Wikipedia

Lily K. Donaldson

Lily K. Donaldson (born 1999) is an American beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss United States 2022. She was the first Miss United States to visit all 50 states during her reign. Donaldson was crowned Miss United States 2022 in her hometown Memphis, Tennessee on October 16, 2022.

Lily K. Donaldson
Born1999
Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S
Education
OccupationPh.D. Candidate
Beauty pageant titleholder
Title
Years active2021–present
Hair colorStrawberry Blonde[citation needed]
Eye colorBrown[citation needed]
Major
competition(s)		Miss United States 2022 (Winner)
Websitewww.lilykdonaldson.com

Early life and education

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Donaldson was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, has a twin sister,[1] and grew up in Memphis, Tennessee. She attended McCordsville Elementary School in Indianapolis,[2] Newburgh Elementary School in Newburgh, Indiana,[3][4] Bon Lin Middle School in Bartlett, Tennessee,[5] and Bolton High School.[6][7] Donaldson participated in student theatre[1] and student journalism programs[8][9] while growing up. She participated in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.[9][10]

Donaldson is currently[when?] a Ph.D. candidate at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute studying controlled environment agriculture[6][11] within a School of Architecture Built Ecologies program.[7][12] Donaldson has a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from American University and a Master of Science in Lighting from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.[13] While at American University, she worked in vision scientist Arthur Shapiro's lab.[1]

STEM and Arts Education Advocacy

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Donaldson directs a nonprofit based in Memphis, Tennessee called Art Technically which promotes STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) and Arts education for disadvantaged students at Title 1 and rural K-12 schools.[14][6][7] She founded Art Technically after attending Title 1 schools with underserved arts and science programs.[7][15] Art Technically provides disadvantaged K-12 students with free STEM and Arts workshops,[1][16] free STEM and STEAM books,[17][18] STEM and Arts themed toy donations including teddy bears in scientist costumes, or "Science Bears",[19][20] and a program called Love Letters, where students learn to code Valentine's Day cards for Meals on Wheels programs.[17][12] Art Technically has also hosted a science-journalism program for students funded by Society for Science in 2022.[14][21]

In 2022, Donaldson wrote an article about her work with Art Technically for the United States Department of Education.[7] In 2023, Donaldson led an event with NASA where students at Brighton Elementary School in Tipton County, Tennessee asked questions of astronauts onboard the International Space Station.[22][23][24] In 2024, Donaldson gave a keynote on the importance of STEM education at the AI Expo for National Competitiveness in Washington, DC.[15]

Civil Service

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While she was an undergraduate student at American University, Donaldson worked for the United States Department of Homeland Security as a Student Trainee,[6][1] under grant from the NASA DC Space Grant Consortium,[25] and on a capstone project with the United States Department of Energy.[1]

In 2023, Donaldson became a research assistant at NASA's Climate Change Research Initiative at the Goddard Institute for Space Studies.[1][26][23] The program has educators and graduate students work directly with NASA scientists to lead research teams in a NASA research project related to Climate Change.[27] While at GISS, Donaldson led an ISS Downlink with NASA where students at Brighton Elementary School in Tipton County, Tennessee asked questions to astronauts aboard the International Space Station,[22][23][24] taught solar eclipse programming and distributed eclipse glasses to students in Auburn, New York,[28][29] and hosted an astrobotany workshop for students at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's Black Families Technology Awareness Day.[30]

Pageantry

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Donaldson has held the titles of Miss Memphis US 2021, Miss Tennessee US 2021,[13] Miss New York US 2022, and Miss United States 2022.[6] On October 16, 2022, Donaldson was crowned Miss United States at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts in Memphis, Tennessee.[6] At Miss United States 2021, while representing Tennessee, Donaldson was second runner-up and received the People's Choice award.[13]

Donaldson has also held the titles of Miss Mid-South's Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2015 (Tennessee), Miss Tipton County's Outstanding Teen 2016 (Tennessee), Miss District of Columbia State Finalist 2018 and 2019,[31] and Miss Franklin County 2022 (Tennessee).[32] She performed Irish dance for her talent and won awards for charitable fundraising and was third place at the Women in Business interview award at Miss Tennessee 2022[33] and the STEM Award at Miss District of Columbia 2019.[31]

Donaldson competed at Miss District of Columbia USA 2020 and reached the top 12.[34]

Miss United States

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Donaldson with WWII Rosies at the Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade

Donaldson won Miss United States 2022 in her hometown, Memphis, Tennessee on October 16, 2022.[6] She was the first Miss United States to visit all 50 states during her reign.[26] During her year as Miss United States, Donaldson guest-wrote an article about her work with Art Technically for the U.S. Department of Education[7] and was named to the Memphis Flyer's 2023 Memphis 20 under 30 list.[35]

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Miss United States
2022 		Succeeded by

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Pursuing Purpose: The Beauty of STEM". American University. November 1, 2023. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  2. ^ "The Daily Reporter from Greenfield, Indiana". Newspapers.com. June 15, 2006. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
  3. ^ Shemwell, El'Agance (September 7, 2023). "Miss United States visits Newburgh Elementary School". WEVV 44News. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  4. ^ "Evansville Living November/December 2023 by Evansville Living Magazine - Issuu". issuu.com. November 3, 2023. p. 36. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
  5. ^ Bartlett City Schools (September 22, 2023). "X, formerly Twitter". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g "Representing New York, Mid-South native named Miss United States 2022". localmemphis.com. October 17, 2022. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Donaldson, Lily (November 23, 2022). "Gratitude for Arts and Science Educators". U.S Department of Education Blog. U.S Department of Education. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  8. ^ Phillips, Bianca (August 11, 2016). "Memphis Flyer 8.11.16 by Contemporary Media - Issuu". issuu.com. pp. 6–9. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
  9. ^ a b "2015 2016 Staff". The Teen Appeal. September 3, 2014. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
  10. ^ "STEM Day: Lily Donaldson". NEWS10 ABC. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  11. ^ "New and Now: 6 Happenings You Need to Know About". Capital Region Living. November 17, 2022. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  12. ^ a b "Tennessee Native Lily Donaldson Crowned Miss United States". Clarksville Online - Clarksville News, Sports, Events and Information. October 21, 2022. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  13. ^ a b c "Memphis woman named 2nd runner up at Miss United States 2021 pageant". localmemphis.com. October 27, 2021. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  14. ^ a b Manga, Risha (August 12, 2022). "Art Technically Wins a $4,000 STEM Action Grant". Memphis Parent - Memphis, TN. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  15. ^ a b "Summary - AI Expo for National Competitiveness". web.cvent.com. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  16. ^ "Tennessee STEM Innovation Network". www.tsin.org. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
  17. ^ a b Nuevas, Buenas (June 16, 2022). "Art Technically lleva educación STEM y artística a estudiantes de todo Tennessee". Buenas Nuevas - El hogar de la fe y la esperanza. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  18. ^ "RPI graduate student named Miss United States". NEWS10 ABC. October 18, 2022. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  19. ^ Gorenstein, Ben (October 21, 2022). "RPI doctoral student home after being crowned Miss United States". WNYT.com NewsChannel 13. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  20. ^ "Lily K. Donaldson - Customer Spotlight". www.plushinarush.com. November 6, 2023. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  21. ^ Bluff City Life: Thursday , 11 August pt. 5 of 8, August 12, 2022, retrieved November 27, 2022
  22. ^ a b "Tipton County elementary school to chat with astronauts living in space". State Gazette. November 6, 2023.
  23. ^ a b c Space Station Crew Answers Brighton, Tennessee Student Questions - Nov. 8, 2023. Retrieved May 14, 2024 – via www.youtube.com.
  24. ^ a b "Tennessee Students Selected for Q&A Session with International Space Station Astronauts". www.tn.gov. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  25. ^ Valenti |, Michael (July 8, 2019). "NASA Partnership Provides Grants for AU Research". American University. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  26. ^ a b Gorenstein, Ben (October 30, 2023). "Miss United States from RPI passes crown after whirlwind year". WNYT.com NewsChannel 13. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  27. ^ "Climate Change Research Initiative". National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Goddard Institute for Space Studies.
  28. ^ "Eclipse is an [sic] unique learning opportunity for Auburn students | Auburn School District". www.aecsd.education. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  29. ^ Citizen, Robert Harding, The (April 8, 2024). "Video: NASA research assistant talks eclipse in Auburn". The Citizen. Retrieved May 14, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  30. ^ "Programs | Black Families Technology Awareness Day". bftad.admissions.rpi.edu. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  31. ^ a b "Past Competitions". Miss District of Columbia Scholarship Organization. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
  32. ^ "Miss Tennessee Scholarship Competition 2022 contestants tour Overton Square". www.commercialappeal.com. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  33. ^ "Meet Miss Franklin County". Herald Chronicle. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  34. ^ "Miss District of Columbia USA and Miss DC Teen USA results". Pageant Update. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  35. ^ "20 < 30 – The Class of 2023". MemphisFlyer. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
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