MoxieTalk with Kirt Jacobs #482: Chapel Tinius

Chapel Tinius was Miss Kentucky 2024, a title she earned on June 15, 2024, at the Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center (SKyPAC) in Bowling Green, Kentucky. A Bowling Green native and a graduate of Belmont University, where she earned dual degrees in Musical Theatre & Corporate Communications in 2022. ​ Community Service Initiative: Tinius's community service initiative, "Operation Gratitude: For the Fallen, For the Fighting, For the Veterans," is deeply personal. She is the granddaughter of two World War II veterans—her maternal grandfather, Dr. Lawrence Emberton, a Navy veteran and lifelong doctor in Metcalfe County, & her paternal grandfather, George Tinius, an Army veteran and triple amputee due to a landmine explosion. Her grandfather entrusted her with his Purple Heart medal when she was 6, a gesture that profoundly influenced her commitment to honoring veterans. ​ Over the years, Tinius has organized numerous initiatives to support veterans, including running over 25 half marathons @ three full marathons to raise funds for the Honor Flight Network. She also founded the "Run to Fly" series, completing ten 10 Ks across Kentucky to support Honor Flight Kentucky in ten days. Additionally, she has partnered with organizations like Carry The Load and created a violin/harp CD titled "Gratitude," which she gifts to veterans as a music therapy tool. ​ Role as Miss KY: As Miss Kentucky, Tinius is the spokesperson for the Kentucky Department of Agriculture's Kentucky Proud initiative, promoting locally grown & produced products. She has made 189 appearances across 72 countries & aims to visit all 120 countries during her tenure. Her outreach includes educational programs in schools, where she uses her musical talents to engage students & teach them about agriculture. ​ Tinius also works with the KY Department of Agriculture's Mobile Science Activity Centers and the Raising Hope program, which focuses on the mental and physical well-being of Kentucky's farmers and their families. Her efforts aim to raise awareness about the challenges the agricultural community faces and promote healthy living. ​ Personal Background/Education: Raised on a small horse farm in Bowling Green, Tinius has been actively involved in the arts from a young age. She performed in musicals & plays in south-central Kentucky, played the harp at various events, and was a member of the Red River Fiddlers Band for 12 years.