February 20, 2008

12 students to compete in Miss Purdue Scholarship Pageant

Twelve students will participate in the pageant, which is an official preliminary to the Miss Indiana and Miss America pageants. Contestants must be full-time Purdue students between the ages of 18-23, and the winner will receive a crown, title, scholarship money and gifts from local businesses.

The areas of competition include a personal interview with a panel of judges, talent, lifestyle and fitness in swimsuit, presence and poise in evening wear, and answering an onstage question. Each contestant has raised at least $100 for the Children's Miracle Network and also must advocate a platform based on a social issue.

Miss Purdue 2007 Kelli Hoffman and Miss Indiana Outstanding Teen Morgan Jackson are scheduled to perform at the pageant.

Tickets are $10 for the general public and will be for sale at the door. All proceeds will benefit the Miss Purdue Scholarship Foundation.

The newly crowned Miss Purdue will go on to compete in June's Miss Indiana Pageant in Zionsville, Ind., where thousands of dollars in scholarships will be available, as well as a trip to the Miss America pageant. She also will make appearances on campus and in the community throughout her year of service.

Entrants include:

- Susan Bellina, a junior in the College of Liberal Arts from Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.

- Kelly Bouwman, a junior in the School of Management from Fremont, Ind.

- Paige Brandt, a junior in the College of Education from West Lafayette, Ind.

- Rachel Doctor, a junior in the College of Agriculture from Huntingon, Ind.

- Lisa Hanover, a doctoral student in the School of Pharmacy from Carmel, Ind.

- Abbie Knigga, a junior in the College of Liberal Arts from Russiaville, Ind.

- Mallory Kruckman, a master's degree candidate in the School of Pharmacy from Libertyville, Ill.

- Laura Malnar, a senior in the College of Consumer and Family Sciences from Vincennes, Ind.

- Mollee Mohr, a sophomore in the College of Liberal Arts from Kokomo, Ind.

- Kagiso Paynter, a senior in the College of Liberal Arts from Oswego, Ill.

- Jacklyn Talbert, a freshman in the School of Management from Russiaville, Ind.

- Kehara Taylor, a freshman in the College of Technology from Brooklyn, N.Y.

Writer: Christy Jones, (765) 494-1089, christyjones@purdue.edu

Source: Erin Ansfield Kraebber, Miss Purdue Scholarship Program director, (765) 337-6814, kraebber@purdue.edu

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

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