Jamisyn Baker, 17, of Rutland was crowned Miss Vermont Collegiate America 2023 at the Capitol Plaza Hotel in Montpelier on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2022. Jamisyn will represent Vermont at the national Miss Collegiate America pageant in June.
Jamisyn is currently an active student at Rutland High School. She is a part of the Spanish National Honor Society, as well as National Honor Society, OVX Club, a model and a pageant queen.
Jamisyn has been an active volunteer with the Vermont chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association with a direct impact on her family. Since the age of 9, Jamisyn has been partaking in the Rutland Walk To End Alzheimer’s, and has raised funds throughout the years.
When she was 9 years old, her great grandma was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. In 2018 she lost her great grandmother (GG), and later on in the year her grandmother was diagnosed with it. Once Jamisyn became involved with the Vermont Alzheimer’s Association, she made it her mission to do as much as possible.
When Jamisyn was younger, she was bullied for having crooked teeth. Her experience with bullying was tough, but now Jamisyn uses that experience to help others. Her newest title allows her to reach out to her community and work to prevent childhood bullying. Her platform incorporates the five letter acronym, B.R.A.V.E. Which stands for — Building, Respect, and Values for Everyone. She stresses the importance of “respect” and “values” because everyone’s value deserves respect.
“Everyone has a value,” she said.
Jamisyn believes if she had known this acronym when she was being bullied, it would’ve helped her out a lot. Jamisyn plans to have an impact locally in her area, talking to students about the harsh reality of bullying and teaching them about B.R.A.V.E. She wants to encourage each child to talk to each other about their differences and embrace them no matter what they are.
She plans on continuing to teach everyone she knows how to be B.R.A.V.E. During the national competition, the delegates are scored in three categories — an individual interview with judges (40%), evening gown (40%), and fun fashion (20%).
The Miss High School America Scholarship Pageant Organization was started in 2009, for the purpose of providing personal and professional opportunities to young women. It is the goal to provide outstanding junior high, high school and collegiate girls the opportunity to compete in a prestigious national level scholarship pageant.
For more information on the pagean. visit americashighschoolpageant.com or visit our Facebook at facebook.com/misshighschoolamerica.
