Miss Vermont's Outstanding Teen 2010: Erin Connor

Erin Connor of Bridport, Vermont is 15 years old and has just completed her freshman year with high honors at Middlebury Union High School.

This past year, Erin held the office of class Vice President and was asked to work as a teaching assistant in the physical education class. Erin enjoys history—she has won awards with her exhibits at the Vermont history day—and is currently the Vice President of the Otter Creek History Club.

Erin enjoys writing essays and has participated in many essay contests and won top honors at several statewide competitions. Some of these include; Daughters of the American Revolution 2009 State Essay Winner; Vermont Secretary of State’s Essay contest 2008; Fraternal Order of Eagles - 2008 State Speech Winner and the Drug Abuse Resistance Education Essay Award 2008.

Erin is also an accomplished public speaker. At seven, she spoke to a crowd of five thousand people and since then has gone on to win public speaking contests. Most recently Erin took top honors at the 2010 Rotary International speech competition. 

In addition to her skills in written and oral communication, Erin is an experienced teacher and communicator in American Sign Language. Signing for a number of years, Erin has worked as a teaching assistant signing in college classes and signed for Mosaic Theatre productions.  For the talent portion of the Miss Vermont's Outstanding Teen competition, Erin signed "The Greatest Love of All".

It is a goal of the organization that every Miss Vermont and Outstanding Teen has a solid background in community service. Erin has done that with her work through volunteering with the ‘Cram the Van’ a local food drive and as a meal server at the American Legion.  She has worked as a teaching assistant in her former elementary school, taken part in CROP Walks, helped out at the Humane Society and participated in the Bridport Scrape and Paint project.

Throughout her year as Vermont’s Outstanding Teen, Erin will travel the state and in her own words “wants to be visible in as many towns, schools, and community events as possible during my year, and that my message of hard work, healthy choices, and excitement for being a teen would offer VT teenagers encouragement to follow in my footsteps.”

As the youngest of seven children growing up on her family’s dairy farm, Erin has learned about hard work, the importance of working toward a common goal and how to stand out in a crowd. Throughout her year as Vermont’s Outstanding Teen Erin will have wonderful opportunities to share her strengths, reach her goals, and communicate her message.