NEWBERRY — Gaalon Lukie, Miss Newberry 2019, and Elizabeth Hunter, Miss Teen Newberry 2019, have both been active in the community since winning their crowns, which fits as they both have platforms about healthy living and being active.

Lukie’s platform is “encouraging family togetherness through healthy living,” and Hunter’s platform is “let’s get moving, motivate teens and kids to become physically active.”

Lukie said she has been going over to Newberry Family Literacy with Rita Saddler, Family Literacy coordinator and Lukie’s aunt, as part of her platform.

During her time there, Lukie has helped with their Family and Friends Game Night, and Family Matters — which was a cooking event.

“It encourages families getting together and do more things together in the kitchen for healthy lifestyles. So they know what is going into their food, and be able to be together,” Lukie said.

Lukie also did an internship at Newberry Family Literacy, and said she was able to go over there and read to youths and speak to their parents — thanks to the internship.

“I just learned a lot about how being able to help the kids helps families over time; which really encouraged my standpoint, encouraging family togetherness through healthy living,” Lukie said. “My aunt is also doing her doctorate and she is focusing on teens and their mental health and everything they do in schools — that really encouraged my platform because I spent so much time with her.”

Thanks to that time over at Newberry Family Literacy, Lukie realized that is what she wants to do.

“I’m getting a degree in exercise science at Newberry College, but my plan is to somehow encourage family togetherness through healthy lifestyle. Even though it is my platform for the pageant, I’ve actually grown to enjoy it a lot more than I thought I would,” she said.

Lukie also got on the path of that platform thanks to her time as a dance teacher in Greenwood, prior to college. While there, she started a mother-daughter class, and she realized the class helped children become more active in other classes.

“That was the beginning, when I realized I like doing things with kids and parents. When I became an exercise science major, I realized I could do things with all ages of people,” she said.

As for Hunter, during her time promoting her platform, she has been to a multitude of events to help keep youths physically active.

“In December, I went to the Christmas Party at Newberry County Disabilities and Special Needs Board. I did crafts and got to interact with them over there,” she said.

Hunter also got involved with Upward Basketball and Cheerleading at Zion United Methodist Church. Hunter served as a cheer coach for Upward Cheer. Hunter said she got to teach the children, who were interested, cheers and dances.

“One Saturday I spent the whole day up there talking about my platform, discussing with the parents about keeping their children active and off electronics, because that is really what I’m trying to spread,” she said.

Hunter picked this platform for two reasons, the first being because she said she likes getting active and having fun with it.

“The other reason is because of my mom and struggling with her weight. She talks about when she was a teen and a kid if she had access to fun active things, she probably wouldn’t have gotten overweight as a child. That impacted me to give kids that outlet,” Hunter said.

During their times wearing the crowns, both ladies have been active in the community; they have participated in events like the Healthy Chili Cook Off, Prosperity’s Hoppin’, Pork in the Park and Open Streets.

“Both of these young ladies have far exceeded expectations as ambassadors for Newberry. Each has worked tirelessly to help local 501c3 organizations raise thousands that went back into our community, while making the honor rolls and Dean’s list. Elizabeth was named AAA State Cheerleader of the Year during all this, and Gaalon maintained more than a full load at Newberry College and worked a full-time job,” said Tamra Tootle, local executive director of Miss Newberry Scholarship Organization. “We are extremely proud of both Gaalon and Elizabeth.”

Elizabeth Hunter, Miss Newberry 2019, and Gaalon Lukie, Miss Newberry 2019, during Pork in the Park where they helped raise money for their platforms.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_DSC_0897-1.jpgElizabeth Hunter, Miss Newberry 2019, and Gaalon Lukie, Miss Newberry 2019, during Pork in the Park where they helped raise money for their platforms. Andrew Wigger | The Newberry Observer

Elizabeth Hunter, Miss Newberry 2019, and Gaalon Lukie, Miss Newberry 2019, have worked throughout the year to promote their various platforms.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_DSC_0819-1.jpgElizabeth Hunter, Miss Newberry 2019, and Gaalon Lukie, Miss Newberry 2019, have worked throughout the year to promote their various platforms. Andrew Wigger | The Newberry Observer

By Andrew Wigger

awigger@championcarolinas.com

Reach Andrew Wigger at 803-276-0625 ext. 1867 or on Twitter @TheNBOnews.