Meet Miss Florida Citrus
Caroline Schapansky, Miss Florida Citrus 2026
is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing with a minor in Disabilities in Society at the University of Florida. She serves her second term as Student Senator representing over 1,000 nursing students, where she has spearheaded and passed various pieces of legislation. She has launched a statewide professional development initiative supporting students with disabilities across Florida's 12 public universities.
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An advocate beyond campus, she was invited to The Arc's Disability Policy Seminar in Washington, D.C., meeting with four of Florida's federal delegation to promote enhancement of HCBS Waivers. She has also championed the Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Act alongside Congresswoman Kat Cammack and is collaborating to implement the College of Nursing's first intellectual and developmental disability-focused curriculum requirement.
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Founded from her lifelong passion for accessibility, her nonprofit, Through the Looking Glass: Encouraging Inclusion Beyond the Surface, advances dignity and opportunity for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. As a Team Lead for Young Life Capernaum, she has volunteered more than 2,000 hours and was nominated as a Champion of the Year candidate for North Florida Best Buddies.
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A first-generation college student, she aspires to pursue a doctoral nursing degree and become a Family Nurse Practitioner, integrating healthcare leadership with disability advocacy to expand equitable access to care.
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Meet Our Executive Director
Executive Director Kristi Joyner is a volunteer, advocate, and mother of four. Kristi began her career in political campaigns and grass roots advocacy working on numerous successful congressional, state legislative and county commission campaigns. She spent many years as a community relations specialist for ASAP Prints before leaving in 2019 to raise her special needs son who was adopted through the state foster system.
Kristi has served in various roles throughout her community including the inaugural committee to organize the American Cancer Society Polk County Boots and Pearls fundraiser as well as a board member for Top Buttons, a faith-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, charitable and educational organization building self-worth in young women. Kristi is an advocate for children in the foster care system and serves on the Women’s Executive Committee of the Bartow Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church where she also teaches a weekly Bible study for young women. She also competed in the Miss America Organization winning over $30,000 in scholarships.
Kristi holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications from Warner University. She and her husband Matt reside in Bartow and have four children-Elisa, Annabelle, Mattie and Samuel.
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