Bodkin Yacht Club Princess Mia Sokol To Be Crowned Once Again

Mia Sokol had a whirlwind year serving as the princess of Bodkin Yacht Club, going to formal dances and club openings, helping with special events and raising funds for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF). Now, she is primed to do it all a second time after she is again crowned princess of the yacht club on November 12 at a special coronation service.

“This last year was really amazing. I met a lot of people,” Sokol said. She attended 10 balls and 15 openings over the past year. “It was really fun to be able to make friends with the other princesses. We’ve been really close,” she said.

In addition to having boatloads of fun, the Notre Dame Preparatory School sophomore said she learned how to be a better public speaker, how to interact with people of various backgrounds and ages, and basically, be more confident. She received much support from the Bodkin Yacht Club community, including the members, officers and the women's auxiliary (called “Bobbins”).

She also exceeded her goal of raising $1,000 for the CBF. Most of the funds accrued from games and activities at the club’s spring opening. Sokol explained that the club sold rubber ducks, which were put in a tub where children would splash the water to make waves and send them bobbing across the pool. She also sold paper straws, decorated with little anchors, for 50 cents each. “The paper straws are better for the environment,” Sokol said.

Through the fundraisers and contributions, Sokol raised $1,010 and she personally presented the check to Katharene Snavely, Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s vice president of development.

This year, Sokol hopes to exceed that amount and get even more involved. “I hope to get more hands-on with planting trees and [with] oyster preservation,” she said.

The yacht club has been a part of Sokol’s life since she was 3 years old. Her mother, Nicole, said she and her husband, Richard, grew up in boating families and wanted to continue to enjoy the local waters with their children, Mia, and their son, Grant.

The coronation is special, Sokol said, and she will choose the color scheme and the menu. After receiving her tiara and sash, she will give a speech, thank club members, and share her love of the Bodkin Yacht Club, and her passion for protecting the Chesapeake Bay.

Sokol is involved in several extracurricular clubs at school, including Women in Medicine and Animal Welfare. She plays piano and was inducted into the Tri-M Music Honor Society. In addition, she is taking classes to be a certified lifeguard. She also participates in track and field, and cross country. In her spare time, Sokol enjoys running, and, of course, boating with her family.

In the spring, Sokol plans to compete in the Queen of the Chesapeake pageant, representing all of the yacht clubs in Maryland.