When senior Aly Kramer was crowned Miss Ohio Teen Volunteer 2023, it felt almost unreal to her. “I remember my heart racing, thinking, ‘Is this really happening?’ It was a mix of excitement and disbelief,” Kramer shared. That moment, in front of family and friends, marked a major achievement in a journey that began just a few months earlier.

Unlike many pageant winners, Aly didn’t grow up with dreams of wearing a crown. Instead, she’s focused on academics and her love of dance. “I prepared for about six months, balancing rehearsals, school, and my other activities,” she said. “It was tough, but hearing my name called made it all worthwhile.”

Aly, a competitive dancer, stood out in the talent portion of the competition with her routine to Aretha Franklin’s “Respect.” The song fit perfectly with her pageant platform, which focuses on empowering young girls.

Senior Ana DiGirolamo said, “I think she is a good dancer, and as her friend, I am proud of her for winning the Miss Ohio pageant. She has the credentials for it.” Aly’s ability to juggle schoolwork and extracurricular activities, including field hockey, also stood out.

“Between school, dance, field hockey, and preparing for the competition, it felt like there weren’t enough hours in the day,” she admitted, but noted that she didn’t let her grades slip despite the challenge.

Other friends agree that Aly’s success was well-deserved. “Aly is good with these types of pageants. It’s no shock she won; she has what it takes as she is an excellent dancer and competitive,” said senior Cecilia Maloney.

Her friends are impressed with how she manages her busy life. “It’s amazing to see her balance everything,” her friend shared. “She’s not only top of her class but also involved in so many activities. She makes it all seem easy, even though I know it’s not.”

Aly’s dedication to community service goes beyond her platform. According to Nicole Rosselot of ScripType, she has been involved with Rockin’ Frocks, a nonprofit that provides formal dresses to needy girls. “It’s a really good program, and I just love helping the girls there,” she said. Aly has also worked on a fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which became one of her biggest projects during her junior year at Walsh Jesuit.

Dance remains Aly’s greatest passion, and she plans to focus more on it in the future. “I want to be able to focus on contemporary dance and concert work,” she said. “I originally wanted to do commercial dance, but my heart is in concert dance programs now.”

Aly’s platform, “You Go Girl,” is all about empowering young girls by helping them build confidence and supporting them in meaningful ways. “It’s not just about telling someone they look good,” Aly explained to ScripType. “It can be about helping a girl out, by doing her makeup or other things. It is also about advocating for women in high-paying jobs.”

Through her initiative, Aly hopes to inspire girls to support each other in various ways and build stronger communities. The platform grew from the Miss Ohio Teen Volunteer program’s focus on leadership and service, fitting within the program’s core values of Scholarship, Education, Responsibility, Volunteerism, and Empowerment (S.E.R.V.E.).

Looking ahead to college, Aly is excited about what comes next. She hopes to study dance at USC in California. “This title has opened so many doors, and I hope to use my platform to make a difference both in college and beyond,” she said.

As Miss Ohio Teen Volunteer 2023, Aly plans to continue working hard and making a positive impact. “Miss Ohio Teen Volunteer has given me the confidence to pursue my goals with even more determination,” she said.

“I hope to continue my passion for dance throughout college and be able to help give back to my community in the best way I can,” Aly concluded.