Voices for Support: Regan Hartley Miss Kearsarge Valley 2009

 

Name: Regan Hartley
Title: Miss Kearsarge Valley
Hometown: Dover, New Hampshire
Date of Birth: October 12, 1990
Education: Portsmouth Christian Academy graduate of 2009

Platform Issue: Stand Up: Bullying Awareness in Our Community

Scholastic/ Career Ambition: To major in Broadcast Journalism with a dual major in Spanish.

Talent: Vocal: At Last, made famous by Etta James

 Scholastic Honors: Honors in Academy; acceptance to Suffolk University  Boston, Massachusetts

Leadership Roles: Miss Granite State Teen 2008: Promoted platform and Miss New Hampshire Organization; Published articles in school newspaper; Varsity athlete on academy cross country team; Volunteer at Gillette Stadium for the Miss New Hampshire Organization.

Accomplishments: Honors student at Portsmouth Christian Academy; 'Miss Granite State Teen 2008; Performed at Fisher Cat Stadium; Performed in the Verizon Wireless Arena; Finalist of both New Hampshire and Seacoast Idol 2007 and 2008; Top Five finalist of Miss New Hampshire Teen USA; Official national anthem vocalist for State of New Hampshire veteran events and fairs.

Interesting Facts:  Certified Scuba Diver; “Slurp and Burp Girl” of Irving Oil.

Employment: Full time student; Receptionist at the Holiday Inn Express in Durham, NH; Waitress/Customer Service Representative at Cottage by the Bay in Dover, NH.

What impact can the Miss America Organization and its contestant have on society through the partnership with Children’s Miracle Network? The Miss America Organization can make a huge impact in helping to provide the Children’s Miracle Network through charitable care, funds to have state-of-the-art equipment, preventative education, and other immediate medical needs. The contestants in this program cannot only help to raise the funds needed to provide help and security but also to spread awareness. The women who compete in the Miss America Organization are determined, intellectual, and well-rounded; but most importantly the contestants in this program believe in their communities and in change. With the help of the Miss America Organization, the Children’s Miracle Network will continue to grow and the life’s of children will be saved.

What is the best way to make Miss America more relevant to people your age? The Miss America organization in my opinion, is relevant to women my age. The most efficient way to help this program grow in relevance is to show what this organization has to offer.  Putting an end to the stereotypes of pageants, more people can become appreciative of what the Miss America Organization stands for. By demonstrating the ideal of Miss America as the typical “all American girl” who wants to see change in their community and in their lives, I believe that young women will feel more relevant to Miss America.

If you could create and produce one single event that would best utilize the partnership between the Miss America Organization and Children’s Miracle Network, what would it be and how would you do it? A great way to demonstrate the partnership between both organizations would be to have a benefit runway show. By utilizing the current title holders on a local, state, and even national level while incorporating the Children’s Miracle Network and the lives that they have saved; this would be a great opportunity to not only raise funds, but to also spread awareness of both organizations.

Name: Regan Hartley
Title: Miss Kearsarge Valley

Stand Up: Bullying Awareness in Our Community

 

Bullying and harassment is a crime that is left alone or pushed aside. It is also a crime that many people get away with. “Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me,” is a saying that couldn’t be further away than the truth. The academic consequences as well as the mental and physical well-being of a person being bullied or harassed are severe. According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 50% of children are bullied and l0% are victims of bullying on a regular basis! The prevention of bullying is rather difficult; however there are a few steps that victims can take towards a brighter and happier future.  I will focus on ways to prevent bullying, the effects of bullying, as well as the way that I plan to take action with my title as Miss New Hampshire to promote this platform.
Discouraging bullying in our schools is a very difficult goal to accomplish. However, there are many steps that teachers, family, peers, and victims’ can take to prevent bullying in schools and in the community. Teachers must address the stages of bullying and must take action when the first sign of bullying is detected.  Using disciplinary action can help to reduce the likely hood of bullying. Parental figures must be aware of what is going on with their child within their school. Parents should talk with their children on the issue of bullying and make it known that they can come and talk to them if they are having an issue. Research has shown that the harmful effects of bullying were reduced by 60% when parental figures were aware of the attacks. Peers play a significant role in bullying as well. If there is no audience, there is no show. Peers can either encourage or discourage bullying in our schools. It is important that friendship and acceptance is displayed by peers rather than hatred or harassment.
To better prevent bullying in schools across America, some states are beginning to require schools to adopt anti-bullying policies. Colorado, New Hampshire, and West Virginia recently passed legislation which make it mandatory for schools to have anti-bullying policies which states when the school or city must step in to take action against bullying. Massachusetts has allocated one million dollars to "bully-proof" its schools. These steps have helped to reduce bullying in schools; however there are still many incidents where victims of bullying are facing some severe effects.
On December 14, 2007 I was brutally assaulted by a group of girls in my high school cafeteria. I had a hairline fracture in my jaw and a minor concussion. I had tried to ignore the constant threats, the jokes made about me in the halls, the food that was thrown towards me at lunch, and the derogatory notes that were put on my car, but the harassment was never ending. My “friends” had become a pack of wolfs eating at my life. From this whole experience, my grades had suffered, my love and confidence in myself suppressed, and I felt as if I was not important. All of my dreams and aspirations seemed to have vanished into a toxic haze.
With the title as Miss New Hampshire, I plan to speak to schools and my community of my experience with bullying and to encourage victims to speak out and to stand up for themselves and what they believe in. I feel passionate about my platform and I feel as if it is something that every American should be aware of. I believe that if I am awarded the title I will continue to bring pride, beauty, and honor to the Miss New Hampshire Organization as well as be an amazing spokesperson and representative. The opportunity to present to the public and put forth my platform is something that I would cherish as Miss New Hampshire.

BULLY AWARENESS

Regan Elizabeth Hartley is Miss Kearsarge Valley 2009. Regan is running for Miss New Hampshire. Her "Platform" is BULLYING AWARENESS. Regan is a victim of bullying herself. Like many, she is taking her own experience of bullying and trying to turn it into positive change. I am happy to be working with Regan while we have the same goals for positive change for New Hampshire. We need awareness and prevention for bullyng. We also need school and administrative accountability concerning bullying.

Our Goal

Regan and nhbullywatch.org will work with others in New Hampshire to make positive change concerning the current law. Come join us for bullying CHANGE in New Hampshire.