From a Duke to Miss Wyoming

Samantha Duke, a graduate of Saratoga Middle High School and senior at University of Wyoming (UW), turned her dreams into reality when she became the newly appointed Miss Wyoming Volunteer.

Duke graduated from Saratoga Middle High School in 2021 and is currently studying communications at UW. She said she began competing in pageants when she graduated from Saratoga. When she began her journey two years ago, Duke made it her goal to become the next Miss Wyoming Volunteer her senior year.

“I decided in my senior year it was time and I was confident enough to start competing again,” Duke said. “I started with Miss America of Wyoming for two years. I became the first ever Miss Wyoming and Miss Montana Volunteer. Both states encouraged me to join the volunteer organization.”

According to the Miss Volunteer America Organization website, their organization is about honoring young women who demonstrate a genuine commitment to positively impacting their communities through volunteer work.

Duke said joining the Miss America Volunteer Organization was a great experience. She said everyone was supportive of everyone who was competing.

“My directors are amazing and so are the owners of Volunteer America, Allison and Jay DeMarcus,” Duke said. “Everyone is kind and they are there to help every individual girl.”

Duke competed in the 2023 Miss Wyoming State Pageant and took 3rd place. Despite that 3rd place finish, she was contacted by Volunteer America when the previous Miss Wyoming Volunteer stepped down.

“Volunteer America called me three weeks before Nationals to take over the title,” Duke said “I gladly accepted and competed in Nationals as Miss Wyoming Volunteer and I will continue the reign until September.”

Duke said she works with the Boys & Girls Club in Laramie and travels across the state for the entire summer. She talks about her love for volunteering and how it started.

“I love seeing the impact on a child,” Duke said. “I noticed in high school, when I was a student aid, I would have a conversation with a kid and it would brighten their day. I could tell it made their day much better knowing some people care for them. It is great to make a special connection because I do work a lot with kids.”

Duke said the greatest memory she will cherish competing in the Miss America Volunteer is the friends she has made. She said this was one of the most special times of her life.

“I have made some of the greatest friends doing pageantry.,” Duke said “One of my best friends, who is also one of my sorority sisters, we competed together. I also made friends at the Nationals who I know will become my lifelong friends. I have kept in contact with them ever since I got back home.”

Duke said there is no better honor than representing the state of Wyoming because it is something she has worked for.

“It is the best feeling in the world to be a Miss Wyoming Volunteer,” Duke said. “I have been working on this for four years. I finally took the role and it has become an adventure of a lifetime.”