Mikaela Bannon

ROGERS CITY — This young woman is poised, intelligent, caring, and active.

Mikaela Bannon, 20, recently earned the honor of Miss Michigan Volunteer. She was officially crowned on Sunday, Feb. 13.

She explained that earning this title is much more than a beauty contest.

“I think a lot of people fail to realize a lot of the communication and preparation that goes into this,” Mikaela said. “We are doing interviews on the daily, we’re preparing for job interviews and getting ready for our future, and the huge thing about these organizations is these are scholarship programs.”

She noted that in her pageant history, she has earned “well over $7,000” in scholarships.

“I’m very blessed,” she said. “It’s helped me greatly in my college career.”

Beyond that, it helps build character and skills useful in one’s career, no matter what field they plan to enter.

“I’d say to anybody that just sees it as a beauty pageant, it’s so much more than just beauty,” she noted. “You have to have that confidence about you. You have to know what you want to do. You have to be involved with your community.”

And involved she is, as a volunteer with many different organizations.

“I do a lot of service work throughout the U.P. and upper Michigan area,” said the Northern Michigan University student. “I’ve been able to hone in on my skills of crocheting. I’ve crocheted many scarves for homeless people. I’ve worked with my personal platform, Liberty’s Dream, for two years now. I’ve worked with Paws for a Cause for over eight years now. I’ve been able to tutor many kids who struggle with literature and English subjects.”

She also has worked with Big Brothers/Big Sisters.

She explained the premise behind Liberty’s Dream, which is one of her main platforms.

“Liberty’s Dream was started in Rogers City, by Nancy Tulgestka,” Mikaela said.

Nancy is her lifelong friend Madison Tulgestka’s mom.

“We go to high-risk shelters and high-kill shelters all around America, and we basically rescue and foster these dogs, and give them a second chance at life,” Mikaela said. “In return, these dogs often help someone out in a great way.”

She said it’s an amazing accomplishment to be able to bring Liberty’s Dream to a national level of recognition, so more people and dogs can be helped through the program.

“When you look at a dog, you can’t help but smile,” Mikaela said. “Being able to give these animals a second chance, and really show the world that animals do so much for us, just as we do for them.”

Mikaela has a dog named Savvy, whom she adores.

“I cannot imagine my life without her,” she said about her beloved pooch. “She has made my life 10 times better. My dog changed my life, and I love her immensely.”

Savvy is a German Shorthaired Pointer. She was not rescued through Liberty’s Dream, but Mikaela said her own dog has been an inspiration.

“She definitely inspired me to help other dogs who had gone through abuse or neglect,” Mikaela said.

She most recently volunteered doing crowd control at the UP 200 dog sled race.

“The UP 200 is a huge fundraiser mush race,” she noted. “It’s a pretty awesome event.”

Bannon is the daughter of Bill and Missy Bannon of Rogers City. Mikaela said her mom is one of her role models.

Mikaela will now go on to national competition this spring.

“Miss Volunteer America is a nationwide service scholarship program based out of Tennessee that seeks to empower young women across the country through educational scholarships and extraordinary opportunities,” Missy Bannon explained in an email.

Mikaela will compete at the national level in early May at the Miss Volunteer America contest in Jackson, Tennessee.

“Mikaela will be competing in different facets of competition: personal interview, fitness and wellness, talent, evening gown, and, if she makes it to the top five, a final on-stage final question,” her mom noted. “Mikaela will proudly represent the five points of the crown during her year of service. The five points stand for S.E.R.V.E. — Scholarship. Education. Responsibility. Volunteerism. Empowerment.

Mikaela is currently studying Medical Esthetic Science and Cosmetology at NMU.

“I wanted to be able to go into esthetician sciences and I wanted to be able to create a financial base for me to be able to return to college and pursue my dream in sports broadcasting,” she explained.

She has been running the pageant circuit since she was 11 or 12.

“It evolved into years of pageantry, and years of experience and growth,” she said. “What I absolutely love about it, besides all the confidence, the scholarship money, and the connections you make, honestly, I’ve made lifelong friends through the different organizations I’ve competed in.”

Her first title was Miss Sunrise Side’s Outstanding Teen 2015, followed by Miss Huron Shores’ Outstanding Teen, Miss West Michigan’s Outstanding Teen, Miss Michigan’s Outstanding Teen First Runner Up, Miss Shoreline, and now, Miss Michigan Volunteer.

“Once you start, you just fall in love with it, and you want to spend every waking moment in pageant land,” she concluded. “Anyone can be a title holder. The only thing it comes down to is being your authentic self.”