NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The newly crowned Miss Kansas, Courtney Wages, is looking to help all Kansans see each other better.
"I've always been a huge volunteer with my community service initiative, which is called, One Vision is not the Only Vision: Eye See You," Wages said. "That's me advocating for people who are experiencing blindness or any sort of visual impairment."
Even the technology that can help so many people accomplish so much can take its toll on your eyesight.
"Think about it, everyone has eyes," Wages said. "Especially during COVID-19, we saw an increase in purchasing blue light glasses. I think people started to notice how hindering it is to look on a screen every single day and how that can hurt someone's eyes who even have 20/20 vision. Over the years, my community service initiative has just progressed. People are really starting to see, your vision isn't going to be permanent. It's going to shift all through the years. You're going to experience vision loss as you age. It's very common. In Kansas, 80,000 Kansans have some sort of vision impairment."
Making sure Kansans can keep their eyes healthy is a key component Wages wants in her reign.
"It was really my mission just to go around the state of Kansas and provide opportunities," Wages said. "Insurance doesn't look the same for everyone. Purchasing glasses can be harder on some than others."
The date for the Miss America pageant has not yet been announced.