Dedicated Student Ambassador wins Miss Georgia Teen USA Pageant
In 2005, former Student Ambassador Katie Conkle was crowned Miss Georgia
Teen USA. The 18-year-old from Hampton, Ga., has earned the President’s
Education Award for Academic Achievement six times and recently finished
her first semester of college. Katie is working hard toward her degree
in education – her goal is to one day teach children with special needs.
Along with all of her other accomplishments, Katie contributes to her
community in numerous ways. Her service projects include raising funds
for the local Humane Society and organizing clothing drives for
Goodwill. She works with the board of directors of the Miss and Mr.
Special Henry County, an event that recognizes special needs adults and
teens. Katie has also participated in USO fund-raisers and organized
book drives for her county library system. She made and sold prayer
bracelets, donating the funds to the Red Cross to help POWs of the Iraq
War. To communicate the importance of physical fitness and nutrition,
Katie worked with local gyms to develop an outreach program for teens.
As a People to People Student Ambassador, Katie has explored Australia,
New Zealand, Greece, Italy, France, England, Chile, Brazil and
Antarctica; as a People to People alum, Katie was fortunate to attend
the 2005 Presidential Inauguration. Her favorite adventures include
interacting with local Aboriginal people, snorkeling along the Great
Barrier Reef, and jumping off a cliff into the Mediterranean Sea. Her
enthusiasm for journeying to new places is obvious: “Through People to
People, I have stepped on five of the seven continents. I hope to go to
Africa and Asia soon. Maybe I can go as a People to People leader one
day.”
Katie met amazing people and enjoyed representing the U.S as a Student
Ambassador. She is happy to reflect on the impact of her experiences.
“My travels with People to People have opened my eyes up to the cultures
of other countries,” she says. “I have become open to more ways of
thinking, and I am more accepting of others’ feelings and opinions. I
owe a lot to People to People.”
