On Sunday four Ball State University students engaged in the week-long Miss Indiana pageant, participating in community events and showing their skills and leadership. The four students will compete throughout the week while stepping up on their campaigns to do community service.
The event ends Saturday with the final pageant when this year's Miss Indiana will be announced. She will have the opportunity to compete in next year's Miss America.
Carol Kosisko, Miss Ball State director, said some people think Miss Indiana contestants only care about dressing up and wearing a crown, but it's much more than that. Unlike Miss USA, the Miss America Pageant is a scholarship program where the contestants not only try to win money for their education but to make a difference, she said.
"The girls take being a spokesperson for women and the Miss America platform seriously," she said. "More and more Miss Americas do a great job to go beyond the Barbie doll image. They go across the country for people to realize they're very bright and intelligent women who will be leaders in our society someday very soon."
Kosisko said when girls from Ball State compete for the title of Miss Indiana, it makes the college look good.
"For them to be a representative and go against 28 other ladies, it's phenomenal," she said. "It's great publicity for Ball State, especially since [Indiana University] doesn't even have a program anymore."
Senior telecommunications major Savannah Teegarden is officially representing the university as Miss Ball State this year.
"I want to use my title to talk about Survivors of Homicide," she said. "My favorite part about competing in pageants is being able to change peoples' lives through my platform."
Junior public relations major Courtney Jurick said she sees Miss Indiana as an opportunity to not only bring awareness about her platform March of Dimes but to improve her communication skills.
"I feel like I've never been so focused on being the best me I can be," she said. "I spend a lot of time working on my talent, knowing what's going on and world events and working out."
Senior urban planning major Lauren Peterson agreed.
"The pageant is more than being on stage," she said. "You're learning about yourself and about your strengths and weaknesses. I'm growing into a more authentic version of myself."
Sophomore fashion merchandising major Janelle Rosenbury said she hopes to raise awareness about her platform while she meets new people.
"This is a really nice way to meet a whole bunch of girls with similar characteristics and to expand my circle of friends," she said. "I also want to raise ovarian cancer awareness and get people involved in being aware of the disease."
Frank Ricketts, co-director of Miss Indiana, said it was not surprising four Ball State students were competing this year. There are usually more girls who compete for Miss Indiana from Ball State each year than other colleges, he said.
"It's not unexpected to have so many Ball State students this year, and I mean that in a good way," he said. "I've been involved for many years, and there's always a lot of Ball State girls participating."
Kosisko attributes the number of Ball State students in the competition to the campus and faculty.
"I think Ball State does a good job of building leaders, and that's what Miss America is looking for," she said. "We do a good job, and they're strong contestants when they compete.
Ticket information for Miss Indiana events is available at www.missindianapageant.com
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