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Tara Wheeler is a 24 year-old graduate of Penn State
University with a
degree in Journalism. Growing up in a military family, Tara has lived all across the country but has called Virginia home for
thirteen years. Her education was funded, in part, through an Air Force
ROTC scholarship. At Penn
State, she was an Air
Force ROTC cadet mentor and flight commander. She completed officer boot camp
at the top of her flight. While at Penn State,
she was also the starting goalie for the Lady Icers Ice Hockey Team, holding
numerous goaltending records and she participated in the US Olympic
Team tryouts. Upon completion of her year of service, Tara
hopes to pursue a Masters degree in Journalism at Regent University
and work as a reporter or anchor in television.
Tara believes in and lives her message
"Breaking Stereotypes, Building Leaders". She will share a
message of self-definition, embracing uniqueness with schoolchildren, civic
organizations, and community leaders across the Commonwealth this year.
She has volunteered with numerous organizations and she was recognized by
Governor Jim Gilmore for her community service efforts. Her commitment
to the greater good has helped to raise over $4 million. She is proud
to be the founder of "Positive
Role Models
Building Powerful
Women" (Pos-Pow), an organization dedicated to building self-esteem and
leadership skills in young women. Because of her accomplishments with
this organization, Tara was invited to
represent Pos-Pow at the United Nations World Headquarters in New York City for the
launching of the Redlight Children Campaign against child
sexploitation. In addition, she has spoken to over 20,000 children in
six states and the District of
Columbia.
Prior to being named Miss Virginia 2008, Tara worked as a residential counselor at Joe Gibb's Youth
for Tomorrow group home and as a motivational speaker for Monster's Making
It Count program. She will travel over 40,000 miles across Virginia sharing her
message and entertaining. In addition, Tara
will promote the Children's Miracle Network and the "Right Decisions
Right Now" program throughout her year of service.
Wendi Gruninger
Business Manager
Miss Virginia
Organization
missvawg@yahoo.com
(540)
589-9526
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