Hope, who represents Miss Utah County, told the commission she grew up on a farm in Benjamin, Utah, and is currently a student at Utah Valley University. She described service work abroad teaching English and working in orphanage care, saying those experiences and family connections motivated her community initiative, which she called “autism awareness to acceptance.”
"Autism is a spectrum. No 2 people experience it the same way," she said, and described sensory sensitivities and alternative communication styles as part of that range. She said her initiative has three primary focuses: encouraging empathy in schools (including promoting 'buddy benches' so children who feel left out can signal they want company), raising awareness and amplifying the voices of people with autism (she cited an Instagram account, missutahcounty.ut, to share stories), and creating more sensory-friendly spaces and events such as a planned sensory-friendly Santa visit at Christmas.
She recounted an experience in Romania caring for a child on the spectrum who was often left out at playgrounds and said that inspired her focus on inclusion. Commissioners and staff thanked her and praised her work; one commissioner noted county fundraising that will benefit preschool field trips and thanked her for representing Utah County. The presentation concluded with the commission thanking Hope for her willingness to serve and support community events.
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Hope described her scholarship support through performing-arts study and emphasized service as a core motivation. She invited the public to follow project updates on the cited Instagram account and said she looks forward to working with county programs and community partners on inclusion initiatives.