The Lawrence County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday proclaimed Aug. 12, 2025, as Olivia Fossum Day and presented a letter of commendation recognizing Fossum’s win as Miss Ohio and her upcoming Miss America competition.

Commissioner Colton Copley read the resolution on the floor and the board voted unanimously to approve the proclamation. Commissioner Mike Finley voted yes; Commissioner Deanna Holliday voted yes; Commissioner Copley voted yes.

Why it matters: Fossum is a native of Kitts Hill who, according to the proclamation read by Copley, has been active in musical theater and law and has focused her Miss Ohio platform on uplifting young Appalachian girls. The proclamation noted that she will compete in Miss America on Sept. 7 and that she will be the first Miss Ohio from Lawrence County to compete on the Miss America stage.

Fossum addressed the commissioners after receiving the proclamation. “I’m truly so thankful always to have time to come back home to Lawrence County,” she said, noting her upbringing on a family Christmas tree farm and her goal to “uplift young Appalachian girls in our area.”

The commissioners also read a letter of commendation that praised Fossum’s “grace, determination, intelligence, and a deep commitment to public service and the arts” and declared Aug. 12, 2025, “Olivia Fossum Day throughout Lawrence County, Ohio.”

Ending: The board invited Fossum to speak and posed for photographs after the proclamation. Fossum told commissioners she will leave Aug. 29 and that the Miss America competition will be livestreamed on Sept. 7.