The daughter of Steve and Barb Lewis, Samantha is a Fort Fairfield High School student. She recently responded to an invitation to compete in the state-wide pageant.

“I received an invitation in the mail to participate in this pageant, in August,” she said. “It took me a couple of days to decide to do it and I think this will be a great opportunity to represent Fort Fairfield.”

The pageant will take place over two days on November 27-28, 2009 in Old Port, Portland. Participants will be judged based upon interview, swimsuit and evening wear. There is no talent portion in this pageant.

The host of the pageant will be Brett Claywell, from ABC’s One Life to Live and Chelsey Cooley, 2005 Miss USA.

Samantha is very active in her school and community. She is a member and Treasurer of the National Honor Society at Fort Fairfield High School; President of Students Against Destructive Decisions; FFHS Class of 2011 Treasurer; Member of Upward Bound; Member of the Fall/Winter Gifted and Talented program; Member of the Fort Fairfield High School Math Team; Member of FFHS Varsity Club; Member of FFHS Pep band, jazz band and has participated in the annual All-Aroostook music festival. She is also a member of the UMPI community band and performs in her church musical group. She was a member of the 2009 County Champion High School volleyball team and has participated in track & field events for FFHS and has been a volunteer peer coach for the Fort Fairfield Middle School track and field team.

Samantha also finds time to visit with the elderly and disabled once a month and volunteers for the Fort Fairfield Chamber of Commerce during the annual Maine Potato Blossom Festival. She also volunteers time with the Bread of Life Soup Kitchen and Friends Helping Friends Food Pantry.

If she wins the title, Samantha plans to use her position to bring awareness to hunger in Maine and the growing importance of food pantries “giving a hand up, not a hand out.”

She is currently seeking sponsorships from area citizens and businesses to assist her with expenses that will be incurred during the pageant. All sponsors will receive a listing on the pageant website, as well as in the pageant program booklet. For more information, go to www.missmaineteenusa.com