When Alayna Wilson, a Columbus native, heard of her former dance accomplice’s most cancers analysis, she leaped into motion to unfold phrase of an area nonprofit’s mission.
The 23-year-old, who was just lately named first runner-up on the 2022 Miss Nebraska Scholarship Competitors, began competing in pageants after she graduated from Scotus Central Catholic in 2017.
“After I first competed, I used to be simply doing it for enjoyable. I knew that I did not need to win that yr, as a result of I used to be so younger and had a variety of rising left to do,” Wilson recalled.
She took a number of years off from the competitions as a result of she began attending the College of Nebraska-Lincoln for a speech-language pathology diploma, undecided how a lot time competing and her research would take up.
“Throughout my sophomore yr I used to be introduced again into the Miss Nebraska system as a result of certainly one of my earlier dance companions, Trevor Luckey, was identified with leukemia,” Wilson stated. “Sammy’s Superheroes … I had been a brilliant massive advocate and volunteer beforehand however now, when Trevor was identified, it meant one thing far more to me than simply one thing you volunteer for. I knew that I wanted to get again into the group, so I may share my message, unfold my phrase.”
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Based in Columbus, Sammy’s Superheroes raises consciousness and funds for childhood most cancers analysis.
Wilson at the moment holds the title of Miss Omaha and was named second runner-up in final yr’s Miss Nebraska competitors. By way of her title, she is ready to champion for Sammy’s Superheroes by way of an area, state and – hopefully, in the future – nationwide degree.
“I get to enter native colleges and speak about well being and what pediatric most cancers is and the way we will help these youngsters within the hospital,” stated Wilson, who additionally spreads the significance of kindness. “I used to be in a position to donate over 2,000 playing cards all through my time on this group to youngsters present process remedies. That is one thing that if I am going to a presentation, I invite individuals to take action as effectively.”
Together with selling her platform, Wilson famous the scholarship {dollars} a competitor can earn, in addition to management, private growth and networking alternatives.
“The Miss Nebraska group simply makes probably the most sense to additional propel each my schooling but additionally the Sammy’s Superheroes group at giant,” Wilson stated.
Wilson continues to be Miss Omaha till August. When talking to The Telegram through cellphone name this week, she was in Kansas Metropolis, the place she attends the Kansas College Medical Middle. She stated she is going to graduate within the spring along with her grasp’s diploma in speech-language pathology however will stay busy all through the following yr.
“I’d like to be a speech-language pathologist in a college setting, but additionally I’ve totally different scientific placements arrange,” Wilson stated. “So I form of get a style of the whole lot earlier than I make that closing determination. On this subsequent yr alone, I’m working with a Parkinson’s group, with an aphasia group, personal apply/personal remedy, then within the fall, I can be in an elementary college.”
Her mom has the identical profession path and has been an enormous affect, she stated. Wilson famous she additionally desires to assist with a constructive change in another person’s life that speech-language pathologists could make.
“Mother and father get to listen to their children say ‘I really like you’ for the primary time,” Wilson stated. “Otherwise you get to provide somebody their freedom again by way of speech, otherwise you’re in a position to assist somebody so that they are in a position to safely feed themselves. There’s all kinds of issues that speech pathologists try this lots of people do not know. However in all of these little moments, that is the place the actual magic occurs.”
Her sister, Gina Frerichs, famous that Wilson could be very deserving of her accomplishments.
“She’s a go-getter,” Frerichs stated. “She is unquestionably a really passionate particular person, very humble. Together with her platform, Sammy’s Superheroes, she’s had all of it all through her pageant profession, since 2017.”
In accordance with Frerichs, Wilson has additionally served as Miss Gering and Miss Harvest Moon Competition.
Wilson stated that Sammy’s Superheroes Founder Erin Nahorny got here out to the ultimate day of the Miss Nebraska competitors over the weekend. That meant so much to her, Wilson added.
Being named first runner-up signifies that she will proceed competing subsequent yr and that she’s not executed along with her work in Miss Nebraska or Sammy’s Superheroes.
“I feel God has different plans for me to serve this yr and presumably recruiting extra members and gaining extra funds and having extra sponsors is what I am meant to do that yr earlier than I am absolutely ready and able to tackle that title subsequent yr,” she added.
Wilson stated she would additionally like to see an area scholarship competitors. There was once a Miss Columbus competitors, she stated, that was discontinued.
“We’ve got so many proficient and vibrant younger ladies who deserve the identical alternatives that I have been given all through competing on this group,” Wilson added.
At the moment, Wilson stated, she’s the one energetic member of Miss Nebraska that’s from Columbus. She stated individuals with questions on being concerned in Miss Nebraska are free to achieve out to her by way of social media.
“If you happen to’re in a position to do it and you’ve got a ardour, this is a chance to get a microphone in your arms and be capable of share your message similar to I have been in a position to do for the previous 5 years,” she stated.
Hannah Schrodt is the information editor of The Columbus Telegram. Attain her through e-mail at hannah.schrodt@lee.web.