The message is simple — dream big

NORWALK — Students at Pleasant Elementary got a special treat Monday. You could say they got the royal treatment. Miss Maple City Olivia Kertner and Miss Maple City Outstanding Teen Alia Ali were at the school reading and singing with the students. This past November Kentner was crowned Miss Maple City 2022 at Ernsthausen Performing Arts Center. She grew up in the small town of Wapakoneta in Southwest Ohio, where she played sports and was heavily involved in the musical arts program. She is a senior at the University of Cincinnati studying communications and public relations being heavily involved on and off campus. Before earning the title of Miss Maple City, she spent an extensive amount of time volunteering at schools across the state where her non-profit and social impact initiative "Ready Set Graduate" was founded. "Ready Set Graduate" inspires students to "DREAM BIG" all while educating and preparing them for their next step after graduation: the workforce, military, trade school, community college and four-year institutions. It allows students to look inward at their strengths and passions to see what their next step is after receiving a diploma. Olivia said she wants to spread a message of hope for the future for the next generations and is extremely excited to be investing this initiative with Norwalk City Schools. The two spent the day interacting with the students and sharing their talents, while hoping all of the children will remember what they heard and to remember two simple words — dream big.