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Miss 2007

2007 Miss America

Lauren Nelson
2007 Miss America

Jan. 29, 2007

Click here for pictures of the event!

The 2007 Miss America pageant was once again held at the Aladdin/Planet Hollywood and Casino in las Vegas, NV on January 29, 2007.

Thursday Preliminary

Miss Texas Shilah Phillips was named Thursday night's preliminary Talent winner for her vocal performance of, "I Believe in You and Me," during the first night of competition in the 2007 Miss America Pageant at the Aladdin/Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Shilah will also receive a $2,000 scholarship.

Also in the spotlight was Miss Oklahoma Lauren Nelson who was the preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness in Swimsuit winner in a beautiful yellow two-piece Venus swimsuit. Lauren will receive a $1,000 scholarship.

Friday Preliminary

Mss Hawaii Pilialoha Gaison was named Friday night's preliminary Talent winner for her Tahitian Dance to "Te Vaka" during the second night of competition in the 2007 Miss America Pageant at the Aladdin/Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Pilialoha will receive a $2,000 scholarship.

Also in the spotlight was Miss Nebraska Molly McGrath, who was the preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness in Swimsuit winner in a magenta Venus swimsuit. Molly will receive a $1,000 scholarship.

Saturday Preliminanry

Miss California Jacquelynne Fontaine was named Saturday night's preliminary Talent winner for her Operatic Vocal performance to “Vissi d’arte” from Tosca during the third night of competition in the 2007 Miss America Pageant at the Aladdin/Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Jacquelynne will receive a $2,000 scholarship.

Also in the spotlight was Miss Pennsylvania Emily Wills, who was the preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness in Swimsuit winner in a black and white striped Venus swimsuit with red piping. Emily will receive a $1,000 scholarship.

Quality of Life Winner announced

Allison Rogers, Miss Rhode Island; Hilary Griffith, Miss Arizona; and Melinda Toole, Miss Alabama were recognized today for their community service as recipients of the 2007 Quality of Life Award from the Miss America Organization.

Rogers received top honors and a $3,000 scholarship for her work on her platform, Go Green! Global Warming Awareness. Griffith, the first runner-up, earned a $2,000 scholarship for work on her platform, Strength Over Silence: Rape Awareness and Recovery. Toole won second runner-up honors and a $1,000 scholarship for her platform, Character Education.

Miss Rhode Island Allison Rogers, has her M.Ed. degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education in Special Focus on Environmental Education, and graduated Harvard University with an undergrad degree in Comparative Study of Religion. Her scholastic honors include being a Cum Laude Graduate, a John Harvard Scholar, and an AP Scholar with Distinction. Rogers’ scholastic ambition is to obtain a Mater’s Degree in Business Administration.

Miss Arizona Hilary Griffith, is attending Arizona State University and pursuing a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. Her scholastic honors include receiving the ASU President’s Scholarship and the KNXV-TV Scripps-Howard Scholarship, and making the ASU Dean’s Honor List. Griffith’s scholastic ambition is to obtain a Master’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication.

Miss Alabama Melinda Toole, has a degree from Samford University in Early Childhood/ Special Education/Elementary Education & Collaborative. Her scholastic honors include being a Cum Laude Graduate, and on the National Dean’s List, and a member of the Kappa Delta Pi International Educational Honor Society. Toole’s scholastic ambition is to obtain a Masters of Arts Degree in Elementary Education.

The Quality of Life Awards program was introduced in 1988 as the first community service-related scholarships presented to Miss America contestants. They have since been amended with numerous other community service awards sponsored by the Miss America Organization, to contestants at all levels of competition and to high school students.

FINAL RESULTS

Miss Oklahoma Lauren Nelson from Lawton, Oklahoma was crowned Miss America 2007 tonight at the Aladdin, soon to be Planet Hollywood, Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Outgoing Miss America 2006 Jennifer Berry was teary-eyed as she crowned the new Miss America. Why? They were both from Oklahoma. Back to back wins for the Sooner state. THe last time there were back-to-back wins for a state was 1959 Linda Meade and 1960 Mary Ann Mobley, both from Mississippi.

Nelson’s walk across the stage marked her first steps on a journey that will take her from spotlight to spotlight, coast to coast, traveling approximately 20,000 miles each month during her upcoming year of service. This year the Miss America Organization has chosen the Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) as its National Platform. Miss America 2007 will be the official National Goodwill Ambassador for Children’s Miracle Network as she raises funds and awareness for CMN and the Miss America Organization.

Lauren, 20, is a student at the University of Central Oklahoma. Her personal platform issue is Be NetSmart – Protecting Kids Online. Her scholastic ambition is to obtain a Master’s Degree in Musical Theatre and her career ambition is to become a Broadway performer. With the title, she won a $50,000 scholarship to continue her education. She also won $1,000 earlier in the week as a preliminary swimsuit winner.

She was crowned Miss America during the final night of competition, which aired live from Las Vegas on CMT. Nelson sang “You’ll Be in My Heart” as her talent selection for the evening.

The first runner-up was Miss Texas Shilah Phillips, of Plano, Texas who earned a $25,000 scholarship after singing, “I Believe in You and Me,” as her talent. Phillips hopes to become a professional recording artist and her personal platform was Never Give Up.

Second runner-up honors and a $15,000 award went to Miss Georgia Amanda Kozak of Warner Robins, Georgia, who performed a Tap Dance to “Baby I’m A Star.”

Also in the top five were 3rd runner up Miss Mississippi Taryn Foshee and 4th runner up Miss Alabama Melinda Toole.

Rounding out the top ten were: Miss Pennsylvania Emily Wills, Miss Utah Katie Millar, Miss Hawaii Pilialoha Gaison, Miss Washington Kristen Eddings, and Miss California Jacquelynne Fontaine.

Lauren may have pleased the judges, but she wasn't the viewers' favorite, according to a text message voting system instituted this year.

Miss Texas Shilah Philips, a singer and choir director's daughter, was the fan favorite in the talent competition. Miss California Jacquelynne Fontaine was the viewers' pick for her turn in a blue bikini, and Miss Mississippi Taryn Foshee was named the favorite in the evening gown contest.

The Miss Congeniality Award was handed out, going to Miss Alabama Melinda Toole. The Miss Congeniality Award is given to the contestant who is most liked and respected by her peers. In September, while in Los Angeles filming the CMT special Pageant School: Becoming Miss America, the 52 contestants voted for Miss Congeniality. On January 26, the top three contestants were announced during the premiere of Pageant School and America got to vote for the winner, who was announced live at the 2007 Miss America Pageant. Toole will receive a $2,000. The Miss Smile award went to Miss Missouri Sarah French. This was an award people voted on on CMT.

Special Awards:

The NonFinalist Talent winners were:

Miss Minnesota-Nicole Swanson-viola
Miss New York-Bethlene Pancoast-huffing (a non tradition Tap)
Miss South Carolina-Shelly Benthall-vocal
Miss Vermont-Sarah Watson-piano

More information about Lauren Nelson

Lauren Nelson, Miss Oklahoma 2006 and Miss America 2007, is a sophomore Music Theatre Major at the University of Central Oklahoma. While at UCO, Lauren was chosen as one of two freshmen to perform in the fall production of Pajama Game and was a featured performer in UCO’s production of Hot N’ Cole: A Cole Porter Celebration. In 2005, Lauren graduated from Macarthur High School in Lawton, Oklahoma. While in high school, she was a member of the National Honor Society and a three-year recipient of the Renaissance Academic Award. She was an active member of Student Council, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and Macarthur Leadership Class. She was a member of the Lawton Student Civic Council in 2003 and a graduate of the Junior Leadership Lawton Class of 2003-2004. She was a 5-year member of the Lawton-Fort Sill Teen Council and chairman of the teen council for the 2004-2005 year.

Lauren began singing and performing as a young girl in church. Along with church choirs, she was very active in school choirs. A member of her high school’s honor choir, Lauren had the opportunity to perform at many venues, including Branson, Missouri and New York City, New York. She was a member of the All-Region Honor Choir for six years and a member of the All-State Women’s Chorus for three years. She has performed numerous roles in musical productions such as Tzeitel in Fiddler on the Roof, Kim MacAfee in Bye, Bye Birdie, and Hope Harcourt in Anything Goes. These experiences sparked her interest in a music theatre career and have given her opportunities to further her performance experience.

Lauren is no stranger to the Miss Oklahoma pageant. She was Miss Teen Oklahoma 2004. As our teen titleholder, she was chosen as one of three teen titleholders to perform at the 2005 Miss America Pageant. She competed in the Miss Oklahoma Pageant as Miss Oklahoma State Fair and took home preliminary swimsuit and talent awards, rookie talent award, and the Rookie of the Year Award. Lauren was also awarded second place in the Kiwanis Club of Tulsa Community Service Project.

With her mother being an educator and having a younger brother and sister, Lauren has always been very involved with children. Seeing the accessibility of the computer and the internet to children sparked her interest in Internet Safety. With one in five children in Oklahoma being approached by online predators, Lauren realized the dangers and opportunities of the internet and has become an advocate for spreading awareness and education of this timely issue. She has partnered with NetSmartz, a non-profit internet organization, to extend her Be NetSmart program across Oklahoma.

Lauren is the daughter of Mark and Sherrell Nelson. She has one sister and one brother: Morgan, 16 and Logan, 15.

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Miss America 2007 Delegates
ALABAMA MELISSA TOOLE of Birmingham Jun. 10, 2006 Samford University - Early Childhood/Special Education/Elementary Educa Vocal Character Education 23, 4th RU 2nd RU Quality of Life, Miss Congeniality	ALASKA STEPHANIE WONCHALA of Eagle RIver Jun. 17, 2006 University of Alaska Anchorage - Natural Sciences Piano Helping Special Needs Students Excel: Practicing Inclusion 21,	ARIZONA HILARY GRIFFITH of Glendale Jun. 24, 2006 Arizona State University - Journalism/Mass Communication Vocal Strength Over Silence-Rape Awareness and Recovery 21, 1st RU Quality of Life	ARKANSAS AMBER ELIZABETH BENNETT of Carlisle Jun. 24, 2006 University of Arkansas - Pre-Dental Vocal The Make-A-Wish Foundation 23,
CALIFORNIA JACQUELYNNE FONTAINE of Moorpark Jul. 1, 2006 University of Southern California – Thornton School of Music - MA - Music, Vocal Arts Operatic aria : Vissi d'arte Diabetes Awareness and Preventio 24, T 10 Saturday Talent Prelim	COLORADO JANIE ALLEN of Arvada Jun. 25, 2006 Metro State College of Denver - BA., Piano Classical Piano Celebrate Services 23,	CONNECTICUT HEIDI VOIGHT of New Haven Jun. 24, 2006 Southern Connecticut State University , - Theatre Vocal Educate, Empower, Eradicate: Stop the Violence 24,	DELAWARE JAMIE GINN of Wilmington Jun. 10, 2006 Rowan University - BS, Chemical Engineering Dance A Cure for Crohn’s Disease & Colitis Can’t Wait 25,
DISTRICT of COLUMBIA KATE MICHAEL of Washington, District of Columbia Jul. 1, 2006 University of Georgia - International Business Dance Partnerships In Literacy 24,	FLORIDA ALLISON LEE KREIGER of Miami Jul. 8, 2006 University of Florida - BS., Public Relations Dance/Twirl: H.O.P.E. - Helping Other People Eat 23,	GEORGIA AMANDA KOZAK of Warner Robins Jun. 24, 2006 Valdosta State University - Junior, Early Childhood Education Tap Dance Mentoring with the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Organization 22, 2nd RU Quality of Life finalist	HAWAII PILIALOHA KALAI GAISON of Kaneohe Jun. 1, 2006 Hawaii Pacific University - Junior, Business Management Tahitian Dance Leadership Education 23, T 10 Friday Talent Prelim
IDAHO KATHRINE ANN CROUCH of Rexburg Jun. 10, 2006 Brigham Young University - Idaho - Sophomore, Nursing Piano Drug Abuse Education & Searching for a Personal Anti-drug 19,	ILLINOIS HEIDI EKSTROM of Mundelein Jul. 29, 2006 Columbia College Chicago - Photography Contemporary Ballet en Pointe Enriching the lives of Children with Disabilities 24,	INDIANA BETSY USCHKRAT of Bloomington Jun. 24, 2006 Indiana University - Jacobs School of Music - Grad Stdt., Opera Performance Classical Opera Fighting Hunger in Our Communities with Heart and Soul 24, Quality of Life finalist	IOWA EMILY NICHOLAS of Clear Lake Jun. 10, 2006 Greenville College - Senior, Music Vocal Character Counts 21,
KANSAS MICHELLE WALTHERS of Towanda Jun. 10, 2006 Wichita State University - Graphic Design Vocal Strengthening the American Family Occup:Student Financial Aid Administrative Assistant 21,	KENTUCKY RACHELLE PHILLIPS of Princeton Jul. 22, 2006 Middle Tennessee State University - English Vocal Literacy: Reading is Succeeding 24,	LOUISIANA JAMIE WILSON of Minden Jun. 17, 2006 Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center - JD/BCL Degree Vocal Increased Awareness of Dyspraxia 23,	MAINE KARISSA STAPLES of Biddeford Jun. 3, 2006 Wagner College Broadway Vocal America's Promise 19,
MARYLAND BRITTANY LIETZ of Edgewater Jul. 1, 2006 University of Maryland School of Nursing - Nursing Dance Raising Awareness of Skin Cancer 21,	MASSACHUSETTS MICHAELA GAGNE of Fall River Jun. 24, 2006 University of Massachusetts - Amherst - grad stdt., Art Therapy and Mental Health Counseli Vocal The Heart of America: Listen, Learn and Live 24,	MICHIGAN ANGELA CROSI of Farmington Hills Jun. 17, 2006 University of Michigan - Grad. Student., Business Administration Contemporary Dance En Pointe The Make-A-Wish Foundation of America 24, Quality of Life finalist	MINNESOTA NICOLE CRISTINA SWANSON of Lakeville Jun. 17, 2006 University of Minnesota - Viola Performance/Journalism Classical Viola Music Is Instrumental 24,
MISSISSIPPI TARYN FOSHEE of Clinton Jul. 22, 2006 Mississippi State University - Communications with Emphasis in Public Relations Piano Increasing The Quality of Life for the Mentally Challenged 21, 3rd RU	MISSOURI SARAH FRENCH of Columbia Jun. 10, 2006 University of Missouri - Broadcast Journalism Vocal Health and Fitness for Life 21, (AR Teen USA '04) CMT Best Smile award	MONTANA CHRISTIE HAGEMAN of Billings Jun. 17, 2006 University of Texas at Austin, - Grad Stdt., Opera Performance Vocal Music Makes the Difference 23,	NEBRASKA MOLLY McGRATH of Omaha Jun. 10, 2006 University of Nebraska - Omaha - Grad. Stdt., Economics Dance Economic Empowerment: Financial Freedom for all Americans 23, Friday Swimsuit Prelim
NEVADA CAYDI COLE of Las Vegas Jul. 15, 2006 University of Nevada – Events and Conventions Chapman University - Public Relations and Advertising Vocal Promoting Social and Civic Literacy in Youth 22, NV Jr Miss '03	NEW HAMPSHIRE EMILY HUGHES of Gilmanton Apr. 29, 2006 University of New Hampshire - Grad Stdt., Elementary Education Tap Dance : Neutron Dance Character Education: Every School, Every Child 23,	NEW JERSEY GEORGINE DiMARIA of Lodi Jun. 18, 2006 Montclair State University - Music Violin Living with Asthma: Advocacy, Education and Response 22,	NEW MEXICO CHRISTINA MARIE HALL of Albuquerque Jun. 10, 2006 University of New Mexico - Grad Stdt., Vocal Performance and Political Scienc Vocal Identity Theft 23,
NEW YORK BETHLENE PANCOAST of Brooklyn Jul. 1, 2006 New York University - Grad Stdt., Real Estate Finance Dance Teen Task Force-The Giving of Time and Talent to Help Teens Succeed Physically and Mentally 24,	NORTH CAROLINA ELIZABETH LEIGH HORTON of High Point Jun. 24, 2006 John Hopkins University - Vocal Performance Vocal Autism Awareness 22,	NORTH DAKOTA ANNETTE OLSON of Balwin Jun. 10, 2006 Concordia College - Biology Vocal Power of Prevention: Early Detection of Breast and Cervical Cancer 23,	OHIO MELANIE MURPHY of Brook Park Jul. 8, 2006 Cleveland State University - Sophomore, Digital Media & Film Production with em Dance ABC's of Volunteerism 20,
OKLAHOMA LAUREN NELSON of Lawton Jun. 10, 2006 University of Central Oklahoma Vocal Be Netsmart: Protecting Kids Online 20, OK Teen '04 Winner Thurs Prelim Swimsuit	OREGON DONILEE MARIE McGINNIS of Scappoose Jul. 1, 2006 Portland State University - Communications Tap Dance Autism: Advocacy and Awareness 24,	PENNSYLVANIA EMILY MEGAN WILLS of Beaver Jul. 1, 2006 The Pennsylvania State University - Psychology Vocal Fostering America's Promise: Every Child Matters 24, T 10 Saturday Swimsuit Prelim	RHODE ISLAND ALLISON ROGERS of Providence Apr. 22, 2006 Harvard Graduate School of Education - MEd., Special Focus on Environmental Education Piano : Brahm's Rhapsody in G Minor Go Green- Global Warming Awareness 25, Quality of Life Winner
SOUTH CAROLINA SHELLEY BRYSON BENTHALL of Florence Jul. 8, 2006 Clemson University - Community Recreation Management Vocal Above the Influence: Alcohol & Drug Abuse Awareness 21, (SC Teen 03)	SOUTH DAKOTA CALLEE BAUMAN of Huron Jun. 24, 2006 South Dakota State University - Speech Communications Vocal American: Pump Ethanol! 21,	TENNESSEE BLAIRE ASHLEY PANCAKE of Chattanooga Jun. 24, 2006 University of Tennessee at Knoxville - Anthropology Vocal Prevent Child Abuse America 24,	TEXAS SHILAH PHILLIPS of Plano Jul. 8, 2006 Collin County Community College - Associate of Science/Music Vocal : I Believe in You and Me Never Give Up 25, 1st RU Thurs Prelim Talent
UTAH KATIE MILLAR of Highland Jul. 8, 2006 Brigham Young University - Neuroscience & Physiology Electric Violin : Souvenir D'Amerique Yankee Juvenile Diabetes: Research, Prevention and Awareness 20, T 10	VERMONT SARAH WATSON Jun. 4, 2006 University of New England Classical Piano The Power of Words 20,	VIRGIN ISLANDS STACEY SMITH of Virgin Islands Jun. 10, 2006 University of the Virgin Islands - Psychology Steel Pan/Vocal Promoting Literacy Among Children the Foundation for All Learning 24,	VIRIGNIA ADRIANNA CECILIA SGARLATA of Fairfax Station Jun. 24, 2006 George Mason University - BA, Vocal Performance Classical Vocal: Behaving Respectfully and Valuing Others 24, Quality of Life finalist
WASHINGTON KRISTEN EDDINGS of Silverdale Jul. 7, 2006 Seattle Pacific University - Grad, Political Science/International Affairs Vocal International Education 20, T 10	WEST VIRGINIA TIFFANY ELIZABETH LAWRENCE of Shepherdstown Jun. 17, 2006 Shenandoah University - MA.,f Business Administration Vocal The Power of Positive Self Esteem 24,	WISCONSIN MEGHAN COFFEY of New Berlin Marquette University - Senior, Biomedical Engineering Dance Start A Heart 22,	WYOMING JENILEIGH SAWATZKE of Cheyenne Jun. 3, 2006 Laramie County Community College - Veterinary Medicine and Theater Arts Aerial Artist Healthy Youth Today = Healthy Youth Tomorrow 24,

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