Madison Rolling, junior in industrial systems engineering, was elected Miss Auburn 2016 at the SGA callouts on Monday, Feb. 8, after campaigning all week for her “Clothing for Confidence” platform.
According to Rolling, she started the Clothing for Confidence organization after she graduated high school and sold clothing items to impoverished families for $1.
"This $1 amount is in place for the parents to be able to show their children they are providing for them," Rolling said. "We have had many parents come to us and say they appreciate this small cost because it allows them confidence as well, to show their kids they are providing for them."
Rolling said this money is in no way for a profit.
"All of this money also goes straight back into the charity, never touching our hands directly," Rolling said. "We also work with all families and provide a waiver of that $1 if needed."
She brought this organization to campus for her Miss Auburn campaign and Rolling said she wants to continue to promote Clothing for Confidence by spread the word around campus and the community this summer.
“My first step to promote my platform is to look into how we can get it here this upcoming summer,” Rolling said. “It’s a quick turn around, but I’m ready to work and put forth the effort.”
Rolling said once she gets the community involved they will work to spread the word and then shop for clothing to give to Clothing for Confidence at the end of this upcoming summer.
“We will begin to look for locations to place boxes across the Auburn community, as well as a location to hold the shopping day at the end of summer,” Rolling said. “We often reach out to news and media outlets to help spread the word of our event as well.”
Rolling said it’s vital to get people behind it because Clothing for Confidence relies on volunteers.
“The big thing that allows Clothing For Confidence to succeed is getting people behind it,” Rolling said. “We run on volunteer help and clothing donations from the community, so without others supporting and behind our goal, we would not succeed.”
Rolling said she hopes Clothing for Confidence becomes as big as the North Alabama Drive someday.
“When people share about how to help or how to take part, we grow more and more,” Rolling said. “That has been the experience with the North Alabama Drive and I hope that continues to Auburn.”She also plans to collaborate often with her advisers and gain experience, according to Rolling.
“I think a big part of that too is getting the chance to sit down with my new advisers and see their vision and ideas for how to bring Clothing For Confidence to Auburn as well,” Rolling said. “They have the experience of working with Auburn and the community, so I am ready to learn and start working.”
Rolling said she will also reach out to students to help meet their needs.
“I will be very dedicated and ready to serve in any capacity needed or wanted,” Rolling said. “I have already spoken to a few different students and groups about visiting their meetings and getting involved where I can.”
Rolling said she feels she must serve the student body because it is what put her into office.
“Since Miss Auburn is elected, I feel she should represent the students and know what’s going on throughout campus, so I am ready to get plugged in and involved,” Rolling said. “I encourage any student to reach out to me too…I’d love the opportunity to get to know as many students as I can as I serve in this role.”
According to Rolling, her mother inspired her platform and has played a huge role in her life, especially her confidence.
“My mom has just been my biggest cheerleader in everything,” Rolling said. “She is always there to support what I’m doing, but she also gives a sound mind too. She helps me think through a lot in a reasonable manner, and she always points me back to the Lord. My faith is very important to me.”
Rolling said she appreciates all the small lessons her mother teaches her.
“She has a way of teaching me lessons when she doesn’t even mean too, like how she instilled confidence in me through clothes growing up,” Rolling said. “It’s always in the small things.”
Rolling said after getting over the shock of winning Miss Auburn, she wanted to immediately hug her mother.
“Because her idea of confidence is the inspiration behind my platform, at callouts, after the initial shock and excitement of hearing my name, she was the first person I wanted to go hug,” Rolling said. “I just kept thinking, ‘I have to find mom.’”
Rolling said Auburn’s history is part of what’s made her love the University.
“There are so many Auburn moments that make this place special…In my sophomore year, I had an opportunity to learn a lot of Auburn history through a organization I was a part of,” Rolling said. “Each week we would learn some Auburn trivia and facts.”
Rolling said she wanted to leave her mark at Auburn somehow and being Miss Auburn 2016 is the perfect way to do so.
“It really gave me an appreciation for this place and really grew my love for Auburn,” Rolling said. “That wasn’t necessarily when I thought to run for Miss Auburn. That didn’t come until I was nominated in the fall, but it did help me see that I wanted to do something to serve this university and leave a mark on it before I left.”
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