Mandy Schendel Miss Washington Teen USA

Mandy Schendel, a 17 year old from Newcastle, has the honored distinction of having been school body president in both her middle school and high school. Currently in her senior year, she serves as ASB President at Oliver M. Hazen High School in Renton. Prior to her taking on ASB president duties, she was a varsity cheerleader, an active vocalist in three select choirs, and continues to enjoy acting in plays.

Mandy plans to attend law school, work as a prosecuting attorney and eventually aspires to become a U.S. Ambassador. She enjoys attending conferences arranged by the Washington State Bar Association's Young Lawyer Division, where she fostered her drive and passion for law.

For 2007, Mandy has received a few honors and awards. Recently she won the "2007 Macy's Follow A Leader" contest where she earned a $1,000 savings bond and will spend a day with her chosen leader, the Mayor of Kent, Suzette Cooke. She also interviewed for and was chosen one of six top state finalists for the U.S. Senate Youth Program, which is organized by the William F. Hearst Foundation and the Washington State Principal's Association. Previously, she was shadowed by a reporter and cameraman inside and outside of school for five months by The Seattle Times. They chose and followed three 10th grade students from Washington State who were required to pass the WASL tests in order to graduate in 2008. Mandy enjoyed writing for them as well and was the only one of the three students to pass the WASL test on the first try.

With a passion for volunteering, Mandy founded her own nonprofit, The Difference Maker Organization, when she was eleven years old to team up and educate the youth to develop their leadership skills through volunteer service. Six years later, what started out as just a dream and a small band of volunteers has grown to a nationally recognized organization with many state and local ambassadors (www.TheDifferenceMaker.org). Two years ago, Mandy was recognized by President George W. Bush with the highest honor bestowed on a volunteer, the Call to Service Volunteer Lifetime Achievement award, for having over 4,000 documented volunteer hours. Mandy's company is now a certifying organization on behalf of the President. Her organization provides various levels of Call to Service awards to volunteers across America. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Washington's former Governor Gary Locke are among those honored by Mandy and her organization's Board of Directors.

In her free time, Mandy enjoys modeling, acting, singing, traveling, piloting airplanes, cheering on the Seahawks, and watching her favorite NBC show with friends, "Heroes".