Reigning Queen

MISS TEEN FLORIDA 2011 ... Tia McDonald

COMMUNITY SERVICE SUMMARY

I'm so proud to have been awarded the title of Miss Teen Florida United States 2001!

As an avid volunteer since elementary school, to date, I have raised over $68,000 for people with special needs. I have also founded the 'Shining Stars Pageant', a pageant specifically for special needs children where each contestant receives a crown, gift bag and gown. I have founded a cheerleading squad for the Police Athletic League (Girls that cannot afford to be in High School/Pop Warner Cheer) where we won first place at state, as well as started a grade 6 mentoring program aimed at keeping students on track. To honor the men and women in the armed forces who have lost their lives, I helped organized the 'Run for the Fallen', raising $5,000, which went directly to the families of fallen soldiers serving in the War in Iraq. Just recently, I have organized a fundraiser to buy a new van/wheel chair lift for a little girl who got hit by a car and needed transportation to her doctor appointments. Over the past three years I have raised enough money to give a single father of a child suffering with cerebral palsy a Nissan X-Terra, and a wheelchair bound man a car with a hand brake, allowing both families the freedoms having your own transportation provides. Also through fundraising, I have been able to give a child in need a ventilator, computer and new, clean furniture. I continue to visit my local Homeless Shelter to give them a Christmas and Easter through making cookies/decorating, buying them presents, & Easter egg hunt with the Easter bunny. To me, community service is not a fad; it is a life-long commitment that I am willing to continue to make, because knowing I have made a difference in so many lives makes me feel that I have a commitment and purpose to people in need.

Additional Volunteer Partnerships
Daytona S.T.A.R Center for the homeless
Boys & Girls Club of Edgewater
Relay for Life
Oceanview Nursing Home
Americas Darling non-profit organization
Make-a-Wish Foundation
Edgewater Humane Society
S.P.A.R.K.
Paul Newmans Boggy Creek Ventilator Camp
Police Explorers
Camp Harmony
Boy Scouts of Edgewater, and New Smyrna Beach

Awards & Honors
Miss Teen Florida United States 2011
United States Presidents Bronze, Silver & Gold awards for community service
United States Presidents Academic Award
Governors Point of Light honor
Proclamation from the major
Medallion of Excellence
Principals Positive Public Relations award
Previous front page teen writer for Observer, NSBNEWS.net, & writer for X-press 'Urself' magazine
– Article selected to appear in 3 international magazines
Commended by President Bush, Governor Bush, and Mrs. Obama for community service involement
Consistent Honor Roll academic performance & Advanced FCAT scores (Current GPA- 4.5)
Member of the National Society of High School Scholars, 2009

Educational Activities

Key Club member/2010 President
Interact member/2010 Vice President
Steering Committee 2007-20010
Yearbook staff member, 2008-2010 school photographer
French Club member
Media Press Representative on behalf of SGA (previous year)
Stingray Stinger Dancer
NSBMS Pep Team
College Courses at Daytona Beach College (earned 4 college credits in 9th grade)
Previous Stetson Universities Childrens Choir lead singer & lead singer at Disneys Magic Music Days.