2007 Wildfires Inspires Miss Poway Whitney Dahlgren to Give Back

Name, Age: Whitney Dahlgren, 18

School: Rancho Bernardo High School

Accomplishment: Dahlgren is Miss Poway 2010.

Key to Awesomeness:

Since Dahlgren and her family moved to San Diego from Kentucky when she was in seventh grade, she has been actively involved in the community of Poway and the greater San Diego region. Now, the 18-year-old represents the community as the current Miss Poway.

“We love it!” said Dahlgren about Poway. “I like everything about it.”

After settling at an apartment in Rancho Bernardo for a short time, she and her family moved to a house in Poway. They decided to stay in “The City in the Country” even after they lost their home in the 2007 wildfires.

“Poway really helped me and my family when we needed their help,” she said.

Since then, Dahlgren has looked for ways to give back to the community.

“I thought that the pageant would be a perfect way that I could give back to my community after the fires,” she said.

One of her favorite moments as Miss Poway 2010 was when she and the rest of the court visited wounded soldiers at the Naval Medical Center San Diego in Balboa Park. 

“We made homemade meals and went to the hospital,” she explained. “We got to sit down and talk to them and hear their stories. It really opened my eyes to see how fortunate we are and how brave the soldiers were.”

In addition to role as Miss Poway, Dahlgren teaches Sunday school at Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church and is a hostess at Cafe Merlot. 

At school, Dahlgren is active in a few clubs and has been a cheerleader for all four years of high school. This year, she was captain of the varsity team.

“Miss Poway has definitely revealed my confidence, my leadership and my desire to be involved in the community,” she said.

After graduation, Dahlgren plans to major in liberal arts at Loyola Marymount University. She wants to be an elementary school teacher.

Dahlgren said her experience as Miss Poway and her involvement in other activities has helped prepare her for college and her future career.

“The title has definitely opened many doors for me so I can contribute to my community,” she said. “I now pay more attention and go out of my way to help others and find ways I can get involved.”