Each of us is faced with significant transitions throughout our lives that have the ability to defeat or redefine us. Although a reality, millions of athletes and individuals across varying disciplines, are not prepared for life’s transitions, and ultimately struggle with understanding their value during these pivotal moments. Sarah is striving to prepare the next generation to not only survive life’s transitions, but utilize those experiences to develop a strong sense of identity and worth outside of their discipline in order to translate their skills into value for the next phase of life.
For thirteen years, Sarah identified herself as “the gymnast”, until the day she sustained serious spinal injuries and the doctors told her that if she continued to push her body, she could potentially lose her ability to walk. Like many in today’s athletic environment, she had built her sole identity, future and personal value around her sport, but when faced with that career ending injury she was left devastated, overwhelmed and lost. When forced to give up her sport, it was the end of a life dream, but through that suffering and experiencing her own unexpected transition, was able to eventually identify her personal value and develop her platform, “Athletics Today, a Lifetime of Tomorrows.”
She has partnered with Growing Leaders, a global non-profit organization that strives to equip educators, coaches, leaders, and parents with practical life and leadership skills to impart on students, young adults and athletes, which can translate to all areas of life. Dr. Tim Elmore, Founder and President of Growing Leaders, developed Habitudes, an image-based curriculum to form leadership habits and attitudes, which proactively develops a strong foundation of personal identity and value through both leadership skills and service. Sarah is a Certified Habitudes Facilitator to ensure that coaches and leaders across the state of Ohio have access to Habitudes and can better prepare the next generation of students and athletes to be leaders in their communities.
A native of Louisville, OH and a Summa Cum Laude graduate of The Ohio State University with her Bachelors of Science degree in Architecture with Honors and Research Distinction, Sarah is a strong proponent of STEM education encouraging students, especially girls, to enter STEM career fields. In addition to serving as Miss Ohio 2017, Sarah is employed by Berardi Partners, a multi-disciplinary architecture firm, located in Columbus, OH as a project and marketing coordinator.
At the Miss America Pageant in September, Sarah was named a winner of the “Women in Business” Scholarship.
Sarah is an accomplished public speaker on a variety of topics, including Habitudes, relevant for all ages of students, athletes, clubs, organizations, and corporations. Sarah is also available to emcee events, perform her talent, appear in commercials or ads, present awards, and sign autographs.