KSC alum, current grad student, and Campus Safety Parking Operations Coordinator Samantha (Sam) Massahos ’10 has been named Miss Capital Area, one of the Miss New Hampshire Scholarship Program pageants. Massahos graduated from KSC with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in music and is now working on her MEd in school counseling—and performing her duties in the Campus Safety office.
“It is an absolute honor and an exciting time to be representing our state’s capital,” said Massahos. “I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to be competing with New Hampshire’s most dynamic women in the Miss New Hampshire Scholarship competition. I have won around $15,000 in scholarship through this program, which has helped me gain and continue my education.”

Each contestant in the Miss New Hampshire Scholarship program must hold a personal platform. Massahos’ is “Empower Yourself: The Positive Impacts of Counseling.” “My goal is to erase the negative stigma on counseling and the mental health field and to inform people of the benefits of counseling,” Massahos explained. “Advocating for this field is a true passion of mine.” In addition to her current title, Massahos was selected as Miss Kearsarge Valley (2010–2011) and Miss Monadnock Region (2008–2009). She has also won several awards for her singing talent and her congeniality. “My favorite portion of competition is talent,” she said. “I am a singer, and this is a venue where I can express myself to the fullest. I have sung for the Keene State College Jazz Ensemble and also was in the musical at KSC a few years ago!”

Contestants in the Miss Capital Area competition are scored on talent, responses to interview questions, evening wear, lifestyle and fitness, and their response to an on-stage question. “I have gained so much confidence and self-awareness through this program and those tools are invaluable.” Massahos said. “This title means more to me than just a victory, it is an opportunity to become a better version of myself and not only represent the Capital Area, but also represent KSC in the best light.” Check out the Miss Capital Area page on Facebook.