Last month, Samantha Anderson competed for and won the title of Miss Virginia United States.

Samantha is a senior at Virginia Tech and actively involved in her sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta. Her platform during her reign is working with and encouraging women in aviation. As the daughter of two pilots and a pilot herself, Samantha has had countless opportunities in the field of aviation.

Not every young woman is so fortunate so Samantha advocates for women empowerment and inclusion in aviation. She regularly works with a number of local charities like the Montgomery County Animal Care and Adoption Center and the New River Valley Women’s Center. Additionally, Samantha’s heart lies in the world of aviation and she looks forward to encouraging young women to explore a career in the cockpit the same way her parents did for her.

• Submitted by Sandy Anderson