DeSoto queen spearheads letter-writing campaign

RIVER CLUB — Standing before a classroom full of fifth-graders at Braden River Elementary School, Lakewood Ranch High School graduate Ellie Ohlman felt right at home.

The current Miss DeSoto Queen is combining her two passions as she prepares for the upcoming Miss Florida Scholarship Pageant.

“I absolutely love children and community service,” said Ohlman, an elementary education major at the University of South Florida. “If I needed to be passionate about something, that was it.”

Ohlman spent the morning Dec. 6 with fifth-grade students at Braden River Elementary School, where she helped them write letters to soldiers serving overseas while encouraging them to serve their community however possible, whether through participating in canned food drives or helping an elderly neighbor with yard work.

Ohlman’s platform as she prepares for Miss Florida, the precursor to the Miss America Pageant, is “Community Service: Start Young.”

“I’m a third generation native of (Florida),” Ohlman said. “I’m a firm believer that you give back to the community you live in. That’s been instilled in me by my grandparents and parents.

“I chose to focus on elementary students because I want them to volunteer because they want to, not because they have to,” she said. “Sometimes, people, especially high school students, find themselves rushing to complete community-service hours just to earn a college scholarship, and they aren’t volunteering for the right reasons. I think the best way for students to learn is by example, and that is exactly what I am doing.”

Ohlman kicked off her campaign by visiting Braden River, Willis and Blackburn elementary schools during the last few weeks. At each school, she shared her message of community service and had students participate in a community-service project in their classrooms. This month’s service project benefited Manasota Operation Troop Support, an organization that sends letters and care packages to overseas military.

“Each month, I want to try to do something with local elementary schools that benefits various organizations in Manatee,” Ohlman said. “Because it’s the holidays and soldiers can’t be with their families, I thought (MOTS) would be a wonderful organization for this month.”

Ohlman said community service not only helps develop youth as well-rounded individuals but also builds lifelong connections and friendships.

Students clearly grasped the message.

“I learned that it’s important to help out,” 11-year-old Harry Schultz said. “I thought it was really great we can talk to solders who want to be talked to. (Ohlman) gave me more ways we can do service projects, like bringing canned goods to school.”

Chloe Sciarrone, 11, agreed.

“I learned you can do some really small things and it can make a big difference in the community,” she said.

Through Ohlman’s website, www.mccommunityservice.com, students can learn about local volunteer opportunities in their community, as well as ways they can help out from home by donating unneeded clothing to charity, among other projects.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].

HISTORY OF GIVING
Even before Ellie Ohlman was crowned the DeSoto queen, she was heavily involved in community service, donating blood to Florida Blood Services and volunteering with Teen Court and at Southeastern Guide Dogs and serving as an active member of Key Club and Lakewood Leaders while at Lakewood Ranch High School, among other contributions.