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February 21, 2003

Seventeen women to compete for title of Miss Purdue

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Seventeen Purdue University students will participate in the Miss Purdue Scholarship Pageant on Sunday, March 2.

The pageant, which is affiliated with the Miss America Organization, will take place at 2 p.m. in Stewart Center's Fowler Hall. Rick Mummey, an announcer at WGLM-FM Radio in Lafayette, will serve as the emcee.

Contestants vying for the title of Miss Purdue 2003 include:

• Erin Ansfield, a junior from Oshkosh, Wisc., majoring in management and prelaw.

• Sarah King Bauer, a junior from Carmel, Ind., majoring in secondary English education.

• Leah Monica Carter, a sophomore from Indianapolis, majoring in health sciences.

• Tanya L. Conner, a senior from McHenry, Ill., majoring in interior design.

• Sara Connolly, a graduate student from Hammond, Ind., majoring in veterinary medicine.

• Jennifer Rachelle Dalton, a senior from Tecumseh, Mich., majoring in neurobiology and physiology.

• Alexis Derrossett, a sophomore from Kansas City, Mo,, majoring in political science and women's studies.

• Hope Kenarr Gerde, a graduate student from Crawfordsville, Ind., who is studying child development.

• Amanda Hodson, a junior from Howe, Ind., majoring in psychology and law and society.

• Frances Marie Laud, a sophomore from Wheatfield, Ind., majoring in animal agribusiness.

• Erika Amber Lukac, a sophomore from North Judson, Ind., majoring in general health science and prephysician's assistant.

• Jilliane Marie McCoy, a senior from Granville, Ohio, majoring in French education.

• Kristin A. Motz, a senior from Greenwood, Ind., majoring in communication.

• Angel Nowak, a sophomore from Lafayette, Ind., majoring in theater design and technology.

• Brandy Michelle Olmstead, a sophomore from Avon, Ind., majoring in political science.

• Stacy Scheibelhut, a sophomore from Auburn, Ind., majoring in athletic training.

• Samantha Steckloff, a freshman from Farmington Hills, Mich., majoring in theater and video/film production.

The contestants will be judged on four areas of competition, including presentation and community achievement in interview (40 percent of score), artistic expression in talent (30 percent of score), lifestyle and fitness in swimsuit (10 percent of score), and presence and poise in evening wear (10 percent of score).

The overall composite will account for an additional 10 percent of the score. Each contestant also will advocate a platform based on a social issue.

Lee Ann Happ, staff director for the Miss Purdue Scholarship Pageant, says the event is much more than a beauty contest.

"This program offers all contestants the opportunity to earn scholarships for college, advocate a social issue throughout their year of service and represent their university at the Miss Indiana Pageant," Happ says.

The newly crowned Miss Purdue will receive a scholarship and compete in June at the Miss Indiana Pageant in Terre Haute, Ind. The winner of that pageant will earn additional scholarship money and a trip to Atlantic City, N.J., for the Miss America Pageant.

Admission to the Miss Purdue Pageant is $7 at the door. Children under 5 can attend for free.

CONTACT: Lee Ann Happ, (765) 496-2665, lahapp@purdue.edu; Jana Johnson, publicity director, (765) 743-7972, johnsojm@purdue.edu.

NOTE TO JOURNALISTS: Miss Purdue 2002 Marcy Astrup, Miss Indiana 2002 Tangra Riggle and the newly crowned Miss Purdue 2003 will be available for interviews immediately after the pageant. The media also will be able to take photographs and video footage during the event.

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu


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