Hannah is a senior at The University of Alabama from Birmingham, AL, as an honors student double majoring in Public Relations and Political Science and a Masters in Business Administration First Year Candidate. She serves as a Blackburn Institute Recruitment Team Member, Student Government Association's Presidential Director of Programming, President of the Carl A. Elliott Society, Alpha Gamma Delta Psi Chapter Director of Involvement, among many other roles. She was recognized as the University of Alabama's Overall Most Outstanding Junior and tapped into three senior honoraries. In October 2024, she was crowned the University of Alabama Homecoming Queen after running a successful campus wide campaign.
A classically trained dancer since the age of three, Hannah has performed in over fifty recitals and events. She enjoys having the opportunities to share her love of the art across the country at events such as CureFest USA, Miss America's Teen, the Daytona 500, and Relay for Life. She has danced with the Radio City Rockettes in New York City, New York along with taking classes from Rockette alumna. When Hannah was five and a half years old, she was diagnosed with Stage 3 Nephroblastoma, which meant that a softball sized tumor was enveloping her left kidney. To combat the diagnosis, she had radiation treatment, twenty-eight weeks of chemotherapy, and two blood transfusions. Following treatment, she had to have an eight hour surgery to remove her left kidney and the tumor. After continuous chemotherapy and radiation treatment, she was declared cancer-free and has remained cancer-free for fifteen years! Hannah’s battle with pediatric cancer has inspired her to share her personal story, raise awareness, and spread hope to all children fighting cancer. Due to her dedication to community service, Hannah was awarded the President's Volunteer Service Award Gold in 2017, 2018 and 2019. She has also been inducted into Congressional Record in honor of her instrumental work done as a pediatric cancer activist in Washington D.C. In addition, Hannah has a display at the Florida House in Washington D.C. that shares her story and accomplishments. Hannah has been an advocate since she was eight years old, first becoming involved with the American Cancer Society and Relay for Life. In 2011-2013, she was considered the youngest Relay for Life team captain in the state of Florida. Currently, Hannah is an ambassador for the nationwide Gold Together for Childhood Cancer initiative, which allows Relay for Life teams to restrict their fundraising solely to pediatric cancer. Hannah has founded a University of Alabama Gold Together Relay for Life Team in Tuscaloosa. In total, Hannah has raised $50,000 through the American Cancer Society. She accomplishes her fundraising efforts through hosting events, sending letters to families and friends, having local press attend her events, and gaining sponsorships through companies like PDQ and programs such as Cub Scouts of America. She serves on the Gold Together National Advisory Council as an Advocacy Lead and oversees training for over thirty youth ambassadors on sharing their stories and advocating to legislators. In September, Hannah has helped create digital content to inspire others during the the Gold Together Champions fundraising campaign, which has totaled in millions of research dollars raised. Another non-profit organization she works closely with is Hyundai Motor America Hyundai Hope On Wheels. In 2016, Hannah was announced as the National Youth Ambassador for the program. In her time of being the ambassador and remaining involved, she has traveled to 45 different children’s hospitals in 36 states, helping raise and present a total of $30,000,000 in pediatric cancer research grants. Not only is she able to visit children’s hospitals, but she conveys her platform of pediatric cancer to thousands of people at events such as the New York Auto Show, Hyundai Hope On Wheels 5k/10k, DC Days, and a New York City Times Square Billboard. Hannah has participated in over 220 media (radio and television) and print media interviews viewed across the country. One of Hannah’s main focuses of finding a cure for pediatric cancer is through raising legislative awareness. Hannah has lobbied and spoken on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. over the past seven years. She helped research and pass the STAR (Survivorship, Treatment, Access, and Research) Act and RACE for Children Act.. She has worked on legislation such as the Gabriella Miller 2.0 Act, Give Kids A Chance Act, Fairness to Kids Act, and Gives Kids a Chance Act. During September, Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month, Hannah and her family travel to Curefest USA. This is an event where pediatric cancer activists from across the world come together and rally to end pediatric cancer. Hannah has presented at and hosted Curefest USA eight times. Using her background in advocacy, Hannah has interned for legislators in both the Alabama State House and U.S. House of Representatives. In addition to making a federal legislative impact, Hannah has partnered with the American Childhood Cancer Organization (ACCO) to create change at a state level. Seeing Hannah's passion and skills, ACCO hired Hannah as a Regional Advocacy Ambassador to coordinate lobbying meetings, advocacy trainings, and much more. She has helped create over $98.8 million in pediatric cancer research funding in seven respective states. In addition, Hannah became the first pediatric cancer survivor to join the Alabama Cancer Control Coalition as well as has worked with Alabama's Department of Public Health to include pediatric cancer in the 2022-2026 State Action Cancer Plan and create pediatric cancer research funding legislation. She has presented to the Department and Coalition numerous times. At the beginning of 2019, Hannah and her family launched their nationwide 501 (c)(3) non-profit H.U.G.S. 4 Childhood Cancer. The meaning behind H.U.G.S. (Helping U Get Stronger) is that you can help families going through their journey with childhood cancer get stronger one hug at a time. The three main focal points of the foundation are legislative awareness, community awareness, and family support. They have provided family support gifts, lobbied, hosted #GoGold awareness days, and given hope to others. Through a partnership with the Alabama Department of Public Health, they have created awareness and support videos for the state alongside AL.com. Working with University of Alabama on-campus organizations for the past three years, Hannah created "GOLD RUSH" week in September for organizations to wear gold ribbons to football games, write cards to children battling cancer, and hold fundraisers for pediatric cancer support initiatives. Hannah currently hosts the Heart of Hope Podcast every Wednesday to share about the resilience that resides within us all and the belief that every setback is a comeback for growth. She engages in inspiring conversations with remarkable individuals—those who've turned hardships into stepping stones and triumphed against all odds. As Miss Florida's Teen 2019 and 2020, Hannah traveled across the state of Florida speaking, volunteering, and impacting thousands of peoples lives serving as the longest reigning titleholder due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She accomplished 215 appearances during her years of service, breaking the record number of appearances ever made. In addition to winning Miss Florida's Teen, Hannah received over $300,000 in cash and in-kind scholarships. At Miss America's Teen 2020, Hannah walked away with over $2,000 in scholarship money and was granted the Teens In Action award for her exemplary service to the community. Hannah competed as Miss Covered Bridge 2022 at Miss Alabama 2022 where she placed as a Top 12 semi-finalist, won the Preliminary Evening Gown Award, and won the Catherine Crosby Community Service Award. Hannah competed for Miss Alabama 2023 as Miss Birmingham and placed Third Runner Up overall as well as won the Catherine Crosby Community Service Award and Preliminary Evening Gown Award. Hannah placed Fourth Runner Up overall and won the overall Community Service Award at Miss Alabama 2024 while representing Mobile Bay. Hannah is excited to compete at Miss Alabama 2025 as Miss Phenix City 2025! She is committed to the Miss America Opportunity and grateful for all that the organization has done in her life over the past seven years. Hannah is dedicated to spreading the message that you can overcome any struggle by being confident, fearless, and positive! |