Kathryn Davis is a staunch believer in serving her community and country.

The 2024 Lampeter-Strasburg (L-S) High School graduate was crowned Miss Lancaster County last fall, earning the right to compete in the Miss Pennsylvania pageant in mid-June at the Appell Center for the Performing Arts in York.

"I'm super excited to represent my hometown," said Davis.

The victor of the Miss Pennsylvania contest will advance to the Miss America pageant. "It's something I've dreamt about since I was a little girl," said Davis. "Right now, my focus is on Miss Pennsylvania. Whatever God has in store will happen."

She was enthroned as Miss Lancaster County Sept. 24 at Ephrata High School. "It was so unexpected," Davis said.

The competition was composed of a 10-minute interview, which was 30% of the total score; an onstage question about the contestants' community service initiative (10%); talent demonstration (20%); a fitness competition in athleticwear (20%); and an evening gown walk (20%).

Three titles - Miss Southern Lancaster County, Miss Heart of Lancaster, and Miss Red Rose City - were announced prior to Miss Lancaster County. Davis thought she had a better chance to win one of those crowns, but she tried to remain optimistic before the announcement of the big prize. "I was definitely nervous, but I had a little bit of hope," she said.

Casey Allyn, a radio personality and friend of Davis', was bestowed the honor of divulging the winner. "When Casey called my name, it was utter shock and happiness that I get to serve my community," said Davis.

Davis has been attending other local competitions to show support for her sister queens and will visit blood drives, which goes along with her community service initiative PhlebotomyFam. For more information about local scholarship competitions and PhlebotomyFam, go to https://MissKathrynDavis.com.

She is grateful for the support from her coaches, Juven Nava and Annika Wooton of Crown the Nation, and her mother, Jozlyn Grodski.

Davis, who previously served as Miss Greater Reading's Teen 2025 and Miss Lancaster County's Teen 2024, is a freshman at Shippensburg University, where she is a member of the ROTC program and plans to major in history. Davis' goal is to graduate from Shippensburg as a second lieutenant in the Army.

Her father, Timothy Davis, served in the Marines and is currently a member of the Air National Guard. The younger Davis had long mulled joining the armed forces but only recently decided to commit. "I never thought I was strong enough to do it," she said. "I finally got the guts to do it. It's important to me to serve my country, not only as a titleholder but also serving in the Army. My family always emphasized service. We always give what we don't need to people who need it. As a Christian, it's what I am called to do, and I want to be the best version of myself I can be."