Burlington Sophomore Crowned 2013 Miss Massachusetts’ Outstanding Teen

Congratulations are in order for a Burlington teenager who was crowned the 2013 Miss Masschusetts' Outstanding Teen.

Kristina Ayanian of Burlington, a 15-year old sophomore at Burlington High School, was named Miss Massachusetts’ Outstanding Teen 2013, according to a release.

The pageant was held by the Miss Massachusetts Scholarship Foundation on Feb. 17 at Keith Middle School in New Bedford. Ten contestants from across the Commonwealth competed for the title.

Due to her victory, Ayanian will have the opportunity to compete in the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen pageant to be held in August in Orlando, Florida. 

As Miss Massachusetts’ Outstanding Teen, she will also receive a $2,000 scholarship and various awards and gifts from pageant sponsors.  At the pageant, she was also the winner of the Overall Talent and Overall Interview Awards, and an Ad Seller Award.

According to the foundation, Ayanian is the daughter of Lousine Ayanian of Burlington and Sedrak Ayanian of Waltham.

Ayanian is a 10th grade student at BHS where she has maintained high honor roll status, is a two-time recipient of the Presidential Outstanding Academic Achievement Award and is a the secretary of the Class of 2015. She is also bilingual and fluent in both Armenian and English.

Ayanian has trained in dance and piano and has received numerous awards and recognition in both. She was also selected to be a corresponding reporter for Teen Kids News on ABC and aspires to a career as a Sports Broadcast Journalist.

For her talent, she performed a classical piano piece. 

Ayanian’s platform issue is Food is not a Privilege, it is a Right - Fighting Hunger Today. She will spend her year of service promoting this platform on a statewide level as well as promoting the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, which is the official platform of the Miss America and Miss America's Outstanding Teen programs.

Finally, as reported on Burlington Patch, as a freshman Ayanian organized a mother-daughter luncheon at Boston's Commandant's House to benefit the Burlington Food Pantry and Feeding America Organization at raised over $1,000.

The Miss Massachusetts’ Outstanding Teen includes teenagers from ages 13 to 17. Other winners received scholarship awards and trophy.  The other competitors were:

• First runner-up: Renée Banks, 15, West Bridgewater. She is also the recipient of an Ad Seller Award.

• Second runner-up: Megan Sylvia, 15, New Bedford. She is also the recipient of an Ad Seller Award.

• Third runner-up:  Lily Marie Jeswald, 13, Lakeville

Other award recipients included:

• Community Service Award: Addison Graham, 13, Lakeville

• Scholastic Achievement Award: Michaelah Noelle Nunes, 14, East Freetown

• People’s Choice Award: June Klemmer, 15, East Longmeadow

• Spirit of MMOT Award: Lyndsey Littlefield, 16, East Taunton

The other contestants were:

• Julianna Fonseca, 16, Seekonk
• Brooklyn Toli, 14, Taunton