Maria, a junior in the fall, competed last year and found that the program really improved her self confidence and leadership skills and wanted to further develop these while helping the Farmington and Farmington Hills communities. Her favorite thing about Farmington is the kind welcoming people in the community. When she grows up she wants to go into aerospace or medicine because she is passionate about working on engineering, like on the robotics team at her high school, and also loves having the opportunity to help people.

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" Beyond Basics is a literacy non-profit; it provides tutoring, reading, art, writing, mentoring programs, and free books for underprivileged students (PreK - 12) in Detroit, Pontiac, and Taylor. There are multiple charities that provide people in need with food, shelter, and clothing, but Beyond Basics gives students the tools to help shape their own future — literacy. It’s amazing how much of a difference one-on-one tutoring can make in a child’s life. It only takes $500 to sponsor a child for a year; with the Miss Farmington program’s support, so many students’ lives could be changed for the better."

Elena, a senior in the fall, was excited to participate in the program for the second time this year to continue her involvement in the community, as she found it had a large impact on her life. She loves the opportunity to spend time with kids in our community and going to the Farmer's Markets every Saturday. When she grows up she does not want an office job, she wants to make sure she can move around a lot, so she is considering sports medicine or physical therapy.

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"Alzheimer's disease is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States, affecting someone every 65 seconds. Alzheimer's is a general term for memory loss and other cognitive abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life. My grandma Minnie has battled dementia and now Alzheimer's for the past 12 years. Last year we moved her into a wonderful memory care facility, visiting her has changed my life and made me realize the importance of understanding, supporting and caring for people with this disease."

Amari, a soon to be sophomore, was excited to join the program to get to know and interact with the people in our community while growing as a person. She loves the sweet people in Farmington the most, but the history behind the buildings throughout the cities also captivates her. When she grows up she would love to be a singer or a veteranarian.

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"My charity is one of the nation's most effective and helpful organizations for stray animals and animal protection. They handle cruelty, abandonment, and disaster situations, taking in one animal at a time. They hold thousands of animals up for adoption, while they also encourage others to improve the treatment of animals nationwide.

I chose the Michigan Humane Society to be my charity because animal rights play a huge role in my life. My mother and I have done marches for animal rights, and participated in many protests against abuse and cruelty. I'm aware that millions of people are familiar of the poor ways in which many animals are treated; however, I am also aware that millions are not. Animals are treated inhumanely worldwide, and I would love to be part of a movement that helps raise awareness for these mistreated beings."

Madison will be a freshman in the fall and she is excited to try something new by joining our program. She is looking forward to the unique opportunity our program provides to allow contestants to be hands on in giving back to the community. She loves the diversity in our communities, she fondly remembers all of the time she spent at various events in Heritage Park growing up. When she grows up she would love to do something out of the 'norm' like becoming software engineer.

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"Founded in 1949, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is the world's largest voluntary health organization that exists to find cures and ensure access to treatments for blood cancer patients.

As a family member of a lymphoma survivor, I thought it was a perfect charity for me because I know the pain and trauma it causes for families affected by this devastating disease."

Emma will be a senior in the fall, she grew up here but does not attend Farmington Public Schools, so she felt this program was a perfect opportunity to get more involved in our communities. She loves the lively downtown area, especially the ice rink. When she grows up, she thinks she would like to follow in the footsteps of her cousin, and combine her passion for economics and people skills to become a lawyer.

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" A comprehensive program for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, HAVEN provides shelter, counseling, advocacy and educational programming.I chose it because it is a great charity that helps to empower women and their children. It helps strong women raise strong children who are productive citizens living without fear with of abuse, breaking the viscous cycle of poverty and abuse."