Diagnosed at age 10, Abigail Hoppe ’21 understands the challenges of living with Type 1 diabetes.
At Linfield, she was deeply involved in student government, sorority life and cheerleading — all while managing the condition. The effort required her to monitor blood-sugar levels, plan meals, schedule rest periods and make sure her insulin pump didn’t fly off while doing cheers and stunts.
As the newly crowned Miss Oregon, Hoppe is now aiming to elevate awareness and support for the Type 1 diabetes community through her platform, “Diabetes: Type None.”
“I’m committed to educating others about Type 1 Diabetes and advocating for better treatments,” she said. “But, overall, my goal is to embody the lesson that our challenges do not define us.”
It’s a lesson she’s learned not from her personal challenges with a chronic condition, but from her family.
“Thanks to my little brother Charlie, I’ve never seen Type 1 diabetes as a barrier,” Hoppe said. “Charlie was born with severe cerebral palsy; he was a quadriplegic, nonverbal, had a tracheostomy and relied on feeding tubes. Despite these immense challenges, he was one of the happiest kids I’ve ever known. Charlie taught me that our struggles don’t define our capabilities or limit our potential. This is a crucial message for many people, especially those with Type 1 diabetes.”
Hoppe is no stranger to the Miss America Organization. The Salem native was crowned Miss Oregon Outstanding Teen in 2016. Today, Hoppe balances a full schedule of appearances as Miss Oregon throughout the state, while teaching fourth and fifth grade online.
Her reign has already taken her to a variety of events, ranging from the Harvest Parade in Tangent to the Oregon State Fair, and in early 2025, she will represent Oregon at the Miss America contest in Orlando.
In addition to championing Type 1 diabetes education and research, she also promotes the state of Oregon, as well as organizations and causes that impact the state.
“I am proud to represent my state as Miss Oregon – I absolutely love Oregon and everything it stands for,” she said. “And, I will consider my Community Service Initiative successful if even one person I’ve had the privilege to interact with decides to overcome their obstacles and pursue their goals.”
