Brittney Putman crowned Miss Clayland for 2024
Brittney Putman, 21, of Grove City was crowned the new Miss Clayland 2024 at the annual scholarship pageant on Sept. 30 at Claymont High School. For her talent Putman performed a dramatic contemporary dance to “The Diary of Anne Frank.” Her platform was “You’re Important Too: Advocacy for Children of Substance Abuse.”
First runner-up was Marina DeNunzio, 21, of Shaker Heights, who presented a vocal performance for her talent. Her platform was “SAVE: Sustainable and Valuable Environment.”
Both women are students at The Ohio State University.
For her efforts Putman won a $2,000 scholarship and a $500 scholarship to Kent State University at Tuscarawas. She will represent Tuscarawas County at the Miss Ohio pageant in June 2024.
DeNunzio won a $350 scholarship as runner-up and won an additional $250 as the winner of the Community Service Award, which was given in memory of four former Miss Clayland volunteers and donors who passed during the past year: Judy Wells, Bobby Green, Rod Smith and Katherine Hamilton.
The winner of the Ray King Talent Award and $250 was Olivia Fossen, 22, of Kitts Hill, who presented an operatic vocal performance. Ella Roberts, 20, of Cincinnati won the Random Act of Kindness Award and $50.
Other contestants were Autumn Kessler, 26, of Kent; Hannah Petersen, 20, of Magnolia; Diamond Coleman, 27, of Dayton; Megan Riehle, 24, of Edgerton; and Emalee Chappa, 21, of Youngstown.
“I am from North Carolina and Ohio, so to come back to Ohio to attend Ohio State University and to compete for the chance to be Miss Ohio is incredible, and to be Miss Clayland 2024 is an incredible opportunity to serve my community,” Putman said. “I’m so excited to get started.”
Her platform highlights that every child is important, no matter their socio-economic status, race, religion or gender.
“Every child should be given ample opportunities and mental health counseling, career goals, educational goals, regardless of if they are from a substance-abuse household or low socio-economic household. This focuses on the micro and macro levels of that. And being a child from a substance-abuse home myself, it’s something very important to my heart,” Putman said.
Ohio is second in opioid overdose.
“That’s what we need right now is an advocate for these children,” Putman said.
Putman, as a child, saw the decline of a family member due to substance abuse and how it negatively affected her family.
“I recognized how little support that I had in my educational system and my peers and my friends. I wanted to be an advocate to show that Miss America or Miss Ohio can be relatable, but she can also be inspirational. She can be from a background that may not be the best, but she can achieve her wildest dreams,” Putman said.
Miss Clayland was a pageant that appealed to Putman.
“I really enjoy the aspect of service, and Miss Clayland is one of the most astounding prelims that focuses on the service of the community, not just the scholarship opportunities, for the success prior and after the crown and providing you with ample opportunities to be whoever you want to be, regardless of your career field,” Putman said. “I’m ready to get working with them, and I’m so excited to see where it leads.”
Prior to her win at Miss Clayland, Putman was extremely busy.
“I am currently studying human development and family science at Ohio State with a minor in substance misuse. I graduated from Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington, North Carolina with a dual associate degree, one in general education and one in paralegal technology,” Putman said.
Putman will begin planning for the Miss Ohio scholarship program next year, but first, she’d like to get involved in the county she will represent.
“I have a 1-inch binder prepared of events in Tuscarawas County that I want to start on. I really want to work with Noah’s Hope Child Advocacy Center here in Tuscarawas County,” Putman said. “I really want to be an active member. When I step on stage for Miss Ohio, people know that this is my Miss Clayland, I saw her in the community, she was here, she was active and I want to see where she goes next.”
Helping on stage with the event and passing out programs were volunteers Vera Campbell, 11, of Bolivar, great-niece of organizer Martha Campbell, a fourth-generation Miss Clayland volunteer; Briella Lindsay, 10, of New Philadelphia; Ellie Krocker, 7, and Sophia Krocker, 11, both of Goshen; and Elaina Abrams, 7, of Port Washington.
The mistress of ceremonies for the evening was Allie Krucek Hoffman, Miss Clayland 2007. Guest performers during the event were Caitlin Seifert, Miss Clayland 2023, and Madison Miller of Coshocton, who is the current Miss Ohio.
