Track And Field's Miller Attends White House Amid Foster Care Executive Signing
12/3/2025 11:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country, Women's Track
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. –  North Florida junior track and field hurdler Serenity Miller is going over hurdles on and off the track, most recently making her way to the White House.
On Nov. 13, Miller attended the Fostering the Future for American Children and Families executive order signing in Washington, D.C., where she had the opportunity to meet President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump.
"I didn't really get nervous until everyone was sitting and Trump and Melania walked in," Miller said.
The Fostering the Future for American Children and Families tackle a plethora of topics including modernizing the child welfare system, developing an initiative to aid in creating educational and employment opportunities for foster care youth, assisting foster care individuals with their needs through a new online platform, and increasing partnerships with faith-based organizations to aid families.
Being a student-athlete has instilled immense discipline and a strong work ethic in Miller. The junior hurdler is a double-major in political science and Spanish, the president of the Florida Youth Shine Jacksonville chapter, the legislative chair of the Florida Youth Shine organization, chapter president for a local non-profit organization called Fostering Connections and a UNF student government senator.
Her passion for foster care organizations stem from Miller's experience living in one prior to being adopted with her little sister.
"It meant a lot as someone who has come out of the system and who has been doing advocacy work and volunteering for two years," Miller said. "Seeing it being recognized on the national level [meant a lot] with hope and changes for the future."
While enjoying a morning coffee in D.C. on the day the executive order was signed, Miller's phone buzzed. Though, it wasn't a typical Instagram notification that a college student would receive.
"I get a call [that said] 'hey you've been chosen to stand behind the president'," Miller said. "I got to shake his hand, Melania's, [Vice President] Vance's and speak with him [President Trump] a little."
Miller was unsure exactly what the executive order was going to hold for youth in the foster care system, but she was astonished to see there was one centered around foster care youth. Miller received the opportunity to speak with Melania Trump and noted her excitement about the executive order.
"I had no idea the first lady had an initiative like that [and it] was pleasing to hear," Miller said. "Despite all the politics around it I was like, wow, someone cares about foster youth."
When asked what made Miller a strong candidate for being selected to go to the White House, Miller attributed her involvement as a student-athlete at North Florida.
"What I study was taken into account, my role in various organizations are also being built around it, being an athlete [and] being a part of the community in Jacksonville. I think those were all things that they looked at," Miller said.
The excitement and support from Miller's coaching staff was evident upon her invitation to the White House. North Florida Track and Field head coach Jeff Pigg was filled with jubilation, noting it was an amazing opportunity for Miller.
"I was extremely happy to see Serenity at the White House for the signing of the executive order," Pigg said. "She has taken action on her passion  She is working to make a difference in the  lives of children. I am incredibly proud of her."
After graduating from North Florida, Miller plans to continue on to law school. Miller mentioned that her experiences and involvement in the youth foster care system will play a valuable role in reaching her future career goals.
"[I'll] hopefully be working in family law or public policy and helping implement change either on a personal level with cases or just on the legal level," Miller said.
One of the reasons behind Miller's aspirations for working in family law or public policy is her brother.
"He was adopted to a different family, which also ties into why I push for initiatives and hopefully improvement in the system," Miller said. "Sibling separation is big."
Attending the White House gave Miller a platform to advocate the importance of youth foster care systems. Miller plans on using this momentum to show continued support for the foster care system.
"We're [Florida Youth Shine] going to go to Tallahassee in January [to] push our bill so that's my next step, and possibly interning in Washington [D.C.]," Miller said … "I think public speaking and getting your voice out there and getting it heard is so important. Getting people speaking on national levels is so important to getting change out there."
Players Mentioned
