Prairie View A&M University’s Destiny Noelle Vélez, Miss Puerto Rico, competes for Miss America

Destiny is a member of the PVAMU bowling team, with 13 years of competitive bowling experience and is the first student-athlete from the Southwestern Athletic Association (SWAC) to participate in the Miss America Competition.

She is a product of the Miss America Outstanding Teen program, competing in the system since the age of 13 and is a former Miss Teen Arlington and Miss Forth Worth, Texas.

Aside from her athletic and academic abilities, she is a talented musician and played the Acoustic drums with the performance of “Wipe Out” by The Surfaris.

Her state platform is to support the San Jorge Children’s Foundation- a non-profit organization that medically cares for children who have few economical resources. While her personal platform is titled: “#Upstander” an anti-bullying campaign that works for a goal to break the cycle of violence and stop peer cruelty. With this platform she urges everyone to stand up, speak out, lend a hand, and be an “upstander” rather than a bystander; becoming part of the solution rather than the problem.

Community Service: Volunteered or raised funds for Special Olympics, DIFFA, Crohn's and Colitis Walk, D.A.R.E. Crime Prevention Council, Children's Miracle Network, NCL Feed the Kids, Arlington’s Reading Corps program, Anti-Bullying Spokesperson for The Bully Project.

Scholastic Honors: Recipient of PVAMU William M. Green Scholarship; PVAMU College of Business Scholarship; NCAA Athletic Scholarship; Miss Puerto Rico Academic Scholarship Award; Member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and National Honor Society; NTCA All-Academic Team Honor.

Leadership Roles: Created and implemented a bullying prevention presentation #Upstander; served as a Cadet 2nd Lieutenant for the Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program; served in the Youth Bowling Leaders Association Board of Directors.

Accomplishments: 2014 Youth Bowler of the Year for North Texas; PVAMU Women’s Bowling Roster; General Billy Mitchell and Wright Brother's Awards for the Civil Air Patrol cadet program; Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Level Award; Over 200 hours of community service.

Hobbies: Drumming, artistic roller skating, modeling and bowling.

Interesting Facts: Bowled a perfect 300 game; over 30 bowling awards at the local and state level; 2007-2009 South Central Region Artistic Roller Skating Champion; performed as extra in the film "Rising Stars."