Community Service, Lefse, & Lutefisk Await West Sound Academy Student Serving as Miss Poulsbo

POULSBO, Wash. - July 14, 2013 - PRLog -- West Sound Academy senior Makenzie Moody began her reign as Miss Poulsbo when she was crowned the winner of the 2013 pageant at the Bremerton High School Performing Arts Theater on January 5th.  Moody said she was "absolutely overwhelmed" upon receiving her crown.  That night was the culmination of three months of rehearsals and classes with pageant organizers, along with individual talent performances and hours of interviews.  The immediate reward was $3,200 in scholarships - $3,000 for winning Miss Poulsbo and $200 for her outstanding interview with the judges.  Next came an immediate launch into her work representing Poulsbo at chamber of commerce events, charity fundraiser galas, and community celebrations.  Six months into her reign, Moody has participated in over 125 appearances, and hopes to complete 213 by the end of the year.  Important events for any Miss Poulsbo are the annual lutefisk dinner in October at Poulsbo's First Lutheran Church and the Yule-log lighting in December.    

  Part of the preparation for the Miss Poulsbo pageant involved preparing a personal plan for service to the community - a "platform'.  Moody has a long history of service to Children of the Nations, so she looked to that experience when making her decision. Since her days as a student at Carden Country School on Bainbridge Island, she's logged over 150 hours of warehouse work and food packaging to the Silverdale charity.  "I wanted something that could apply to people locally and globally,' Moody says. "By choosing ‘Solving Hunger at Home and Abroad’ as my platform, I am able to do work through this organization locally and have an impact on children in Africa."  She adds, "Through Children of the Nations, I was able to help start a drive called ‘Smile Packs’.  Whether it's a bible pack, an education pack, or a hygiene pack, each bag provides necessary items for daily living as well as a smile. By recruiting people to help pack these bags and ship them overseas, I am able to reach out to my local community in a way that results in global impact."

West Sound Academy is an International Baccalaureate World School, so Moody is expected to keep track of her hours of 'CAS' (Creativity, Action, Service) during the year.  CAS is the International Baccalaureate term for committed personal time spent outside the world of academic studies.  CAS can include arts activities, participation in sports or 'action' taken to participate in local or international projects, and social and community service work.  Moody collects many hours of CAS with her demanding schedule as Miss Poulsbo.  She makes public appearances, spends time with Children of the Nations, and works with other local charitable organizations like Habitat for Humanity and Boys and Girls Club.   Outside of these commitments, Moody dances about twelve hours a week with Galletta’s School of Dance and Performing Arts and is currently helping with the CSTOCK (Central State Theater of County Kitsap) production of Hairspray!  

Moody's first taste of the Miss Poulsbo pageant was in 2003 when she participated as a 'Little Sister'. Moody was paired with one of the older girls competing in the pageant, and supported her throughout the program.   All the Little Sisters had to state their goal; the nine-year-old Moody said she wanted to be a veterinarian.  Moody's aspirations for the future have changed considerably since then.  She's aiming for no less than a role on a Broadway stage. "For college, I am looking at attending a 4-year university and double majoring in business and musical theater." she says.  She's headed to New York City next January to perform at the National Unified Auditions, and hopes to be accepted into colleges that offer top musical theater programs.   She adds, "I am currently looking at schools all the way from California to New York and almost everywhere in between. I am leaning towards a conservatory-type training program that can offer dance classes, acting, and singing with private coaches. With any luck, my college of choice will provide me with auditions beginning my junior and senior years to try and land a role on Broadway."

After Moody passes her crown on to the next titleholder on January 11, 2014, she will focus more on her passion for musical theater.  She plans to attend the 5th Avenue Theater’s spring open call to audition for one of their summer shows.  Moody will also work on getting an internship next summer to gain as much experience as possible about show business before going to college. She says, " I look forward to what my senior year has in store for me and I can’t wait to keep serving my community and doing what I love during this last year in Washington."