Miss America 2016 Betty Cantrell Visits Two Schools in Atlantic City

Photos, story by Lou Perri,

For the first time since she was crowned Miss America 2016, Betty Cantrell visited two local schools in Atlantic City on Thursday, Oct. 8th. Betty Cantrell visited Atlantic City High School and the Richmond Avenue Elementary School to perform and speak about her platform, Healthy Children, Strong America, as well as the importance of getting involved in the school and neighborhood communities.Explore NJ went to the Richmond school for that event.

The elementary school was selected because the school won the Lite Rock/Miss America Serves Food Drive, which collects non-perishable foods for the Atlantic City Mission. Students filled an Atlantic City row boat with large collection of perishable foods for the ACRM.

At the Richmond school where she spoke with and entertained students from kindergarten t the eighth grade, the vibrant Miss America told students about living in rural Georgia. She captivated them with tales of her pets, including chipmunks, deer, and, of course dogs and cats. Moving to her platform, she asked students if they went grocery shopping with family. If so, she advised, they purchase foods without sugar.

The students asked Miss America to sing a song. Obliging, Miss America enthralled her audience with “Let It Fall” from the movie Frozen. The students loved her rendition while many took selfies of the event.

Miss America left the school, with many of the female students wishing they could be a future Miss America.