Every year, about twenty young ladies compete in the Miss SHS competition for scholarships and the title of Miss SHS. This year’s contestants didn’t fail to impress the audience with their accomplishments, talents, confidence, and poise.

Contestants were introduced as the mayor of Sanford read aloud their accomplishments. The extracurricular activities, interests, and future majors of the girls varied greatly: contestants included aspiring pre-school teachers, psychologists, doctors, lawyers, and art therapists.

Grace Li

Miss SHS 2014, Li is a junior who’s involved in Asian Student Association, French National Honor Society, National Honor Society, and Destiny Show Choir. She also loves singing, dancing, painting, and playing the piano (she played a piece by Chopin for the talent portion of the competition). Li said she was not expecting to win. “I was actually very nervous,” she commented. When asked about what she’s going to do with her title, she said, “I want to resemble a good Miss SHS and live up to the expectations of past Miss SHSs. I want to carry out [the] duties…well.”

Olivia Smith

Smith is a junior who’s part of the basketball, track, and golf teams. She volunteers at the Orlando Science Center in her spare time and plans on working towards a degree in business or animal science with plans to become a veterinarian. She played “Stormy Night” by Melody Bober on the piano for her talent.

Ethiana Santander

Santander, a Health Academy senior, is in Destiny Show Choir where she was recognized as Best Female Soloist. She kickboxes, sings, dances, and spends her time working to feed the homeless at St. Peter and Paul. She sang “Breathe” from In the Heights for her talent.

Ho Jung Lee (Kit)

Lee won Miss Essay. She’s a junior who’s involved with Asian Student Association, National Honor Society , and Thespian Troupe 3266. She was selected to represent Seminole High School at Disney’s Annual Festival of Masters along with placing third in Poetry Out Loud this year. For her talent, she presented an original speed painting demonstration.

Storm Storer

Storm, a junior, is a member of Gay Straight Alliance, Anime Club, Beta Club, FASG, and president of Disney Club. Later in life, she wants to attend Rollins College and later become a linguist. She’s well on her way because she’s received a “Very Good” for FASG Impromptu at German competition and an “Excellent” at SCPS World Language Festival.  She recited the German poem “Die Lorelei” for her talent.

Elahaundra Reyes

A senior, Reyes is part of the Seminole Orchestra, Asian Student Association, Thespians, and Hispanic Club. She’s been Make-up Director for Rebel Without a Cause and Senior Director Mentor for The Wizard of Oz. She played a cello piece for her talent.

Da’Mesha Martin

Martin is a senior and a member of the Seminole’s Finest step team, Gospel Choir, National Honor Society, and more. She’s involved with her church choir and helps with their youth programs. For her talent portion, she sang “I Was Here” by Beyoncé. Martin plans to attend Seminole State College to work toward becoming a gynecologist.

Sara Cameron

A senior, member of the Theatre Company, and Thespian, Cameron is involved with Destiny Show Choir, Best Buddies, and Future Educators of America. She plans to major in business and finance. For her talent, she performed a monologue from Flowers in the Desert.

Alexandra Rodriguez

Rodriguez is a junior in IB, an aspiring doctor, and the contestant who sang “You Raise Me Up” by John Groban. She’s a Thespian in Troupe 3266, on the cross country and track teams, National Honor Society, and Odyssey of the Mind. She volunteers for Arts for the Heart in her free time, a program involving singing at retirement homes.

Elaine Lin

Lin is a senior who will be graduating a year early and going to MIT in the fall to pursue a degree in engineering. She’s known to be a math wiz, competing and placing in nationwide math competitions and Mu Alpha Theta. She likes cooking and baking in her free time. For her talent, she rapped a math parody of “Super Bass” by Nicki Minaj.

Kimberly Murray

This year’s recipient of the People’s Choice Award, Murray is a senior and Health Academy student. She volunteers at the City Church of Orlando in her free time. For her talent, Murray performed a dance (she enjoys choreography). She wants to pursue a career as an occupational therapist.

Nicola Sylvester

Sylvester is a junior who is a member of the Interact Club and Fashion Club. She volunteers for Harvest Time International. She enjoys sculpting, sewing, and interior design. For her talent, she had three models walk the runway to show off her designs for spring: one outfit was a sleeveless blouse with a long skirt, while the other two were a blue dress and a blue romper.

Diamond Hill

Hill, last year’s Miss Talent, is a senior who wants to pursue a degree in psychology at Florida State University. She was voted on Homecoming Court and is president of the Black History Committee, a member of the Seminole’s Finest step team, and a varsity cheerleader. Her talent was singing “Greatest Love of All” by Whitney Houston.

Michelle Lopez

Lopez, a senior and member of the Homecoming Court, is on the basketball, soccer, weightlifting, and basketball teams. In addition, she’s a member of Future Educators of America and Best Buddies. Lopez wants to join the Air Force and attend UCF to become a preschool teacher.

Alyiah Mobley

Mobley won Miss Talent this year, impressing everyone with her guitar playing and singing of an original song. She’s a senior, a member of Gospel Choir and an actor at the Wayne Densch Theatre. She wants to attend the University of South Florida to double major in art and psychology, using her degrees to become an art therapist and help patients overcome traumatic situations through art.

Kemeesha McGintis

McGintis is a senior and a member of the Do Something Club. She volunteers at Bentley Elementary helping second graders improve their reading skills. She wants to attend Seminole State College and later transfer to Florida State University where she can pursue a degree in psychology and sociology. For her talent, she performed an original monologue, “I Cried.”

Sarah Kampiyil

Kampiyil is a junior and member of Odyssey of the Mind, Illuminati, Beta Chi, National Honor Society, Key Club, Model UN, Best Buddies, Mu Alpha Theta, and Art Club. When she has free time, she volunteers at Nativity Catholic Church and Harvest Time Internationl. She enjoys singing, playing the clarinet and piano, and dancing. She wants to earn a degree in pre-med and later go on to medical school.

Nikita Patel

An IB junior and Vice President of the Art Club, Patel is also a mathlete who has placed in Mu Alpha Theta competitions. She’s a third-degree black belt at Pete Vargas Taekwondo in Lake Mary. She volunteers at Florida Hospital and her local temple. She hopes to attend Duke University and pursue a career as a doctor.

De’Kerria Martin

A junior, Martin is on the Black History Committee and a member of Beta Club. She volunteers at the Sunrise Funeral Home. She enjoys reading, watching movies, shopping, and swimming. She hopes to attend FSU and major in law. Martin performed an original monologue for her talent.

Brittany Raspo

A senior, Raspo is in National Honor Society along with being a dual enrollment student, an AP Scholar, and a Distinguished Young Woman of Sanford. She volunteers for Relay for Life and Arts Alive. She enjoys photography, filmmaking, hula hooping, sculpting and reading. She plans to attend either FSU, UCF, or UF to pursue a career in broadcasting.

Congratulations to all the contestants who impressed the audience and the judges with their accomplishments, confidence, and talent.