This week, I had the joy of sitting down to discuss SJU Dance Team, the Miss Pennsylvania Pageant, and summer plans with this week’s Campus Celebrity, the ever-smiling Rachel Reese, Class of 2015.
HC: Okay, so let’s get some basic info before we divulge into the fun stuff!
Hometown: Seaville, New Jersey
Major: Middle School Education
Campus Involvement: SJU Dance Team, recently elected co-captain 2nd year in a row, weekly service
Favorite Food: “Anything with buffalo sauce, but buffalo wings would be my first choice.”
Favorite Aspect of SJU: “The community here and the people that you meet from your professors to your friends. I feel blessed to say that SJU is my home, 100%.”
Favorite Thing about Philly: “Definitely the Rittenhouse Square area and since freshman year, it has been my go-to spot to shop and go out to eat.”
HC: Rachel, you were just selected for your second year as DT captain, after winning a national title as co-captain last year. How excited are you for this year? What are you most looking forward to? Feeling any pressure?
Rachel Reese: “To say that I am excited is an understatement. It is exciting that we had no seniors last year so we are returning an entirely veteran team. The only new members are additional freshman who are super talented as well. It has always been my goal to say that we have been back to back national champions after I saw Hofstra do it, but its one thing to say that you want a national championship, its another to capture the title and come back the next year and defend it. The pressure is most definitely on.”
HC: What do you love most about DT?
“It’s a tie between all the opportunities to perform, which is my absolute favorite thing to do and my incredible teammates. They are literally the most hard working, phenomenal girls I have ever worked with. The team truly has a very special bond and I think that is what has made us successful.”
HC: What do you love most about being able to lead on DT?
Rachel Reese: “Dancing has always been my number one passion so being able to channel that passion to lead and being a consistent leader and role model that my teammates can depend on has been my favorite thing.”
National Champions with their National Championship trophy.
HC: How did you get involved with the Miss PA system?
Rachel Reese: “It all started with Miss Philadelphia and the reason for that is the amazing scholarship opportunities. The winner of Miss Philadelphia is awarded $10,000 straight to her tuition. That is really what the whole organization is all about, Miss Philadelphia, Miss Pennsylvania, and Miss America. From the Miss Philadelphia pageant, I then went on to Miss Southeastern Pennsylvania, and now will be a contestant for Miss Pennsylvania”
HC: What will the Miss PA pageant consist of this summer?
Rachel Reese: “It is very much like Miss America, there are five phases of competition – swimsuit, evening gown, private interview, talent and on stage question. These occur during the week and on Saturday, the results are calculated and only top ten compete in final show that Saturday night. My ultimate goal is to be able to perform on Saturday night. There are 38 contestants and I can’t even describe the caliber of girls and the quality of talent that are in the class for Miss Pennsylvania 2014.”
Rachel competing in the swimsuit competition portion of Miss Philadelphia.
HC: What do you love about competing in pageants? Do you find that in dance team when you’re competing as well?
Rachel Reese: “Honestly, I love the performance aspect and being on stage but honestly, I overall enjoy the connections, the friendships, and the unexpected opportunities that arise doing pageants – it is not just what happens on pageant day. For example, through my experiences this year, one of my judges is representative for the state of Pennsylvania and she asked me to speak in Harrisburg about my platform.”
HC: How is your success in both (DT and pageants) different and how is it similar?
Rachel Reese: “With pageants, I do not characterize my success with whether or not I win or lose. That did take me a while to learn. I take the experience as a whole. It is always a success to me. Pageants are more of an experience, but with dance team, I am out to win. The competitive edge comes out for sure and they are vastly different in those regards.”
“In terms of similarities, definitely the performance aspect and the rewarding feeling that I get from performing. I had a realization that too long ago that I do not have many more opportunities to do this and that its not going to last forever. So whether it is Miss Pennsylvania, or dance team, I am really grateful for that opportunity at that moment.”
Rachel, above, after clenching the Miss Southeastern Pennsylvania 2014 title.
HC: Do you want to incorporate either or in your future?
Rachel Reese: “I believe so, and you can compete in the Miss America system until you are 24 years old so I do plan on pursuing the opportunities while I have them.”
HC: What are your other plans for the summer?
Rachel Reese: “I am traveling to the Dominican Republic with Campus Ministry to actually teach English in a school with people ranging from preschool age to adults. In addition, a couple members of dance team are going to Vegas for a workshop, called the ProAction Dance Convention, which is exciting because a lot of the NBA dance teams attend the workshop! When I am not on the go, I will be returning home to work in Ocean City, New Jersey.”
Having coffee with Rachel Reese was not only energizing, but motivating as well. This Hawk is certainly set to do big things. Catch this high-achieving Campus Celebrity’s shining smile in working out at Hagan, pulling late nights in the lib, or chowing down at her favorite restaurant in Philadelphia, The Perch Pub, in Center City…if you can.
HCXO
Taylor