Ela Wootton, a junior at Notre Dame Preparatory in Scottsdale, earned the title of Miss Maricopa County Outstanding Teen Nov. 12.
As her platform, Wootton plans to raise awareness for Best Buddies Arizona an organization that pairs individuals with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities to form one on one friendships. She learned about Best Buddies over the summer from a friend with IDD.
“After researching and getting involved with Best Buddies I knew that I wanted my platform to be helping build confidence in all my friends with IDD,” said the 16-year-old.
Wootton serves as a speech coach for Best Buddies Ambassadors Program, helping people with IDD build leadership skills “so that they can become advocates for themselves and the Best Buddies programs,” she said.
The oldest of six children, Wootton is a member the NDP varsity pom team, an honor student and an accomplished pianist.
Wootton will go on to compete in the Miss Arizona Outstanding Teen scholarship pageant in June at the Mesa Arts Center. “Through all this, I hope that I can influence teens to be role models in their communities,” Wootton said. Winning state wouldn’t be a bad thing either.
