Chase was crowned this past January. The national platform for Miss High School America is BRAVE (Building Respect and Values for Everyone). She visited her old school, St. Luke Catholic School in Beavercreek, and talked to the students there.
“It’s really been a neat experience,” said Chase, who lives in Sugarcreek Twp. and studies dance at Stivers School for the Arts in Dayton, where she is a sophomore.
Before the lecture at St. Luke, she had addressed the youth group at her church, the Christian Life Center in Dayton. Her current title has also afforded her an audience with Dayton mayor Nan Whaley and the city commissioners. One of the commissioners offered her a paid summer internship.
According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, nearly one out of every four students reported being bullied during the 2015 school year.
Chase is used to public speaking; she has answered on-the-spot questions in front of large audiences in various pageants. She was the National American Miss Ohio Junior Teen in 2014 and came in fourth in the Miss Ohio Teen U.S.A. contest. This past January, she was judged on her resume/interview, modeling and knowledge of current events.
“I felt like the luckiest girl ever; I had amazing sponsors like Henry’s Cloud Nine in Columbus that provided my entire wardrobe,” Chase said. “I feel blessed to have this opportunity to go to Atlanta this past March.”
But it’s not all froth. Pageant judges put an emphasize on character and achievement. In person, Chase is friendly, poised and confident. She’s ambitious and believes in community involvement. Just this month she was helping the Shoes for the Shoeless cause.
“I was at Ben & Jerry’s (ice cream) on Brown Street for free cone day, asking people for donations for Shoes for the Shoeless. The line of customers was all the way down the street,” said Chase, whose parents are Mark and Annette Chase. “I was so happy some of the people were donating for that cause.”
Even though she’s only a high school sophomore, she has her future planned out.
“I want to get my Ph.D. in psychology, and my masters in business. My dream college is Duke University,” said Chase. “Eventually, I’d like to open my own practice and concentrate on nutrition, relaxation and dance therapy. Dance has gotten me through so many stressful periods in my life.”
Chase is scheduling many more anti-bullying lectures: at Beavercreek and Fairborn schools and other schools throughout the Miami Valley.
“We want her to be able to reach as many students as she can,” said Annette Chase. “We are trying for Dayton public schools, Vandalia, and Trotwood. Where she can leave a footprint and hopefully make a difference.”
About the Author