Miss America 2012 Laura Kaeppeler made a stop in Grand Rapids, Michigan, this week, where fourpoints writers and photographers escorted her around the city for the April/May cover story and photo shoot. Laura visited the Grand Rapids Montessori to speak at an assembly for fourth, fifth and sixth grade students, then she spent time with children in the school's afterschool program.

Students in the afterschool LOOP program showed Laura their LEGO projects that they made as part of the STEM–Science, Technology, Engineering and Math–curriculum. The Miss America Organization is focusing on enhancing awareness of educational programs like STEM, especially for girls, this year.

“Miss America, as we know, is a scholarship organization, but it’s also an organization of female empowerment, and an organization that is encouraging young people to become involved in fields related to STEM,” Laura said.

Laura was in Michigan on Tuesday and Wednesday. She flew to New York Wednesday evening.

Don’t miss the next issue of fourpoints magazine with Miss America 2012 Laura Kaeppeler on the cover! Fourpoints is offering a special discount for this issue. Order 5 or more copies, and pay only $3 per issue* Order your extra copies today! Click here and use promo code: LAURA Not a current subscriber? Subscribe today!

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I had the unique pleasure of spending two days with Laura Kaeppeler, Miss America 2012, this week. I'd interviewed her previously on the phone for fourpoints' April/May cover, and I had the sense that we were going to have fun.

For another reporting jobs, I've met and interviewed politicos like Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, and T.V. personalities like Christopher Knight (aka Bobby Brady), but I was particularly looking forward to meeting Laura because even on the phone, I could tell she was just a regular girl with a fantastic story to tell.

What was most remarkable about Laura is despite her extravagant evening gowns, flawless, white bikini wearing figure, and frequent flyer miles, when I was with her, she felt like an old friend. I am a 24 year old gal from the Midwest. She is a 24 year old gal from the Midwest, and although she carries a heavy responsibility on her perfectly postured shoulders, she conducts herself sans grandeur or entitlement. We talked dating, splurging on desserts, favorite musical genres, and (in another life) what tattoos we'd get.

The fact is that she has a story to tell, and a history of hard work that led her to today, just like each one of you, and just like me. That is how I will remember her, not as Miss America 2012, but as Laura, the sea-food loving, her own hair-doing, dog-loving woman with a dream, passion, and a good sense of humor.

Written by: Erika Fifelski joined the Serendipity Media, LLC team in August 2011. Before that she wrote for a daily newspaper in Northeast Michigan. She has a degree in journalism from Michigan State University, and if she had to choose, her platform would involve advocating for urban farming and food sovereignty.

Reality TV star and Miss America 2012 judge Kris Jenner dishes on the swimsuit competition, role models, and more!

fourpoints: How do you feel about the swimsuit competition? Some previous judges have said it is unnecessary part of the pageant.
Kris Jenner: I liked the swimsuit competition. If the contestants had not looked healthy, I might have a problem with it. But you can tell by their hair, their skin–they are healthy!

fpts: Did any of your daughters ever compete in pageants?
KJ: Pageants were not a part of their lives, no. We always watch Miss America as a family. But if one of my girls had come to me and said, I want to do this, I would have said, you bet.

fpts: What were you looking for in a Miss America?
KJ: Definitely a role model. This Miss America pageant is a different game than it was fifty years ago. Today, with all the things that a contestant has to deal with–Facebook, Twitter, all of social media–she has the ability to reach even more people.

fpts: Did anything surprise you about the pageant?
KJ: What did surprise and impress me is the work ethic that all the contestants have. They look at this as a job, not just a beauty pageant, which is something I try to instill in my girls.

To read more of Kris Jenner's responses and other answers from the experts in the field, subscribe to fourpoints magazine!

Today, fourpoints sat down with producer Tony Eaton to talk about what we can expect from the 2012 telecast!

Are there any changes to the telecast this year? Is it important to make changes to the show every year?

Well, the girls change every year. This year they are a really bright group and they are all dedicated to making this telecast a 21st century production.

Can you tell us what kind of changes we can expect?

 Well, yes and no. I can say that the opening number is different. We shot six different locations in Las Vegas: La Reve, Hoover Damn, Ghost Bar, Fremont Street, Bellagio, Cosmopolitan, and the Wynn. Las Vegas is a photogenic and colorful city.

Are there any surprises during the telecast?

There is one element of the show that is truly live television. It will unfold for everyone at the same time. I hope it works out.

What kind of manpower goes into this telecast?

We have a 6 month start time. We have 50 stage crew members, 60 tv crew members, 13 cameras, tons of trucks plus 100 MAO volunteers behind the scenes.

I don't know what you've been up to today, but this morning I hung out with Kris Jenner—no big deal!

Okay, actually, it was a really big deal! The judges press conference was this morning at 10 AM and I would have to say, it was the best judges press conference I have been to in the 6 (can you believe it?) years that I have been coming to Miss America.

What can I say? Apparently, Lara Spencer and Kris Jenner both wanted to be head judge but, of course, there can only be one. Lara seems like she is just fantastic and really takes the judging process seriously, which I appreciate so much. Other highlights of the press conference include:

*Raul De Molina doing high go-go kicks that Chris Powell taught him.

* Mike Fleiss' very progressive view of what Miss America should be.

* Teri Polo cracking jokes left and right!

I could go on and on about the press conference, but this year, we're going to do more than that. Check out the video below for the highlights of the press conference - I think you might be surprised at what the judges had tos say. I know I was!

It's all happening you guys! I whirled into Las Vegas this evening, in plenty of time for the first night of preliminary competition! It was lovely, to say the least. I hope you are following us on Twitter for all the updates, news, and information I can possibly give you! I had a blast live-Tweeting the pageant tonight and we have a big day planned tomorrow. The judges press conference is first thing in the AM and I am finally going to get close enough to Mark Ballas to challenge him to a hand jive competition. Well...we'll see if it works out! I am excited to listen to the judges talk about their experience so far! 

There is so much energy and hubbub happening here, it's wonderful! I ran into some people from Good Morning America and they start filiming at 2:30 AM - whoa! They offered to let me come along, but we all know a pagaeant girl needs her beauty sleep!

Hey - what should I ask the judges tomorrow? What are your burning questions?

Meet the 7 people who will choose our next Miss America!

Wednesday, December 7 in the 8 a.m. ET hour*

Tune in tomorrow, December 7, to hear the LIVE announcement of the national judges selected for the 2012 Miss America Pageant on ABC’s Good Morning America during the Pop News segment, in the 8 a.m. ET* hour.

* Please check your local listings

Oh man, you guys. January 14 is SO CLOSE. I can barely stand how excited I am to attend the pageant again this year and meet our new Miss America! I love making new Miss America memories each year, and a lot of them revolve around the music in the show. Whenever I hear the Black Eyed Peas, I automatically think of Miss America!

I'm anxious to see what music they are using for the production this year – I would love to hear something contemporary (like the Black Eyed Peas) this year. I'm a Lady Gaga fan, but I don't know that it's music that goes with pageant productions. What are some of YOUR suggestions for the Miss America production numbers?

On Wednesday, August 9, 2011, the 53 contestants vying for the title of Miss America 2012 participated in the lottery that would determine their competition order. Here are the results.