HELENA - Haylee Storlie, who graduated from Carroll College in May with a degree in elementary education, was named the runner up in the Miss Montana Scholarship program held in Glendive, Montana, on Saturday, June 22. Storlie, from Glendive, Montana, received a $2,600 scholarship to support her education. Mo Shea of Helena won the event and will represent the state in the Miss America Pageant.
Storlie, a member of the Carroll cheer team for three years and captain for two, graduated magna cum laude.
She’s been dreaming of winning this event for four years. Her preparation has been intense.
“I gave this my absolute all,” she admits.
Storlie was coached by two prior Miss Montana winners, and obtained more than 30 sponsors from across the state. She worked with dance instructors on her competitive dance routine. And she picked her competition clothes in consultation with an Iowa store that specializes in pageants.
The future elementary teacher had a platform built around inspiring young students to dream big. She practiced her speech in front of students at Bryant Elementary, where she student-taught, and at the Helena Project for Alternative Learning.
Storlie admits finishing second was a bittersweet honor – especially since the finals were held in her hometown of Glendive. She had her own cheer team present – relatives from Bozeman and Hinsdale, Carroll friends and a Carroll professor were all in the audience, pulling for her.
“Of course, it is extremely disappointing in not achieving your dream after investing so much of your life into one goal for so long,” she confessed. “But I know God has another plan for me and I know I can inspire those around me without a title.”
Storlie is applying for teaching jobs and is ready to put her education to work.
“I am currently in the process of job searching for a teaching job in Laramie, Wyoming, to begin the next chapter of my life,” Storlie says. “I hope to eventually achieve my masters and doctorate in Education Leadership with aspirations of becoming an elementary school principal.”
As Storlie looks back on her years at Carroll, she has no regrets.
“Carroll gave me the best four years of my life,” she said. “I miss Carroll every day and am forever grateful for the education that it provided me. Carroll truly is ‘not for school but for life.’”