2012 Miss Vermont's Outstanding Teen Contestants

Amanda Anderson
South Burlington
Chittenden County

Caroline Jones
Shelburne
Chittenden County

Anne Steger Kennedy
Saint Albans
Franklin County

Chloe Johnson
Fairfield
Franklin County

Clara Emlen
Calais
Washington County

Cindy Do
South Burlington
Chittenden County

Jordyn Bolster
Fair Haven
Rutland County

Julia Crane
Colchester
Chittenden County

Jhai Sutton
Saint Albans
Franklin County

Lillian Seibert
Williston
Chittenden County

Outstanding Teen 2011 Winner

Sophia Hadeka of Fair Haven, Vermont has just completed her 7th grade year at Fair Haven Grade School, and goes into 8th grade at the top of the class. This puts her as Vermont’s youngest Outstanding Teen ever at only 13.

She is active in many extra curricular activities including: being a member of the spelling bee team since 5th grade, an ardent softball player, soccer, basketball, and multiple dance classes. Extra curriculars are something that are very important to Sophia because she believes that they teach essential skills like team work and determination, while boosting confidence by letting you realize your growth and potential through improvment. They also teach how to handle failure so you can ‘get up and get better’ after not meeting your expectations, and how to work cooperatively under pressure and strive to strengthen your skills.

She was an active girl scout for many years and continues the community service piece today by helping second grade children with their homework after school. She was delighted to hear from the mothers of the girls in the homework support group, that the girls had chosen her as a role model. Giving girls good role models is something important nowadays because there are too many negative influences in the media.

During her year, Sophia wants to get her message across that it’s okay to be who you are, and finding out exactly who that is, is a freeing and important experience. By promoting the growth of young women that are full of potential through; sports, competition, progress, and hobbies, she hopes to ignite the poise and independence in all of the young women she reaches.