Kelsey Norris-Author, Tween Intern reporting from Warner Robins, Georgia where she is interviewed her friend and mentor, Kelsey Hollis, Miss Houston County Outstanding Teen
Kelsey Norris will be a Princess for Kelsey Hollis
Can You Guess for What?
Kelsey Norris will be a Princess for Kelsey Hollis at the 2016 Miss Georgia Pageant. Kelsey Hollis is a junior at Houston County High School and active Special Olympics volunteer. She is also currently Miss Houston County Outstanding Teen. She competed last summer at the 2015 Miss Georgia Pageant where she was third runner up for the Miss Georgia Outstanding Teen title and won the overall talent award. She has been competing in pageants since she was in 7th grade and won the Miss Feagan Mill Middle School Pageant. She likes pageants because they give her the opportunity to portray herself to other people and share her talent. She has been singing since she was a young child.
Two years ago, Kelsey started the Miss Houston County Queen of Summer Pageant for local female middle and high school students with disabilities. She started the annual pageant because she saw that many of the girls in the special education program at school were not getting the attention that they needed especially when it comes to hobbies. She wanted to give them the same opportunity to do what she does.
Twenty-five girls participated in last year's pageant and Kelsey expects an even bigger pageant this year. She tells girls who are thinking about participating that "it is a lot of fun and a new opportunity that you do not get every day. You get to make new friends and meet new people." This past year's queens participated in all of the local Christmas parades and were able to travel to the Governor's mansion. It was a really fun experience.
The pageant relies on dedicated volunteers. Last year, approximately 35 high school girls volunteered. They walked the girls through each phase of competition and also made certain that they were comfortable with communicating.
This year's pageant will be on April 30, 2016 at Veterans High School. Individuals interested in either competing or volunteering can contact Kelsey on Facebook. She is also going to distribute email messages to all of the Special Education teachers in the school system asking them to share information about the pageant.
Kelsey is a strong advocate for the pageant and the girls who participate in it. She said "It gives them the opportunity to feel like they are normal because they really are. It is an opportunity that is not given enough. It gives them an opportunity to blossom and show who they really are." Houston County is fortunate to have dedicated advocates and volunteers like Kelsey Hollis.
This is a Mama Talk Informative Post
CTWB Intern Program
Comments
Post a Comment