by Abi Dobson, Student Contributor
On January 20th, Alice Lloyd College opened its doors to 2021-2022 Miss Kentucky, Haley Wheeler. Wheeler spoke at convocation to ALC students about the importance of setting goals and knowing how to reach them. Confidence was instilled within the student body as she reminded them that failure is natural, and their failures do not define them. However, their response to failure does. She also shared her setbacks of becoming Miss Kentucky and how she continued to have grit and preserve. Wheeler also discussed her platform, A Stitch of Hope: Alzheimer’s Awareness, and how her great grandfather’s battle with Alzheimer’s led to her professional career as a Speech-Language Pathologist.
After the convocation, Wheeler stayed around to take pictures and engage in meaningful conversations with students. She also visited The June Buchanan School and spoke with their sign language class. Wheeler minored in American Sign Language (ASL) at Western Kentucky University. To finish her day in Pippa Passes, Haley sang the national anthem before a doubleheader between the Alice Lloyd College Eagles and the West Virginia Tech Golden Bears. After being crowned Miss Kentucky, she set a goal to sing the national anthem at all colleges across the state.
Mrs. Lloyd knew the importance of creating opportunities for her students. Through the Convocation Program, students at ALC gain an opportunity to see how the values of the Purpose Road Philosophy, such as preservation and hard work, are valuable traits in a life of service to others. Miss Kentucky’s Convocation inspired ALC to walk down the Purpose Road with confidence and humility.
