Hoosier Takes Home Miss America Crown

[DemReadingDU]

1/24/09 Seymour-Native Named Winner

LAS VEGAS -- Miss Indiana Katie Stam became the first Hoosier to be crowned Miss America during a live broadcast in Las Vegas Saturday night.

The 22-year-old Seymour-native takes home a $50,000 scholarship before embarking on a year of travel and public appearances.

Stam, a University of Indianapolis student, was named the preliminary lifestyle and fitness winner earlier this week, winning a $1,000 scholarship.

In a new twist for this year's pageant, viewers of a lead-in reality show, "Miss America: Countdown to the Crown" voted in four of the finalists, while the judges announced the other 11 during a live TLC television broadcast from the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.

Stam was among the women picked by the viewers, along with Miss South Dakota Alexandra Hoffman, Miss Georgia Chasity Hardman and Miss Alabama Amanda Tapley.

Stam was given the crown by 2008 Miss America Kirsten Haglund of Michigan.
http://www.theindychannel.com/entertainment/18557741/detail.html


This is the town where I went to school.

[Voltaire]

1. Wow, that's the school where I went to school

Good on her and good on U of I.