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Track And Field’s Miller Attends White House Amid Foster Care Executive Signing

Published

1 month ago

December 3, 2025

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – North Florida junior track and field hurdler Serenity Miller is going over hurdles on and off the track, most recently making her way to the White House.

On Nov. 13, Miller attended the Fostering the Future for American Children and Families executive order signing in Washington D.C. where she had the opportunity to meet President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump.

“I didn’t really get nervous until everyone was sitting and Trump and Melania walked in,” Miller said.

The Fostering the Future for American Children and Families tackle a plethora of topics including modernizing the child welfare system, developing an initiative to aid in creating educational and employment opportunities for foster care youth, assisting foster care individuals with their needs through a new online platform, and increasing partnerships with faith-based organizations to aid families.

Serenity Miller Feature Story Photo

Being a student-athlete has instilled immense discipline and a strong work ethic in Miller. The junior hurdler is a double-major in political science and Spanish, the president of the Florida Youth Shine Jacksonville chapter, the legislative chair of the Florida Youth Shine organization, chapter president for a local non-profit organization called Fostering Connections and a UNF student government senator.

Her passion for foster care organizations stem from Miller’s experience living in one prior to being adopted with her little sister.

“It meant a lot as someone who has come out of the system and who has been doing advocacy work and volunteering for two years,” Miller said. “Seeing it being recognized on the national level [meant a lot] with hope and changes for the future.”

While enjoying a morning coffee in D.C. on the day the executive order was signed, Miller’s phone buzzed. Though, it wasn’t a typical Instagram notification that a college student would receive.

“I get a call [that said] ‘hey you’ve been chosen to stand behind the president’,” Miller said. “I got to shake his hand, Melania’s, [Vice President] Vance’s and speak with him [President Trump] a little.”

Serenity Miller - Feature Story Photo 2025

Miller was unsure exactly what the executive order was going to hold for youth in the foster care system, but she was astonished to see there was one centered around foster care youth. Miller received the opportunity to speak with Melania Trump and noted her excitement about the executive order.

“I had no idea the first lady had an initiative like that [and it] was pleasing to hear,” Miller said. “Despite all the politics around it I was like, wow, someone cares about foster youth.”

When asked what made Miller a strong candidate for being selected to go to the White House, Miller attributed her involvement as a student-athlete at North Florida.

“What I study was taken into account, my role in various organizations are also being built around it, being an athlete [and] being a part of the community in Jacksonville. I think those were all things that they looked at,” Miller said.

The excitement and support from Miller’s coaching staff was evident upon her invitation to the White House. North Florida Track and Field head coach Jeff Pigg was filled with jubilation, noting it was an amazing opportunity for Miller.

“I was extremely happy to see Serenity at the White House for the signing of the executive order,” Pigg said. “She has taken action on her passion She is working to make a difference in the lives of children. I am incredibly proud of her.”

Serenity Miller

After graduating from North Florida, Miller plans to continue on to law school. Miller mentioned that her experiences and involvement in the youth foster care system will play a valuable role in reaching her future career goals.

“[I’ll] hopefully be working in family law or public policy and helping implement change either on a personal level with cases or just on the legal level,” Miller said.

One of the reasons behind Miller’s aspirations for working in family law or public policy is her brother.

“He was adopted to a different family, which also ties into why I push for initiatives and hopefully improvement in the system,” Miller said. “Sibling separation is big.”

Attending the White House gave Miller a platform to advocate the importance of youth foster care systems. Miller plans on using this momentum to show continued support for the foster care system.

“We’re [Florida Youth Shine] going to go to Tallahassee in January [to] push our bill so that’s my next step, and possibly interning in Washington [D.C.],” Miller said … “I think public speaking and getting your voice out there and getting it heard is so important. Getting people speaking on national levels is so important to getting change out there.”

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Huntington’s Sebek makes Class 3A all-state volleyball third team | Sports

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January 4, 2026

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Blue Bell/TSWA Class 2A All-State Volleyball – The Gilmer Mirror

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18 minutes ago

January 4, 2026

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Iola’s McKown player of the year

LONGVIEW – Iola outside hitter Shaylee McKown, who led the Lady Bulldogs to a state championship, was the Class 2A player of the year on the Blue Bell/Texas Sports Writers Association Class 2A all-state volleyball team.
McKown had 17 kills and seven digs in leading Iola (48-5) to a 25-23, 25-16, 25-12 victory over Crawford in the Division II state title match.

FIRST TEAM
Middle Blockers: Kellen Weaver, Beckville, sr.; Camryn Powers, Crawford, jr.; Kennedy Slay, Tioga, jr.
Outside Hitters: Shaylee McKown, Iola, jr.; Keegan Kleiber, Mumford; Rayna Sadler, Leon, jr.
Setter: Rylee Goodney, Iola, sr.
Libero/Defensive Specialist: Averi Bolgiano, Crawford, jr.
Player of the year: McKown, Iola
Coach of the year: Jamie McDougald, Iola

SECOND TEAM
Middle Blockers: Jacie Boles, North Hopkins, jr.; Sy Parker, Nocona; Channing Horne, Leon, jr.
Outside Hitters: Macey Hoelscher, North Hopkins, jr.; Cami Hoyle, Iola, jr.; Ava Johnson, Nocona, sr.
Setter: Landry Zapalac, Schulenburg, sr.
Libero/Defensive Specialist: Jenna Guentert, Schulenburg, soph.

THIRD TEAM
Middle Blockers: Katherine Lindemann, Garrison, jr.; Tatum Miller, Crawford; Camdyn Owen, Italy, sr.
Outside Hitters: Aubrie Kabisch, Nocona, sr.; Katelin Sullivan, Flatonia; Haylee Vacek, Schulenburg, jr.
Setter: Ainsley Anderson, Crawford, soph.
Libero/Defensive Specialist: Ava Bessette, Iola, sr.

HONORABLE MENTION
Middle Blockers: Darriyah Thomas, Omaha Pewitt, sr.; Ary’anna Mealing, Forsan, sr.; Reagan Dusek, Schulenburg, sr.; Christian Geary, Sterling City, jr.; Cadence Money, North Hopkins, sr.; Saylor Smith, Como-Pickton, sr.; Maud Poortvliet, Como-Pickton, sr.; Harlee Sevcik, Shiner, soph.; Kamiah Birmingham, Linden-Kildare, jr.; Whitney Arledge, Hamilton, soph.
Outside Hitters: Preslee Kittrell, Midred, soph.; Ella Connell, Crawford, jr.; Lily Bailey, Hawley, sr.; Kati Calvillo, Como-Pickton, jr.; Kaitlyn Jenkins, Rosebud-Lott, sr.; Camdyn Benton, Riesel, jr.; Greenli VanZandt, Schulenburg, jr.; Charlee Wolf, Windthorst, sr.; Anna Claire Cooper, Hamilton, jr.
Setters: Claytie Free, Leon, soph.; Eden Lewis, North Hopkins, jr.; Vada Kendall, North Hopkins, soph.; Mhia Garcia, Como-Pickton, jr.; Carli Tuttle, Beckville, jr.
Libero/Defensive Specialist: Kylynn Ramirez, Shiner, sr.; Karissa Fillingim, Windthorst, sr.; Avery Futrell, Leon, sr.; Tatum Thompson, North Hopkins, sr.; Journey Brumley, Como-Pickton, jr.; Kaidance Goldbolt, North Hopkins, jr.; Aubree Kleinhans, Nocona, sr.; Emery Parrott, Hamilton, sr.

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Season Review: Union volleyball fought adversity in 2025 season | Sports

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January 4, 2026

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Men’s Ice Hockey Comes Up Short Against Arcadia

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50 minutes ago

January 4, 2026

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FAIRPORT, N.Y. – Arcadia used a stretch of three unanswered goals – two in the first and one in the second – to sneak past the St. John Fisher men’s ice hockey team 3-2 on Saturday evening at the Rochester Ice Center. The Cardinals dropped to 8-6-0 overall, while the Knights improved to 6-5-1.

How it Happened

The Cardinals opened the scoring just more than three minutes into the first period when Brendan Merriman and Mitchell Ferras assisted James Ecans. The Knights answered before the midway point of the period, as Elijah Clow scored to even the game. Bryce Battaglia found the net in the final minutes of the opening frame to give the Knights a 2-1 lead.

Arcadia extended its advantage midway through the second period when Brendan Dicker scored, pushing the Knights’ lead to two goals.

Leyton Pettypiece scored the Cardinals’ final goal of the game late in the second period, cutting the deficit in half off a feed from Cannon Lentz.

Game Notes

St. John Fisher freshman goaltender Marcus Ouellet made 12 saves in his collegiate debut.

Evans recorded a goal for a second consecutive game.

Up Next

The Cardinals face SUNY Brockport at 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 16, inside the Rochester Ice Center.

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Mavericks Conclude Cactus Cup with 4-3 win over Yale – Minnesota State University

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1 hour ago

January 4, 2026

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THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. – No. 14 Minnesota State turned its fortune around with a 4-3 win over Yale University to take third place in the 2026 Coachella Cactus Cup at Acrisure Arena on Saturday. Freshman goaltender Max Beckford (London, Ontario) stopped 15 shots for his first career victory as a Maverick.

“The response from game one to game two was needed,” reflected head coach Luke Strand. “There’s another layer to our group that needs to take off as we get back into conference play. We are grateful to UMass Lowell and the Acrisure group for the invitation to the tournament and the setup.”

Freshman forward Jordan Ronn (Champlin, Minn.) notched his second goal of the season at the 10:14 mark of the first period, giving the Mavericks the lead heading into the first intermission. Ronn curled across the blue line and executed a give-and-go with senior defenseman Campbell Cichosz (Albert Lea, Minn.). Ronn wired a wrist shot from the left dot and freshman Reid Morich (Scottsdale, Ariz.) collected the second assist for MSU.

Freshman forward Mason LeBel (South Bend, Ind.) put away his first collegiate goal in the second period for a 2-0 Maverick lead. After an offensive zone faceoff win, junior Fin Williams (North Vancouver, B.C.) fed LeBel at the top off the crease from behind the goal line on the short side at 2:59. Fifty-eight seconds later, junior Luigi Benincasa (Edmonton, Alberta) reversed a pass behind the goal for Alex Zetterberg (Sundvall, Sweden) and the sophomore tucked in the puck for a 3-0 advantage with his fourth of the year.

Donovan Frias cut the lead to 3-1 at 8:42 at even strength with a deflection off the rush for Yale. Owen Forester and Rhys Bentham assisted.

Leading by a pair heading into the third period, junior Ean Somoza (Simi Valley, Calif.) scored his second goal in seven games this season for the Mavericks when he backhanded one in from the low slot at 2:44, assisted by senior Jack Smith (St. Cloud, Minn.).

David Chen responded with a tap-in on the weak side post at 7:54 after the Bulldogs created a 2-on-1 break at the conclusion of a minor penalty.

Beckford kicked out Dylan Hunt’s shot but Owen Forester banged in the rebound to draw the Bulldogs to 4-3 with 5:25 remaining in regulation. Minnesota State withstood pressure with Yale’s netminder pulled in the final minute.

The Mavericks had ten different players with one point on the night and MSU outshot Yale 38-18. The Mavericks finished 0-3 on the power play while the Bulldogs converted 0-4.

Minnesota State (12-5-5, 8-3-3 CCHA) improved to 3-1-1 all-time against Yale (4-10-0, 3-5-0 ECAC), the nation’s longest-tenured college hockey program. It was the first meeting between non-conference foes since Dec. 30, 2008.

The Mavericks host St. Thomas (10-7-3, 7-3-2) next on Saturday, January 10 at 6:07 p.m. CT in a CCHA matchup at Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center. The Mavericks lead the Tommies by four points in the conference standings but UST holds two games in hand.

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Check out the Baton Rouge-area All-Metro Volleyball team | High School Sports

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1 hour ago

January 4, 2026

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Julianne Arruda, University High, So., 349 assists, 270 kills, 195 digs, 50 aces.

Ava Rodrigue, St. Michael, Sr., 348 digs, 79 assists, 46 aces.

Skylar Towner, St. Michael, Jr., 343 kills, 71 blocks.

Bella Bravata, St. Michael, Sr., 339 kills, 303 digs.

Monet Temple, University High, Fr., 351 kills, 207 digs, 56 aces.

Zadi Huggins, Dunham, Jr., 367 kills, 244 digs, 68 blocks.

Addyson Sides, Central Private, Sr., 356 kills, 202 digs, 58 aces.

Yahni Olivier, Episcopal, Fr., 188 kills, 124 digs.

Honorable mention: Rory Forbes, Central Private; Isa Richardson, Dunham; Kennedy Otwell, Parkview Baptist; Marin Price, Parkview Baptist; Marielle Gary, St. Michael; Aubrie Jefferson, Slaughter Community Charter; Hannah LaGarde, Southern Lab; Alleyiah Martin, Southern Lab.

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