Kellyjohana Ahumada 'Never Gives Up'

• Tuttle School; grade 4; age 9
• Activities: soccer, pageantry, dancing
• Other interests: being with family and having lots of fun. Kelly has two sisters - Hailey, 4, and Claudette, 16.

Accomplishments:

In 2005, Kelly placed third runner-up for talent in the Princess Division of NAM (National American Miss). In 2008, she placed in the top five also in the Princess Division of NAM, this accolade put her into the “Queens Court” with an automatic invitation to compete nationally that November in California during Thanksgiving week. She also took third place in the talent competition, and acquired The Spirit Award, which is voted on by peers during pageant weekend.

Future Plans:

“Kelly would like to be a lawyer when grows up,” said her dad, Elkin Ahumada, “because she hates injustice.” Her fourth-grade teacher Maryann Brennan, who nominated Kelly as an East Haven Patch Whiz Kid, said, “Kelly told me, she loves listening to stories she hears from police officers.”

Key to Awesomeness:

“Kellyjohana is an exceptionally bright student, has excellent grades and is self-motivated," said Brennan. "She is a very nice, supportive friend and an excellent role model. I often tease Kelly and ask her if she used a calculator for math because she is able to compute so quickly and accurately,” Brennan added.

Proud father Elkin and proud mom Claudia both commented that their daughter is always smiling and is such a happy child.

“Kelly never gives up on what she wants. She is always putting a smile on other people’s faces,” her dad said. “She is very social and family-minded, and gets along with anyone she encounters.”

Her mom is also sure that part of Kelly’s key to awesomeness is because her daughter works hard, and is very determined. “Kelly will succeed at whatever she puts her mind to, because she never gives up,” Claudia said.