Miss Deaf California
Aug 30th, 2007 by admin
Message from Miss Deaf California 2007-2009
Hello my name is Amanda Folendorf. I grew up in Angels Camp, California (South East of Sacramento), in the beautiful foothills of Calaveras County. I graduated from Bret Harte High School in 2004. For my first two years of college, I attended Gallaudet University in Washington D. C., where I was introduced to the Deaf Community. I grew up in a rural area where services for the deaf were extremely limited. Through the educational services in my county, I was assisted through my K-12 education with a myriad of deaf/hard of hearing specialists. I was “mainstreamed” with hearing students throughout these years with no connection to the Deaf Community. It wasn’t until college when I learned American Sign Language (ASL). I returned to California to complete my degree, and I am currently enrolled at California State University- Sacramento. My major is Government with a concentration of International Relations. I am actively involved in my community in my hometown as well as being the President of Advocates for Deaf Culture and ASL at California State University-Sacramento. When I decided to run for Miss Deaf California I had no idea I would win, I participated in this pageant to enhance my leadership skills, for the experience, and the connection to the Deaf community that I was not exposed to while growing up. Although it was certainly thrilling to win, at the same time I did not know what to think. All I could image was how busy I was going to be for the next two years. Once I got a chance to sit down and think about everything, and to meet and greet all the wonderful people I would be working with; I quickly realized how this opportunity was amazing, and fortunate I was to be given this title. I am proud to be able to go out to the many activities and represent the Deaf Community throughout the State of California. I am looking forward to establish connections with people that I would not have been able to do so. It is my focus to have these new connections work for the betterment of the Deaf Community. I am looking forward to NAD in July 2007 and the new experiences I will have there in representing California. My future holds many exciting things during my reign as Miss Deaf California. First of all, I will be graduating in the Fall of 2008 with my Bachelors degree. Secondly, I look forward to working with CAD and being involved in our new program for the youth, J.R. CAD. I look forward to meeting and working with all of you in the Deaf community. It’s very exciting and I am full of anticipation for the next two years.
Sincerely,
Amanda Folendorf