for health, safety, education and leadership to allow them to achieve their dreams is a major asset to spark economic and social change. With my largest goal to establish my very own Girl Up club in central Wisconsin, I hope to make my mark in the lives of young women starting right here in our community. To read more about the Girl Up campaign, visit GirlUp.org.
Scholarship, Style, Service, or Sucess? Service! I find that the most valuable life lessons are learned through service. The amount of personal growth that is gained through having the opportunity to serve others is just one truly remarkable aspect of the Miss America Organization.
What does the Miss America Organization mean to you? To me, the Miss America Organization is an avenue for my goals and passions, while also serving as one of the greatest learning experiences of my life. Through this program, I have the opportunity to better myself through leadership, advocacy, service, scholarship, and so much more. I feel that I am able to speak freely about what is important to me, and I can take the steps to dream big and make a change, especially within my personal platform working with young women. I have been able to serve as a role model to positively influence those around me and give back to the community that has given me so much over the years. Because of this program, I've learned the significance of perseverance, goal setting, sisterhood, determination, grace, hard work, and humility. I can't begin to express my gratitude for the continued opportunities for growth within this empowering organization.
Danielle Moon
Miss Northern Lights' Outstanding Teen 2017
Education: Lincoln High School
Hometown: Wisconsin Rapids, WI
Platform: Community Involvement: Creating Positive Pathways for our Youth
Talent: Piano
What do you hope to accomplish as Miss Northern Lights OT? As Miss Northern Lights' Outstanding Teen 2017 I hope to pursue my platform of Community Involvement: Paving Positive Pathways for Our Youth. In order to due so, I will create a Youth Involvement Night that will generate interest in different clubs and organizations around my community. This event will be held at Lincoln High School in Wisconsin Rapids. It will showcase both in school and out of school organizations. The Community Involvement night be featured to sophomores entering Lincoln High School, but will also be open to the public as well. I want to show youth that no matter what they like to do it is applicable in some form of getting involved. I'm also looking forward to making appearances around my community and inspiring young girls to chase their dreams. I hope to inspire girls to get involved in the Miss America Organization.
Scholarship, Style, Service, or Success? I believe all four points of the crown are necessary when thinking about Miss America Outstanding Teen Organization. I feel the most important is service because everyone should have the experience of giving back to their community and knowing what it feels like to be involved. I started to get involved in my community when I joined the Wisconsin Rapids Aqua Skiers Show Team. The friends and new relationships I made through my team is what lead me to the Miss America Organization. Success is the second point on the crown and I feel this is important because having never competed in a pageant before I was able to walk in with confidence in myself because my dreams have a chance to become reality. The third point on the crown is scholarships and this is important because it promotes a secondary education and a drive for success. Style is the final point on the crown and is important because as we grow up we are criticize ourselves. We need to be confident in ourselves and self worth. I myself have a unique style and I am proud of who I am as a person.
What does the Miss America Organization mean to you? The Miss America Organization means gaining new experiences and friendships through an excellent program that provides opportunities and growth. As the first title holder for the Miss Northern Lights Outstanding Teen I am able to shape this title into what it will be for generations to come. I hope that every girl has the opportunity that I have been blessed with because the Miss American Organization has made a significant impact on the person I am today.
April Haldeman
Miss Northern Lights 2017
Education: University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (Radiation Therapy)
Hometown: West Salem, WI
Platform: The Power of Prevention: Creating a Healthier Tomorrow
Talent: Vocal