Miss STEM Academy- Lorraine Witherell
Hello, my name is Lorraine Witherell, and I am honored to serve as Miss STEM Academy 2025! I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to represent Portsmouth STEM Academy in the 2025 River Days Pageant and to share my passion with my community. I am the daughter of Jason and Cindy Witherell and the proud sister of Emma and Benjamin. My family truly is my biggest support and I would not be standing where I am today without each of them. At school, I stay active in Bible Club, Running Club, and the National Honor Society, and I also take College Credit Plus (CCP) classes at Shawnee State University to challenge myself academically. Portsmouth STEM Academy has given me a strong foundation for my future, and I am so proud to represent my fellow STEM Owls in this journey!
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My platform, Holding Hope, is dedicated to bringing joy and companionship to children battling cancer. This cause is incredibly personal to me, as it is inspired by my late best friend, Michelle, who bravely fought osteosarcoma. I want to honor her memory by supporting kids like her, making sure they feel seen, valued, and never alone in their fight. Holding Hope is about more than just giving back—it’s about spreading love, encouragement, and reminding these children that they are so much more than their diagnosis.
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Beyond my platform, I have big dreams for the future. I hope to become a biomedical scientist, specifically researching osteosarcoma to help improve treatments and find an innovative way to prevent osteosarcoma from spreading to other organs. Cancer takes so much from children, but I want to give them something back – hope for better treatments, hope for more time, and hope for a future without cancer. My dream is to contribute to life-saving research so that one day cancer will no longer be the leading cause of childhood fatalities.
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Competing in River Days is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I am so excited to be part of something so special. I look forward to making my school and community proud, and I am honored to represent Portsmouth STEM Academy—a place that has shaped me into the person I am today. More than anything, I am doing this for Michelle – to honor her memory, to carry forth her light, and to make a difference for kids like her.