Urbanna Oyster Festival Queen contestant Ashlynn Sears and her Little Miss Spat Skyler Epperly worked throughout the summer to raise money and awareness for suicide prevention in their community. Ashlynn lost her father to suicide in 2021, and since then she has been passionate about raising awareness, offering hope, and helping others who may be struggling.
Ashlynn chose to partner with the Middle Peninsula Northern Neck Behavioral Health Prevention Services (MPNN) and worked with Ms. Mateo-Kerney to create opportunities for education and community involvement. Her goal was to not only raise funds but also to bring suicide prevention trainings into the Middlesex County Public Schools, ensuring staff members could recognize warning signs and provide support to students in need.
Ashlynn and Skyler’s Oyster Festival Project
To share her cause, Ashlynn created a Facebook page titled “Ashlynn and Skyler’s Oyster Festival Project” where she promoted her efforts, shared resources, and advertised upcoming events. With the help of a teacher at Middlesex High School and his classroom, she designed T-shirts to sell, along with wristbands, as a way to raise money and awareness for suicide prevention.
In April, Ashlynn began planning a golf tournament at Piankatank River Golf Club as her major fundraiser. She and Skyler designed posters, promoted the event throughout Middlesex County, and encouraged both players and businesses to get involved. Teams registered for $500, while hole sponsorships were $100 with custom-designed signs created by Ashlynn herself. By the time of the tournament, she had secured 29 hole sponsors.
While preparing for the golf tournament, Ashlynn and Skyler also participated in community outreach. They set up a booth at the Urbanna Farmer’s Market, where they sold baked goods and T-shirts while handing out suicide prevention information. With the help of family, friends, and community donations, it was a successful effort to connect directly with local residents.
In addition to hole sponsorships, Ashlynn worked to gather donations and prizes from local businesses. Mi Jalisco, The Wooden Pickle Café, Something Different, River Birch, Prime Mediterranean, J&W Seafood, Hurd’s Hardware, and Kent Owens with Farm Bureau were among the many who supported her project. Mulligans were also sold at the tournament, which entered participants into raffles for donated gift cards and prizes.
The tournament itself was a great success. Ashlynn began the day by welcoming players, thanking them for their support, and sharing her personal story about why the cause was so important to her. She and Skyler spent the day visiting teams, taking photos, and ensuring the event ran smoothly. Following the tournament, participants enjoyed a taco bar, winners were announced, and raffle prizes were distributed.
To conclude their project, Ashlynn and Skyler helped bring suicide prevention training to staff members at all three Middlesex County Public Schools. At each training session, Ashlynn welcomed attendees, shared her story, and introduced the trainers, Megan and Tammy, from MPNN. Snacks, an information table, and a T-shirt raffle were also included. The response from teachers and staff was overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing gratitude for the opportunity to learn more about suicide prevention.
At the final training session, Ashlynn presented a $5,000 check to MPNN Behavioral Health Prevention Services. Knowing the money came directly from the hard work and generosity of her community was a moment of pride and accomplishment.
Continuing advocacy
Ashlynn has cherished the time spent with her Little Miss Spat, Skyler, and the bond they have formed through this project. She is grateful for the encouragement and support of her family, friends, and the community. While this project has come to an end, Ashlynn plans to continue her advocacy for suicide prevention and pursue her dream of becoming a mental health counselor for children and teens.
Ashlynn Sears is the daughter of Melissa Burch and the late Glenn Sears; she is the sister of John and Joseph Sears. She has lived in Middlesex County her entire life. Ashlynn is a senior at Middlesex High School and a dual-enrollment student at Rappahannock Community College.
She is employed part-time at Little Jimmy’s Restaurant in Urbanna. After graduation, she plans to attend Longwood University to pursue a bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology, followed by a master’s degree in counseling, with the goal of becoming a mental health counselor.
Skyler Epperly, Ashlynn’s Little Miss Spat, is the daughter of Eric and Crissy Epperly, sister of Caitlynn Epperly and Carter Croxton. She is a first grader at Middlesex Elementary School and has lived in Middlesex County her entire life. Skyler loves painting, crafting, and her favorite character is Stitch from “Lilo and Stitch.” She is proud to call Ashlynn “her queen” and to have shared in this meaningful project.
