By SYDNEY KENT
An ambitious and charismatic 17-year-old from Bluffton competed for the title of Miss Indiana Teen last month.
This was not the first time Ella Wheeler stepped onto a stage and it likely will not be the last. Wheeler became familiar with pirouetting out of her comfort zone when she took tiny steps to her first ballet class at three years old. She credits the art form for her level of poise and discipline – both traits she utilized in the pageant.
The door to state opened in Feb. when Wheeler competed for the title of Miss Heart of the Midwest for the first time. She won. The next step was to compete at the state level. Though she didn’t take home the title this time, she will keep the memories made and the friendships she formed close to her heart.
“All of the girls were awesome. It was so much fun,” Wheeler recalled. “It creates a family. We almost forgot we were competing with each other.”
“I was surprised by the sisterhood that formed,” Wheeler’s mom, Abbey Wheeler, said. “You see the shows and connotations. Coming out of it and seeing it from my standpoint — they are sisters. They still talk all the time and cheer each other on.”
“I had a lot of fun with it,” Wheeler continued. “With the Miss America organization, you have to have a CSI, a community service initiative, of an idea you want to bring to your community to address something that needs to be fixed.”
The CSI is where Wheeler developed The E.L.L.A. Project, an initiative to encourage a love of the arts in young children.
When she is not being selected as 1 of 30 girls to compete in a state-level competition, Wheeler spends her time with a full calendar. In addition to dance, Wheeler plays sports, works with her family beekeeping business and farm animals, creates various art projects, and participates in 4-H. Her list of 4-H activities since the third grade has included entomology, arts and crafts, photography, beekeeping, sewing, consumer clothing, fashion review for consumer clothing and sewing, archery, goats, chickens, and beef cows.
She was spotted at the fair earlier this month humbly passing on the torch to the next Junior Ambassador, working at the concession stand, and winning grand champion in multiple detailed fashion, art, beekeeping, and entomology projects.
Despite the many places Wheeler can often be found, home certainly is where the heart is for this Midwest teen.
“I am a homebody. It’s my decompression time,” Wheeler explained. “I’m a person that can’t sit still or do absolutely nothing, but I still want to be home. I get worn out, I crash and burn.”
“I think because she’s so busy and she is involved in so many things,” Abbey Wheeler said. “She truly cherishes her time at home when she doesn’t have to go anywhere.”
Though the many activities Wheeler participates in have helped shape her into the person she is today, she says family and faith are the cornerstones of her life. She grew up in Bluffton with her mom, dad, and three younger brothers. She described her mom, Abbey, as her best friend.
“I love them so much,” Wheeler laughed. “And I love being a big sister. My brothers are starting to get taller than me, which is so weird. They are hilarious and always make me laugh.”
She turned her cell phone to display the lock screen. The words, “Galatians 2:20 — I have been crucified with Christ: and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me,” filled the screen.
“God is my rock,” Wheeler said warmly. “He truly is my foundation.”
Less than two weeks away from beginning her senior year, Wheeler has no intention of slowing down anytime soon. She was recently selected for the Most Outstanding Junior Female Award. The award is given by a local sorority to a well-rounded female student. The student is nominated by the school staff. As part of the award, Wheeler will wear a ring during her senior year and have the opportunity to receive a scholarship when she graduates.
After graduation, she aspires to attend the College of Veterinary Medicine at Purdue University.
“I would love to be a vet and specialize in farm animals,” Wheeler said. ‘It’s fitting for me. In the meantime, I just want to soak it all in.”
sydney@news-banner.com
