Issue link: http://baypath.uberflip.com/i/682206
6 Bay Pathway Winter/Spring 2016 "I was there for two weeks preparing for the live show. Behind the scenes it was crazy with long days full of rehearsals and appearances. The stage is like a skating rink and I had to practice walking across it in high heels and for all the numbers. All in all, it was a wonderful experience and I met some great people." Although Alayna did not make it into the Top 15, she grabbed national attention with her bold on-stage experiments and earned the Non-finalist Talent Award. "I was able to provide another perspective to the Miss America competition, and show the world that you could be pretty and be a scientist. Hopefully, I was able to influence young girls out there to pursue biology, chemistry, engineering or math. It's OK to be what you want to be!" Balancing her two jobs with her reign as Miss Vermont, Alayna never has a dull moment. Some weeks she devotes 35-40 hours to her Miss Vermont duties. "I set four action steps for myself. One, I will travel 25,000 miles during my reign, and as of January 2016 I have spent 22,000 miles on the road; second, I will visit every town in the state of Vermont and to date I have been to 130 out of 251; third, secure three sponsors for the state competition; and fourth, teach science to over 10,000 children through my visits to classrooms, Girls Scout troops and other organizations—I am almost there!" In May 2016, Alayna will crown the new Miss Vermont. Her reign will be officially over, but she is already planning to move on to her next goal: to attend medical school and become a medical examiner. It will be just a matter of time until we will be calling her "Dr. Alayna Westcom." And she was quick to add, "My mission to promote STEM to young women wasn't just for Miss America. It is my life mission." She is a royal role model, indeed. "Hopefully, I am able to influence young girls to pursue biology, chemistry, engineering or math." Alayna dons the uniform of "Rosie the Riveter," a well-known cultural icon for working women. BPW_WinterSpring 2016_final_Layout 1 3/24/16 2:44 PM Page 9