Ashton

Ashton Gooch, a 19 year old junior at the University of Kentucky, was named Miss Elizabethtown Area on September 26, 2009 at the Historic State Theater Complex. Ashton was selected by a panel of five judges from a field of 12 contestants. She performed a Contemporary Lyrical Dance "Behind the Wall" and her platform is Easy as 1, 2, 3-Steps to a Healthier You. Ashton will compete for the title of Miss Kentucky July 15 - 17, 2010 at the Singletary Center for the Arts on the University of Kentucky campus.

Ashton, from Lancaster Kentucky, plans to attend Medical School specializing in Pediatric, obtain a PhD and someday open her own Pediatric Office . Ashton was a 2007 Govenor's Scholar. She was a member of the National Honor Society, National Beta Council, National Art Honors Society. She is an All-State Academic Athlete, 1st Team All-Region Academic Athlete. Ashton received the 2007 Youth Salute award, Future Business Leaders of America State Secretay award and she is Sorority Scholarship Chair. Ashton is a Volunteer for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Relay for Life, Dance Blue, March of Dimes, UK's Fusion Week, Greek Sing, Walk for a Cure, Adopt an Angel, God's Food Pastry, Clothing Drive, Organ Donor, and Recycling Drive. She is a Stanford Christian Church children's church instructor and nursery volunteer; sorority philanthropy publicity chair, sorority sisterhood chair, girl's poise coach, youth softball camp volunteer, youth fast pitch softball assistant coach, sorority intramurals participant, and a member of the student council.

Ashton was Miss Bluegrass Fair 2009, Miss Kentucky USA swimsuit award winner, Lincoln County's Jr. Miss first runner-up, State Cheerleading - third runner-up, World Cheerleading Association's National Competition - third runner-up. She is a published author and commissioned artist.

Ashton is committed to her platform, Easy as 1, 2, 3-Steps to a healthier You. In 2008 Kentucky was labeled the eighth fattest state in the U.S. 66.7% of the adults of our state were overweight or obese, while the entire United States was 63%. Children ages 10-17 in Kentucky equaled 37%, in the entire U.S. being 32% ranking Kentucky tied for third with Tennessee and Georgia in childhood obesity rates. With these figures in mind, obesity has been linked to life threating health risks such as cardiovascular disease, congestive heart failure, diabetes, colon cancer, heart failure, osteoarthritis, pulminary embolism, liver disease and many, many more. This is why it is imperative we educate Kentuckians NOW, young and old, on the steps to becoming and staying healthy! She has developed her platform based on guidlines from the American Heart Association and the USDA's Dietary guidlines. The American Heart Association suggest three steps to forming a healthy lifestyle; eat healthy food, move around enough, and live tobacco free. The dietary guidlines provided by the USDA go into further detail on specific daily diet requirements and proper amounts of each food group, vitamins, and exercise needed to keep our bodies in a healthy condition. Research studies show those who become informed and knowledgeable about healthy choices, actually develope an overall healthier lifestyle and begin putting their newfound knowledge to good use. Ashton is a Human Nutrition and Biology major and it has provided her a surplus of information not only on basic health, but also on why we need to make these healthy choices and the outcome of bad decisions.

Ashton's goal in becoming Miss Kentucky is not just the crown or the title. It is a means of enabling her reach out in the bettering of Kentucky's overall health and decreasing obesity levels. As Miss Kentucky, she would be able to not only reach out to Kentucky on a better level, but to the nation as a whole. She is aware of the high stigma of the Miss Kentucky title would help in reaching out to people everywhere through example, support, leadership, and guidance. Not only would she be making a difference in the lives of many, but also be changing the way the world views our state and our nation on a very serious health level. With the help of becoming Miss Kentucky, Ashton knows we CAN and WILL change and save lives!

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