By Martie Thompson
editor@floridanewsline.com
Grace McCormick is a lifelong resident of Mandarin who has a strong affinity for Jacksonville and its people. She is Miss Jacksonville 2023 and she says representing the community that raised her is a dream come true. Grace is a member of the Class of 2020 of Bishop Kenny High School and is now in her senior year at the University of Central Florida, where she plans to earn a degree in Human Communications with a minor in marketing and a certificate in leadership. She remains very close with her family of three younger brothers and parents and says she comes home to Jacksonville most weekends to attend her brothers’ sporting events and events supporting the city’s special needs community, with which she volunteers extensively.
Q: How did you choose UCF as your school?
A: Because of the support I received from family and friends, I was fortunate to be accepted to all the colleges I applied to. UCF offered everything I wanted. UCF is a very unique school as it is one of fewer than 30 colleges in the state that offers a program for the special needs community. I have built up a passion for this community in Jacksonville and I wanted to continue my work at the collegiate level.
Q: What can you tell us about your work with the college’s Inclusive Education Services?
A: This is a two-year program that allows those with special needs or intellectual difficulties to come to college and receive an education. These students can study one of three areas: Hospitality, Education, and Social Services, all with the end goal of employment. The program, for which I am a Resource Facilitator, provides emotional, social, and academic support. For some, it is their first time living independently. They live in a dorm with added support. In my role, I meet with my students throughout the week to act as a kind of peer mentor and tutor.
Q: What was your path to becoming Miss Jacksonville?
A: If you had told me I’d be involved in scholarship competitions when I was growing up, I’d have said you were crazy. I was shy, couldn’t use my voice, and was trying to overcome my own learning disability. My first competition was for Miss Bishop Kenny in my junior year. I didn’t place, but wanted to continue to bring a light to my community, so that summer I entered Miss Freedom USA, a national pageant held in Jacksonville, and I won. Next, I decided to enter the Miss Jacksonville competition, a preliminary for the Miss Florida (Miss America) competition. I was first runner up in January 2022. I entered the Miss Winter Park competition shortly thereafter and won, so I went on to Miss Florida in the summer of 2022. I was in awe of the caliber of the women involved. Then this January, I entered Miss Jacksonville again and won this time. It was a true team effort, but the biggest thing I did differently was communicate that Jacksonville was the community that raised me and verbalize how much I’ve grown. This past summer at Miss Florida, I was honored to be presented with the Presidential Service Scholarship.
Q: What are your future plans?
A: First, I’m focused on finishing my reign as Miss Jacksonville and serving the best I can. This was always the goal for me. Once I graduate next spring, my plan is to look into the news anchor field. Working with the special needs community will always be a part of my life. As a news anchor, I hope I can shed light on all communities including the special needs one.
Q: What do you like to do in your spare time?
A: In my spare time, I enjoy musical theater, my Christian ministry both in Jacksonville and at UCF, and hanging out with my pets when I’m in Jacksonville… we even have a pet duck!
Photo courtesy Grace McCormick
Grace McCormick
