Adrianna Sgarlata, Robinson graduate, competes in Miss America pageant

by Katie Duffy

The reigning Miss Virginia, Adrianna Sgarlata, competed in the Miss America 2007 competition on Jan. 29. Fifty-two contestants competed for the title. Currently a graduate student at George Mason University, Sgarlata graduated from Robinson in 2000.
Before she became Miss Virginia 2006, Sgarlata won the titles of Miss Chesterfield 2004, Miss Hampton-Newport News 2005, and Miss Arlington 2006. Sgarlata began participating in pageants as a 19-year-old sophomore in college.
Sgarlata enjoys being Miss Virginia because she has the opportunity to work with students. "You spend a lot of time driving, and you get used to being by yourself," she said.
As Miss Virginia, Sgarlata's platform of service is "behaving respectfully and valuing others." Her platform considers all facets and issues relating to bullying and its dangers, including in-school bullying and Internet bullying. "I chose [this platform] because I was bullied, mostly on the school bus, and I realized its effects on me as I became more introverted," Sgarlata said. As technology has changed, the "forms of bullying have changed, and I became concerned with what was happening in schools," she added.
As she raises awareness, Sgarlata serves as the director of the Virginia Chapter of Bully Police USA, which is a national non-profit organization. She found the organization while researching on the Internet. "Volunteers work to pass legislation. [When I first discovered Bully Police USA], Virginia had no anti-bullying legislation," Sgarlata said. She successfully convinced Virginia Delegate Rob Bell (R) about the necessity of anti-bullying legislature.
In 2005, Sgarlata was influential in the passing of two anti-bullying laws, both of which went into effect on July 1, 2005. According to the summary of the bills, the first of these laws requires that the Board of Education add bullying to the standards for school board policies. This includes teaching about the inappropriateness and dangers of bullying in its character education programs, as well as adding bullying provisions to student rules of conduct. The second law protects school employees and volunteers from civil liability as they report any acts of bullying.
Sgarlata has also worked with DECA students on suicide prevention, which is related to bullying.
Growing up in Fairfax County, Sgarlata attended Robinson for all four years of high school, as well as both years of middle school. "I can't say anything negative [about my experience at Robinson]! I had a great time. Because Robinson is so big, it's easy to find a group of friends," she said. Sgarlata was in DECA for three years and was a manager for the baseball team for two years, working with health teacher Thomas Peterson.
During her senior year, Sgarlata also worked with Peterson as a teacher's assistant in his class. Peterson said, "[She was] always in a great mood, friendly, and responsible." He explained, "She was the kind of girl that, when your son brings home his first girlfriend, you want to see her walking in the door."
Sgarlata was a good student, earning mostly A's and B's. She enjoyed marketing, cooking classes, an interior design class, and her math classes. The only music class that she took here was Guitar. However, Sgarlata took voice lessons throughout high school. "[Singing] was a way to increase my lung capacity without inhalers," she explained. She also sang in church choirs.
After graduating in 2000, Sgarlata became an undergraduate student at George Mason University. "I actually wanted to go to New York and study fashion merchandising, [but after graduation, I felt I was] too immature to go to New York. I ended up at George Mason!" she said. As a May 2005 graduate, she earned a Bachelor of Music, with Concentration in Vocal Performance. Currently, Sgarlata is a graduate student in the Masters of Music Program.
Sgarlata has been a member of the George Mason University Chamber Singers, as well as the George Mason University Symphonic Singers. As a talented soprano, she has won various singing competitions, including the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Voice Competition. In this competition, she has been a state finalist for four years, and has won first place twice.
After graduation, Sgarlata "[wants] to perform, hopefully overseas, in operas. I also want to work with kids," she said.
Sgarlata offered advice to students, explaining the need "to learn as much as you can. Test the waters by taking different classes. Just remember to be nice to each other. Little things affect people in positive and negative ways."

By Stephanie Axelrod |  March 23, 2007; 8:05 AM ET
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