Shine A light Center Stage:

For many students, the opportunity to participate in music, theatre, or dance classes are becoming difficult to find. Performing arts programs continue to be eliminated during budget cuts as our nation focuses on strengthening academics through the core curriculum. For example, in middle school, I was able to take a drama class as one of my electives. However, a few years later, my younger sister enrolled in the same school and found that drama was no longer offered.

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Children exposed to performing arts programs become intrinsically motivated as they learn through active engagement. The learned discipline, determination and focus impacts all other aspects of their life. Studies suggest that providing children with opportunities to participate in chorus, orchestra or drama, significantly increases their educational performance in core academic subjects, including scores on standardized tests. This contributes to increased student achievement and success, greater imagination and creativity, and improved problem-solving and cognitive skills. Additionally, performing on a stage builds courage, confidence, and character. Because of my experience as a performer, I have gained skills that I utilize daily in job interviews, public speaking, and professional networking.

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Through my Social Impact Initiative, Shine a Light Center Stage: Putting the Spotlight on Performing Arts, I provide children with the opportunity to be center stage, so they can discover the joy of performing! I bring musical theatre workshops to schools, especially those with limited arts programing. The workshops are designed to expose participants to multiple aspects of musical theatre including singing, dancing, acting, costumes, technical theatre, and production.

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As a professional performer for over 20 years, I am privileged to share my passion for performing with others. I volunteer and work at many of the performing arts schools that I attended. I witness the positive effects of a student’s exposure to the arts, their courage and confidence grows over the course of the school year. Students who barely spoke a word in front of others at the start of the year surprise their families by standing on stage and performing several lines and solos.

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As Miss Osceola, I have partnered with various local organizations to create a plan of action if I were to be given the opportunity to represent the State of Florida. These partnerships include the Girl Scouts of Citrus Council, Osceola County Public Schools, Theatre in the Cloud, and Osceola Arts, to name a few. This past year, I was able to continue sharing my program as I transitioned my workshops to a digital format.

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As Miss Florida, I will continue to “put the spotlight on performing arts” by advocating the need for continued funding of arts education, community theatres and professional venues to our state leaders and share my workshop with students in every county. Every child should have the chance to be in the spotlight!