Ainsley is a two time crown holder this year achieving the title of Miss Largo's Outstanding Teen. Ainsley is a 14 year old home-schooled 8th grade student. She has recently been accepted the the Marion County Center For the Arts and will continue her acting and vocal training next year as a freshman. She is classically trained in Opera and musical theater but also studies contemporary music. She continues to serve her church as a soprano in the 100 member adult choir and vocalist with the youth church rock band.
Ainsley has dedicated much of her time and effort this year to her platform PAWS (Providing Animals With Supplies). She has also volunteered with Tracy's Dogs, a nationally recognized animal rescue from San Antonio Texas. In addition she has begun her journey as a volunteer and spokeswoman for the local Chapter of the US War Dogs Association. She will soon begin the training necessary to visit schools and civic organizations to spread the message of her cause. She hopes to help further the efforts of the US War Dogs Association's goal of passing much needed legislation granting military benefits on our four legged heroes.
Among her pursuits of school, piano, guitar and vocal training, Ainsley found time to play hitter on her club volleyball team, Ocala Power. It has been a busy and rewarding year and she is looking forward to meeting up with her sisters at Miss Florida in July.
Miss Pinellas County's Outstanding Teen - Kayley Klatt
Miss Pinellas County - Elizabeth Stivers
Kayley is 14 years old and lives in Oviedo, FL where she is a freshman honor roll student at Oviedo High School. She is currently enrolled in honor and AP classes and was recently inducted into the Beta Club.
Kayley has received the Disney Dreamer & Doers award along with the Presidential Points of Light Gold Award for her dedication to Community Service. She is a mentor for The Girls Scouts of America where she seeks sponsorships for underprivileged girls so that they can participate in this wonderful organization.
Kayley loves family time, treasures her friendships and enjoys vocal performance, traveling and volleyball. She has a few interesting facts as she was an extra on The Tooth Fairy II, the lead guitarist of Matchbox 20 was the original owner of her family home and she has dual citizenship in the United States and Canada.
Kayley feels so honored to be representing Miss. Pinellas County in the 2017 Miss. Florida's Outstanding Teen Scholarship Program, and looks forward to a year full of amazing experiences in this organization.
Miss St. Petersburg's Outstanding Teen - Tess Sawchuk
Miss Largo - Courtney Nathe
Elizabeth is a 24 year old who graduated from Butler University in 2014, where she obtained her Bachelor of Science Degree in Arts Administration Music with an emphasis in Vocal Performance, a Business Administration Minor, and a Marketing Minor. While at Butler, she was a member of the Sigma Alpha Iota Zeta Chapter, worked three part-time jobs, performed in the Butler University Choir, and finished college in just 3 years.
Her platform is E~S.T.E.A.M. – Elizabeth’s Stand for Tween Exercise and Motivation. She developed this program as a teen contestant in Indiana in 2009, and has since been able to reach hundreds of girls 3rd – 8th grade to talk to them about the importance of living a healthy lifestyle and having a positive body image. Elizabeth’s goal is for all girls to be confident with the body God has given them and succeed in their dreams.
Today, Elizabeth lives in Celebration and is a Walt Disney World Cast Member making magic in the Entertainment Department. She enjoys spoiling her two Yorkshire Terrier puppies, Charming and Ella, and is training them to be Therapy Dogs. Once their training is complete, Elizabeth and her Yorkies will be visiting Children’s Hospitals, Hospices, and Nursing Homes to bring joy to their patients. She feels beyond blessed to have been chosen as a local representative within the Miss America Organization and is enjoying every minute preparing for this once in a lifetime opportunity.
Miss Largo's Outstanding Teen - Ainsley Whyatt
Miss St. Petersburg - Olivia Fiss
Courtney Nathe is a sophomore at the University of Florida. She is the founder of her charity, S.O.C.K.S. Inc, which is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that brings therapeutic and crazy socks to cancer patients all over the United States. Courtney has been competing with the Miss Florida Organization since she was 14, and won her first title, Miss Pinellas County's Outstanding Teen, here in St. Petersburg. She enjoys singing, art and music, as well as focusing on her Catholic faith, which has shaped her dreams and aspirations. Courtney has competed in numerous competitions all over the United States for vocal solo and group performance, from IMTA in New York to performing at Disney with her show choir. She plans to pursue a career of nursing with UF Health Shand's or a career as a Classics or Latin professor at high school or university level. Courtney's strongest passion is helping others in anyway, whether it be sculpting their dreams and passions or taking care of their medical needs.
Olivia Fiss is an 18 year old rising freshman at Furman University. Olivia will be graduating from Plant High School and has been immensely involved in TV Productions, filming and editing hype videos for her school’s football team, anchoring for Plant High's Morning Show as well as serving as a Varsity Reporter for the Bright House Sports Network. Olivia is President of Special Olympics: Project UNIFY, an education and sports based strategy that increases athletic and leadership opportunities for students with and without intellectual disabilities at Plant. Olivia serves as Treasurer of Best Buddies, an organization that is near and dear to heart. Through the Best Buddies annual Friendship Walk she has helped raise over $20,000 to better the lives of those with intellectual disabilities. Olivia chose her platform, Bettering the Lives of Those with Disabilities, after a life changing mission trip to Haiti where she worked in a special needs orphanage. She proclaims that choosing her platform was not difficult because it’s a message that she works at every day…at school, in her church’s special needs ministry, and within her community’s organizations. Olivia is the select recipient of Plant High’s prestigious award, the Principal’s Award, given out each year to a student, chosen by the Principal, who feels has made the greatest impact at Plant and will continue to do so. Olivia has competed in the Miss America Organization since the age of 13, winning her first title as Miss Pinellas County’s Outstanding Teen and placing 3rd runner-up as Miss Largo’s Outstanding Teen in 2016.
Tess Sawchuk is an 8th grade honor student at Family of Christ Christian School in Tampa, Florida.
When not in school, Tess spends 20+ hours training as a level 8 USAG gymnast. For Tess, gymnastics has been a passion for over 10 years. She competes not only in the State of Florida, but across the United States. Tess has received many awards for gymnastics including All Around State Champion, Beam State Champion and Bars State Champion. She was chosen by her coaches as the team MVP for 4 years in a row. Tess also enjoys volunteering as an assistant coach and developing the young 5 and 6 year old gymnasts. When not in school or at the gym, Tess is spending time with her dog, Sophie, who she calls “phi phi”, traveling to new places with her family, learning about history and being creative with a never ending stream of new projects, the latest being “creating all types of slime”.
Since her brother was diagnosed with Type One Diabetes a few years ago, Tess has become involved in supporting efforts to find a cure including raising money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and participating in clinical research trials at the University of Florida. This experience has helped to shape her aspiration to become involved in the medical research field.