By Guy Page
Vermont’s representative in the Miss America Pageant may not have brought home the crown, but Miss Vermont 2025 Sophia Parker stood out on the national stage for her dedication to service — both to her country and to Vermont’s wildlife.
Parker, 26, of Addison, is a registered nurse in the University of Vermont Medical Center’s emergency department and a sergeant in the Vermont Army National Guard, where she serves as a combat medic. She credits her grandfather, a World War II veteran who fought in the Battle of the Bulge and received the Purple Heart, with inspiring her own path of service. “One of the things that always stuck with me [was] how he was a part of something bigger than himself,” Parker told Fox News in an interview before the pageant.
That spirit of service carries over into her work with animals. Alongside her mother, Julianna, Parker operates Otter Creek Wildlife Rescue, a nonprofit dedicated to the rehabilitation of injured Vermont birds and mammals. She is also the youngest licensed wildlife rehabilitator in the state. Through her Miss Vermont platform, “Wildlife Rehabilitation and Stewardship of the Natural World,” Parker hopes to work with legislators and conservation groups to strengthen protections for wildlife and expand the state’s network of licensed rehabilitators.
Fellow wildlife rehabilitators say Parker’s national recognition is a point of pride for their entire community. “It’s inspiring to see someone who not only cares for animals day in and day out, but also takes that message to a stage as large as Miss America,” said Anne Kendall, a longtime rehabber in Rutland County. “She’s showing the country that Vermonters put their hearts into caring for the natural world.”
“Sophia has been a role model since the day she got licensed,” added Mark Johnson of the Vermont Wildlife Rehabilitators Association. “She combines professionalism and compassion in a way that really reflects well on all of us.”
Parker earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Castleton University in 2024 and says she plans to use her year as Miss Vermont to encourage others to embrace service in all its forms. “Service is such a blessing both to those who receive it and those who give it,” Parker said. “One of my goals is to inspire Vermonters of all ages to find their passion through service and causes near and dear to their own hearts.”
In a September 7 interview with Fox News, Parker also urged all Americans to come together. “Between the left and the right… there is a ton of division,” she said. “However, one thing that I think is very important is for people of all different opinions from both sides and everyone in the middle to be able to come together and have the baseline be that we need to speak to each other with respect. We need to hear each other out.”
Although the Miss America crown ultimately went to Miss New York, Cassie Donegan, Parker’s performance gave her the chance to share her vision for a united nation, her family’s legacy of military service, and her passion for Vermont’s wildlife with viewers across the country.
