Miss America 2012 Laura Kaeppeler was in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, this week on behalf of her sponsor, Joseph Ribkoff, to participate in events surrounding the one hundredth anniversary of the Calgary Stampede. For one hundred years, the Calgary Stampede has brought people from all over the world together to experience Calgary’s unique Western heritage and values.

Laura participated in several media interviews to promote her appearance in the Stampede Parade, and visited two local Joseph Ribkoff boutiques for autograph sessions.

This week, she is in Helsinki, Finland with Joseph Ribkoff, where she is conducting magazine interviews and press conferences, participating in autograph sessions, and visiting a children's hospital.

Source: MAO

Miss America’s Outstanding Teen, Inc. has a new addition– Jessica Schueler, Director of Communications. In her new role, Jessica will be responsible for the company’s communications, publicity and sponsorships and will also launch a quest to increase the amount of in-kind scholarships offered by colleges and universities on the national and state levels.

She comes to the organization with a rich history and knowledge of MAOTeen. Jessica was selected as the first Miss West Virginia’s Outstanding Teen in 2004. During her year of service she promoted her platform SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) throughout West Virginia and traveled to Missouri, North Carolina, and Florida representing the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen and Miss America Organization. Jessica also developed the Mentor Princess Program in West Virginia and raised more than $5,000 in scholarship money for the Miss West Virginia Scholarship Organization.

Jessica is a 2009 graduate of Concord University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Public Relations. Upon graduation, Jessica interned with MAOTeen and shortly after accepted a position at her alma mater as an admissions counselor. During her time at Concord she traveled to Maryland, Washington, D.C., Delaware, Ohio, Florida, New Jersey, Virginia, and West Virginia recruiting for the university and promoting their scholarship programs.

Jessica has attended more than 150 college fairs and reached more than 10,000 students, as well as presented to her colleagues at the WV Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (WVACRAO) Conference in Snowshoe, West Virginia. She coordinated the university’s top scholarship program, “Scholars of Distinction,” and co-coordinated the Concord University Student Ambassador Program. As a recruiter for Concord, Jessica attended the National Small College Enrollment Conference annually and participated in other professional development opportunities each year.

Source: MAOTeen

More than 70 percent of students play a role in cyberbullying, whether they be the bully, the victim or a witness, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. For Miss West Central Ohio, Elissa McCracken, the number is too high, and she is using her platform to fight it.

Elissa was a victim of cyberbullying in middle school, an experience that shook her confidence and made her doubt her ability to compete in pageants. But now that she has overcome the terrors of cyberbullying, she is promoting her platform throughout her home state.

"I have devoted myself to the commitment that I would help others avoid the intimidation, humiliation, and embarrassment that I endured," Elissa said.

Elissa is traveling throughout Ohio to promote her platform and attend cyberbullying workshops. At a recent event, she addressed educators, mental health professionals, and law enforcement personnel. The event was called "Cyberbullying 101," and was sponsored by the Ohio Attorney General, Mike DeWine.

"Several attendees requested my contact information, and I am very excited about the possibilities such networking can provide me for spreading my important message to help other young people," Elissa said.

Elissa's platform, "Stop Cyberbullying," is being received by a wider audience thanks to her public service announcements. She recorded the announcements for the Attorney General's Office, and they will be broadcast, one on radio, and one on television, throughout the state.

Elissa is in her third year of pharmacy school at Ohio Northern University. She plans to continue spreading the message of anit-cyberbullying in the near future and for years to come.

"I plan on attending the conferences and workshops to which I was invited, participate in webinars devoted to continued education about safety online, and continue my diligent pursuit of spread the important message of my anit-cyberbullying platform message," Elissa said.

Source: Leslie Townsend