In late October, Castleton University sophomore Jenna Howlett was crowned Miss Vermont Collegiate America 2021. Jenna, who is a graduate of Middlebury Union High School and a Management major at Castleton, will advance to compete with the hope of being Miss Collegiate America at the national pageant in Little Rock, Arkansas, this summer.
Jenna grew up in nearby Bridport, Vermont, and took advantage of the state’s Early College Program last year at Castleton. This program allows motivated high school seniors to complete their high school requirements while taking a full year of college classes. Jenna planned to take the college credits she earned and head south to finish her bachelor’s degree. Then COVID-19 hit.
“I was planning on attending school in Florida this year, but with COVID I was very concerned with the way the school was handling everything,” she said. “I knew Castleton would handle it very well and I was confident I would get an amazing education here.”
Now, she calls Castleton home and holds the title of Spartan and Miss Vermont Collegiate America.
Jenna has been competing in pageants since she was 11 years old and has competed in multiple national pageants, including Miss Teen USA. Here, she was able to present her anti-bullying platform. Called You’re My FFAV: Rising Above Bullying, it’s a cause that Jenna holds close. FFAV stands for faith, family, arts, and volunteer.
“It’s a four-step process I used to overcome bullying when I was in the fourth grade when my fellow classmates made an ‘I hate Jenna’ club,” she said.
Volunteering continues to be a cornerstone of Jenna’s life. The Miss Collegiate America system prides itself on community service and giving back. This is one area that Jenna proudly embraces. As Miss Collegiate Vermont, she is responsible for attending at least two appearances a month – but she often goes beyond what is expected. Recently, she has been found volunteering at Castleton’s GivingTuesday food drive, judging the America’s Yankee Miss pageant, and helping with election day in her hometown.
Jenna is focused on getting ready to take home the title of Miss Collegiate America, but she’s also focused on what comes after that.
This fall, Jenna plans to continue at Castleton and also take classes in Stafford Technical Center’s Cosmetology program to help reach her goal of owning a hair salon someday and being able to help other women and girls participating in pageants.
“Castleton has prepared me by instilling confidence within myself,” she said. “I’ve always been shy, but when I came to Castleton, I started introducing myself to new people and gained more confidence.”