Miss Purdue University reflects on title as 2010 pageant nears
A crown is like a megaphone. That is how Jacklyn Talbert, the reigning Miss Purdue University, treats her title.
"When you are walking around campus or sitting in a restaurant, and you have a crown on," Talbert says, "people are going to look at you and they are going to listen to what you are saying, because they are curious to what you're doing there."
Talbert, a junior majoring in public relations and advertising from Russiaville, Ind., uses her status to raise awareness and fundraise for her platform: the American Heart Association.
Since she was named Purdue's 2009 pageant winner, Talbert has organized two walkathons, one in Lafayette and one in Kokomo, to recognize people who have died from or survived a heart disease. All proceeds went to the Lafayette Heart Foundation.
Talbert is also an ambassador for the Children's Miracle Network, which requires her to raise money and make appearances for the Riley Hospital for Children and other network hospitals.
"I look at it as a job," she says. "It's not just holding the title and going to Miss Indiana. It is a huge commitment but a very rewarding commitment."
Miss Purdue University is an annual scholarship competition that acts as a regional stepping-stone for the Miss Indiana pageant, which in turn acts in the same way for Miss America.
The first Miss Purdue University was crowned in 1957, and the current Miss America is from Indiana. However, Miss Purdue University has never won Miss Indiana.
"The Miss America organization is the number one scholarship foundation for women in the entire world," Talbert says.
Along with providing her many different opportunities in the community, Talbert says, the competition has also helped prepare her for a future job.
"My second question at Miss Indiana, a man asked me, 'If you could tell me one event that caused our economic recession, what would it be and why,'" she says. "Well, if I could tell you why, I'd be a millionaire.
"It's not what you see on TV. It's a great practice for job interviews, so it is a good practice for the real world."
The 2010 Miss Purdue University pageant will be at 5 p.m. Feb. 14 in Fowler Hall, Stewart Center. Tickets are $10 and can be bought at the door.