Two from Midcoast crowned among nationwide 'American Women of Service'
International Women of Service Organizations, International and American Women of Service Pageant held in Orlando, Florida, crowned 21 outstanding girls and women from around the country with International and American titles. Individuals participating in the International and American Women of Service Pageants represent countries, states and regions of the world through positive self-imagery, community and civic involvement, philanthropy and outstanding citizenship.
Two Midcoast Maine women are among nine women crowned as American Women of Service in 2025.
American Women of Service Classic 2025: Susan Boynton, of Belfast, was crowned American Women of Service Classic 2025 last week in Orlando Florida. Boynton is a Special Education teacher at RSU 20 in Searsport. She is a wife and mother to a daughter, Maylinda, who also competed in the pageant. She is also a camp counselor at Camp Capella, a camp for children and adults with special needs. Boynton has volunteered over 350 hours helping her community in the last year earning her a silver award for her volunteer efforts. She is Special Olympics coach for her school district, a volunteer for the Courageous Step organization, a fairy godmother with the Cinderella Project of Maine and helps out with school wide events. Boynton also received the Tommy B award for her time working for our special needs community. Her hope is to begin a nonprofit that will assist families with the decision of what to do after graduation for their special needs children. Boynton also enjoys going to the Ronald McDonald house in Bangor with her daughter and other queens to cook dinner or donate food or supplies to the house. If you’d like to help her in this initiative please collect can tabs and reach out to her directly about pickup.
American Women of Service Miss 2025: Jillian Barnard, of Thomaston, was crowned American Women of Service Miss 2025, Emerging Young Public Service Leader 2025, and Young Miss Congeniality 2025 in Early September. Barnard is a Firefighter/EMT currently in Advanced EMT school or (AEMT) school and is studying Fire Science, Business and Criminal Justice at Southern Maine Community College. She is a Live-In student at New Gloucester Fire Rescue, where she supports and protects her community as a public servant. Barnard had over 1,000 hours and was awarded a Gold Service Award during the pageant. She spreads awareness in her community and country for Early Detection for young people Especially those in the fire service. When she isn’t on a fire truck or ambulance, you can find her with her family, reading on Facebook Live for Turn the Paige, or even teaching Fire and Life Safety to her community.
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Ladies receiving the distinction of the national American Women of Service titles will return to our international competition July 15-19, 2026 to compete for the honor and distinction of the International Women of Service international titles. All titleholders will represent the International Women of Service Organization and its Crown of Service platform through their year of civic and community service before crowning their successors at the 2026 pageant. Contestants are being accepted to represent their country, state or region and may register at www.intlwomenofservice.org for further details.
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The other 2025 winners are:
American Women of Service Little Princess 2025: Eight-year-old Laney Renkel of Brandon, Mississippi, was crowned the American Women of Service Little Princess on September 7, 2025, in Orlando, Florida. Laney is the daughter of Brian and Brittany Renkel and the younger sister of Morgan. A third grader, Laney is already making a difference through her platform, “Flamingo Bingo,” which encourages children to visit elder care facilities and bring joy to residents—especially through games of bingo. With Flamingo Bingo, Laney says, “nobody plays alone.” In addition to her platform work, Laney volunteers regularly at Webster Animal Shelter and enjoys collecting items for charity. She is grateful for the overwhelming support of her friends, family and neighbors, who help her make a difference in her community.As the newest Little Princess, Laney looks forward to representing American Women of Service, spreading kindness, and continuing to inspire others to serve.
American Women of Service Young Princess 2025: Kendall Brenwalt of Valley Bend, WV is the new American Women of Service Young Princess 2025. Along with winning this title she was awarded the following: Service in pageantry Volunteer Service Award Bronze, Dawn Smith Day of Service Award, 2nd runner up in Optional Casual Wear, & 2nd Runner up to the International Young Women of Service Young Princess. She advocates for adoption through her platform Adoption Changed Me. When she’s not doing pageants or community service, you can find her playing soccer, making any kind of art, and enjoying the outdoors.
American Women of Service Young Teen 2025: Autumn Bolyard, daughter of Samantha Bolyard and Kyle Atkins of Arthurdale, West Virginia, was crowned the American Woman of Service Young Teen 2025! Autumn is in the 9th grade at Preston High School where she is involved in band, Upward Bound, and several other scholastic programs. Autumn is an active member of 4-H and the Preston County Livestock Association, and she participates in several community sports and activities where she demonstrates teamwork, leadership, and dedication. In the year leading up to her crowning, Autumn volunteered over 300 hours of community service, earning her the prestigious Gold Presidential Service Award. This year Autumn was also honored as the recipient of both the Debbie Shaffer 4-H Camp Scholarship and the #BeLikeOlivia Scholarship, the latter recognizing her goals of establishing her own nonprofit organization. Her personal platform, ROOTS – Rising Out of Troubled Situations, focuses on empowering children and teens to overcome challenges, build stability, and grow strong in the face of adversity. By sharing her own story and offering support to others, Autumn is determined to make a difference in the lives of young people who need encouragement and hope. Through her service, scholarship, and leadership, Autumn exemplifies the mission of the International and American Women of Service organization and looks forward to continuing her journey of inspiring others and spreading the message of resilience and service.
American Women of Service Teen 2025: Nevaeh Atkins, of Arthurdale, West Virginia, was crowned American Woman of Service Teen 2025! Nevaeh is the daughter of Samantha Bolyard and Kyle Atkins and is a 10th-grade honor roll student at Preston High School, where she is a varsity cheerleader, band member, and active participant in JROTC. She is also deeply involved in 4-H and the Preston County Livestock Association, highlighting her commitment to leadership, teamwork, and community. In the year leading up to her crowning, Nevaeh dedicated over 300 hours of community service, earning her the Silver Presidential Service Award. Her personal platform, RISE – Resisting Influence, Staying Empowered, empowers teens to stand strong against peer pressure and make positive choices. Whether she’s cheering on the sidelines, serving her community, or representing her title on the national stage, Nevaeh embodies the spirit of service, scholarship, and leadership that defines the International and American Woman of Service organization. She is excited to continue using her voice and her title to make a meaningful difference in her school, community, and beyond.
American Women of Service Mrs 2025: Colleen Maher of Ocala, Florida, was crowned American Woman of Service Mrs. 2025. A passionate mental health advocate, Colleen is dedicated to promoting the importance of balancing community service with self-care. She currently serves as Executive Director of Mettle Works Behavioral Services. Colleen’s commitment to volunteerism is unmatched—she has contributed more than 700 hours of service to her community. At the national pageant, she was honored with both the Gold Service Award and the Director’s Award, while also earning 1st Runner-Up for the Public Service Leader Award. Beyond her professional and pageant achievements, Colleen is deeply rooted in family and community life. She is married to Matt and together they are raising two children, Alexandra and Cameron, along with their two doodle fur babies. Active in scouting, she proudly serves as the Advancement Chair for Cub Scout Pack 777 and Scouts BSA Troops 777 & 9777. When she isn’t volunteering, Colleen enjoys time with her family, often seen riding the golf cart around her neighborhood. “Service and self-care go hand in hand,” Colleen said. “When we take care of ourselves, we’re stronger and more capable of taking care of our communities.”
American Women of Service Ms 2025: Houston’s Emily Parsons Crowned 2025 American Women of Service Ms. Emily Parsons, a dedicated animal welfare advocate and global community supporter, has been crowned the 2025 American Women of Service Ms. Emily shares her home with her husband, two beloved dogs, a cat, and a steady stream of foster dogs through her work with Three Little Pitties Rescue. Her efforts focus on saving Houston’s street dogs and educating the community on responsible pet ownership and compassionate animal care. Emily’s work takes her around the globe, where she consistently seeks out ways to give back to the communities she visits. “I’m honored to represent a platform that empowers women to create change through kindness and action,” says Parsons. “Whether it’s rescuing animals in Houston or supporting families abroad, I believe service should be a part of everything we do.” As the 2025 titleholder, Emily will continue to champion animal welfare, advocate for underserved communities, and inspire others to serve — no matter where life takes them.
American Women of Service Elite 2025: Leticia Lambert from Reedsville, WV was crowned American Women of Service Elite 2025 at the beginning of September! Leticia is a Clinical Manager and Physical Therapy Assistant, wife of Shaun, stepmom and grandmother, EMT, and volunteer firefighter. Volunteering over 1500 hours during the past year, she was also awarded a Gold Service Award during the pageant along with being awarded the following: Dawn Smith Day of Service Award, Derek’s Defenders Award Participant, Hearts at home service Project Red Level, 2nd Runner-up Public Service Leader, and 1st Runner-up to International American Women of Service Elite. Leticia spreads awareness through her personal platform: Find A Way To Serve! Promoting them is always an avenue of volunteering while improving your skills and community. If she's not with her family or friends, you can find her volunteering at the Reedsville VFD where she holds positions as Vice President, Firefighter/EMT, Valley District Fair Chairman and Pageant Director; Family Fun Extravaganza, American Legion, providing S2C for the Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy, assisting in donation drives, Wreaths Across America, and many other fundraising or volunteer events.

