IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR LOCAL FAIR/FESTIVAL TITLE HOLDERS AND COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY TITLE HOLDERS

STATE ORGANIZATIONS MAY AT THEIR OPTION ACCEPT CONTESTANTS TO COMPETE AT THE STATE LEVEL WHO HOLD COLLEGE TITLES.

The following guidelines have been established:   

·        A contestant meets all eligibility requirements as established by MAO and understands that she must compete in all phases of competition at the state level.

·        A contestant must have won her pageant through a judging process.

·        A letter from the College President certifying that the contestant won the title at a judged college event and that she has the permission to use the university or college title in the state competition.

·        The College/University appoints an advisor to work with the contestant from time of selection thru state competition.

·        The College/University pays the same license fees as a local preliminary.

·        Winner receives a scholarship from the school she represents.

·        Winner will be required to sign the standard contestant Local/State Miss America Contract.

·        “College Titles” may include but not be limited to Homecoming Queen, Most Beautiful, Miss Sweetheart, etc.  State Board makes final determination.

Contestants who hold Fair and Festival Titles will be allowed to participate at the State level provided they can adhere to the same guidelines as stated above.  State Board makes final determination.

24-year-old Ashley Hatfield of downstate Anna, Illinois was crowned Miss Illinois 2007 on the night of Saturday, June 30th before a huge crowd at the Dellora A. Norris Cultural Arts Center in St. Charles.

Hatfield will now spend the next year touring the state of Illinois speaking at schools, public events and charitable functions about CHARACTER COUNTS! and Right Decisions, Right Now as well as her personal community service platform, "Breast Cancer - Action, Awareness & Advocacy".

Since her crowning, Hatfield has already established a partnership with Y-Me Illinois of Chicago to serve as a spokesperson to promote breast health and education in teenage women. She was also named an honorary board member for the Southern Illinois branch of the American Cancer Society’s Teen Division, where she will serve as the keynote speaker at their state meeting in October.

She also hopes to spread the word about her breast cancer education platform by implementing programs that are already in the making. Hatfield has contacted the office of First Lady Patricia Blagojevich in hopes of becoming involved with her breast cancer initiative. She also will continue advocating for early detection by encouraging young women to take breast self-examination classes in their area and providing them with information regarding breast health.

Throughout July, Hatfield has made numerous TV and radio appearances both in Southern Illinois and the greater Chicago area.  Her appearances thus far have included throwing out the first pitch at the Southern Illinois Miners game in Marion, assisting with the ribbon cutting at the Kane County Fair in St. Charles and a couple of local pageants including Miss Metropolis and Miss Southern Illinois.

A graduate of the University of Mississippi with a Masters of Science Degree in Communicative Disorders, Hatfield’s goal is to obtain her doctoral degree in Communicative Disorders and establish a career as a speech-language pathologist in an educational, medical, or voice rehabilitation setting after her year of service as Miss Illinois is completed.

Hatfield will also compete with 51 other titleholders from across the United States for the title of Miss America at the 2008 Miss America Pageant 

* * * * * * * * * *

Rich in history and social significance, the Miss America Organization is a not-for-profit organization that has maintained a tradition for many decades of empowering American women to achieve their personal and professional goals, while providing a forum in which to express their opinions, talent and intelligence.

The Miss America Organization is one of the nation's leading achievement programs and the world's largest provider of scholarship assistance for young women. Last year, the Miss America Organization and its state and local organizations made available more than $45 million in cash and scholarship assistance.

Since 1989, Miss America titleholders have appeared at thousands of public speaking engagements and charitable events to generate awareness for a variety of causes, including homelessness, HIV/AIDS prevention, domestic violence, diabetes awareness, character education, and literacy.

The Miss Illinois Scholarship Program is affiliated with the Miss America Organization. Female contestants ranging from 17-24 years of age compete for thousands of dollars in scholarships, and the ability to represent the state of Illinois in the Miss America Program.