Meet Danielle Skranak

Today we’d like to introduce you to Danielle Skranak.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Danielle. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was born in Minnesota but grew up in Gilbert. After I graduated high school, I decided to join the Army as an enlisted Military Police Officer. In my second week in basic training, I fell and landed on my head. After many scans and evaluations, I was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury. I also had long-term and short-term memory loss and aphasia (not remembering words). I forgot who my date was for prom, where I spent my 16th birthday and so many other important memories. It was a challenge to adapt through, but even then I overcame and still was able to graduate basic training. After I left the service I became very involved in the community, speaking about my experience in the military and advocating for our country. But after a tragic event in my life, I was left homeless with nowhere to go. That’s when F.I.S.H. – Friends in Service of Heroes, stepped in and helped me find furniture and money for food. I promised myself that when I was on my feet I would give back to the same organization that helped me. I moved back to my home state and opened my local chapter, now I can spread the giving heart of F.I.S.H. to the deserving veterans here in the valley.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It took a mass amount of self-growth to get to where I am today, for a while, I felt that I was alone in this battle after separating from the Army. You go from a very sheltered environment, where you have little to no personal responsibility to having to do everything on your own. For most of our soldiers returning they also struggle with this same battle, that’s why I love F.I.S.H. so much because we do more than just donate items, we are one huge family that supports one another.

Please tell us about your work.
Miss Gilbert is a preliminary to Miss Arizona and the Miss America competition, along the way I earn scholarship monies that I can apply towards my criminal justice degree I will obtain in May 2020 at Arizona State University. I also get to speak about my social impact initiative F.I.S.H. – Friends in Service of Heroes. Winning Miss Gilbert is a dream come true, for I have dreamed of it since I was a little girl. I love being able to support the same businesses, schools, townspeople, etc. I have come to learn and love over the years.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
After my years as Miss Gilbert, I will be attending law school at Sandra Day O’Connor School of Law (go devils!) as part of my path of becoming the next Governor of Arizona, who knows maybe I’ll be the next Miss America, better yet maybe we will all be saying “President Skranak” in the coming years. All kidding aside, whatever the future holds, I’m ready for it.

Contact Info:

• Email: daniellenskranak@gmail.com
• Instagram: @missgilbertaz
• Facebook: Miss Gilbert

Image Credit:
Aubree Tippits Photos

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