It’s been a whirlwind of a year for Quinn Shelt, the reigning Miss Augusta, who has thrown herself into her role since receiving the crown in February.
“It’s worked out perfectly. I knew I was going to take a gap year while applying to law school,” said Shelt, who graduated from the University of Georgia in the spring.
The Grovetown High School graduate represented the Augusta area at the Miss Georgia pageant in June, but that didn’t end her commitment to her crown. It was simply one stop on her journey. Not only has she been an ambassador and smiling face at many area events such as the recent Columbia County Christmas Parade, Jingle Jam, Lights of the South and Turkey Trot Rungiving. She’s also made appearances at business ribbon cuttings.
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And she’s volunteered in multiple ways. She read to schoolchildren.
In December, she distributed handmade Christmas cards to people in area nursing homes and assisted living centers.
But most importantly to her, she’s brought light to a cause dear to her heart.
“I had a couple of goals,” Shelt said. “I wanted to bring Alzheimer’s awareness and raise its visibility, and I wanted to be a role model.”
Her gap year has given her the flexibility to do both of those things.
For the Alzheimer’s Association, she’s spoken about Alzheimer’s disease at area schools, and she helped organize its annual fundraising walk in November. She’s also volunteering with the organization’s Augusta’s Got Talent event scheduled for May 2023. Applications for that event are being accepted until Jan. 6, 2023 and are available here.
Her volunteer efforts with the Alzheimer’s Association have not only helped others learn about it and the disease, but it’s impacted her as well.
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“I’ve shifted my focus,” she said.
She wants to go into family law, and she also sees herself advocating for those with Alzheimer’s and dementia as well as their caregivers.
“It’s ignited a passion for elder care law,” she said.
While the Alzheimer’s Association works for older adults and those who take care of them, the organization can’t do it all.
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“There’s not near enough support for caregivers,” she said. “They give so many hours of unpaid care.”
She’s also seen growth in her professional skills. Her public speaking ability helped garner the title of Miss Augusta, but she said she believes her communication and marketing skills have been further sharpened.
Shelt may hang up her Miss Augusta crown in February 2023, but it’s not something she’ll soon forget.
“I’ve loved it,” she said.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the publisher of Augusta Good News. Sign up for the Augusta Good News newsletter here.
