Warren County High School sophomore Grace Sparkman will be competing for the title of Miss Tennessee Teen USA in March.

Until that time, she’s working to save lives and also establish a charitable program to benefit patients receiving dialysis care.

Grace has launched a teen driving safety initiative at WCHS where she advocates the importance of buckling up and following the rules when it comes to driving. The idea hits close to home because her father, Josh Sparkman, is a state trooper.

“Knowing that if you don’t buckle up that you might not come back home to your family is a big reason why this is my platform,” said Grace. She added that buckling up is an easy way to increase your safety while traveling.

A second part of her platform is a blanket drive for dialysis patients. She realizes this need because her mother, Katherine Sparkman, works at U.S. Renal Care.

“If they have blankets it will hopefully help them be more comfortable because they get cold during dialysis,” said Grace. “I will be evenly dividing the blankets that are donated between U.S. Renal and Fresenius.”

Anyone who would like to donate a new blanket can do so at Upton’s Bridal and Formal at Plaza Shopping Center until Dec. 11.

Grace is scheduled to compete for the title of Miss Tennessee Teen in March in Tunica, Miss. The pageant was moved to Tunica because of COVID issues. It was originally scheduled to be held in Clarksville on the campus of Austin Peay. Grace said the Miss Mississippi Teen pageant will also be held at the same time.

“I have no idea what the requirements will be as far as mask mandates and COVID testing,” said Grace.