The first-runner up is Miss Florida Kylie Williams whose personal platform issue is "Realistic Support For Our Troops, Inc." and the second runner-up is Miss Oklahoma Makenna Smith, whose personal platform is "Seat Belts Save Lives, What's Holding You Back?"
When she was just 17, Miss Nevada Caleche Manos lost her only brother to a tragic drunk driving accident. To learn to deal with her pain and loss, Caleche became involved with MADD, which provided the bereavement support she desperately needed. "It took over three years to reach the point where I could publicly speak about Caylin's death and the harsh reality of the consequences of drunk driving," Caleche said. In July of 2005, she became a victim speaker for Nevada MADD, helping to put faces, names and real stories on otherwise dry statistics. She speaks at school assemblies, driver's education classes, and public events where alcohol may be involved. Caleche is also actively involved with presenting the "Every Fifteen Minutes" program - a staged DUI crash that uses local law enforcement agencies, hospitals, care flights and funeral homes to illustrate the impact of such accidents for high school students. It is so realistic that participating high schools employ grief counselors for the students after the program has concluded. Caleche is also involved with Children's Miracle Network, visiting with children in Rady's Children's Hospital in San Diego, and working on walkathon and crown fundraisers for Renown Healthcare in Reno, Nevada.
Miss Florida Kylie Williams was inspired to support U.S. soldiers because of a friend's negative experiences with the VA hospital following injuries he suffered during a tour of duty as a Marine in Iraq in 2003. "Our nation's heroes should not fight a war overseas only to return and fight another war at home," Kylie said. Through her project "Realistic Support for Our Troops, Inc." she has worked to bridge the gap of understanding between military and civilian arenas. She has been instrumental in organizing care packages to be sent overseas to soldiers and has spoken with veterans' groups to educate them about getting access to the healthcare, pensions and disability to which they are entitled. In addition, Kylie has made numerous visits to current military members and veterans, including attending an Iraqi Combat Reenactment Camp, visiting troops at Tyndall Air Force Base, and visiting troops stationed at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Miss Oklahoma Makenna Smith began championing the use of seatbelts after the van she and her family were riding in was hit head on by another vehicle. The driver of the car that crossed the median, a 19-year-old girl just like Makenna, was not wearing a seat belt and was killed in the accident. In the van that Makenna was driving, only her father sustained injuries - he had removed his seatbelt to take a nap and the impact of the crash broke his pelvis. At the time of the accident, Makenna had just begun competing in the Miss Oklahoma Pageant system to earn money for college. She decided to make seatbelt safety her platform to help her deal with the sense of grief over the other driver's death. "Sharing my story with kids across the state who promised to work on their seatbelt habits began erasing the
sense of helplessness that follows tragedy," said Makenna. Over the past four and a half years, she has spoken to thousands of school children about the importance of wearing seatbelts - and has heard back from a number of them who were later involved in car accidents but were uninjured because they had begun wearing their seatbelts. She has also partnered with Oklahoma AAA to create a statewide poster contest that is now implemented in every school district in Oklahoma. Makenna has also been active with fundraising events for Children's Miracle Network, including developing CMN stories which were included in test booklets read by more than 15,000 students in Oklahoma.
Quality of Life Awards were introduced in 1989 to recognize contestants who excel in their commitment to community service. The awards are available to each of the 52 contestants competing for the title of Miss America. In order to be considered for the Quality of Life Award, contestants must have submitted an application describing their involvement with Children's Miracle Network, the national platform of the Miss America Organization, and their own personal platform issue. Finalists for this award have demonstrated excellence in their commitment to enhancing the quality of life for others through volunteerism and community service with special attention paid to the depth of service, creativity of the project and the significant effects upon the lives of others.
The winner of the Quality of Life Award will receive a $6,000 scholarship, the first runner-up will win a $4,000 scholarship, and the second runner-up will win a $2,000 scholarship.
An honorable mention goes to the remaining six finalists: Miss Alabama Jamie Langley, whose platform is Cardiac Care - From the Heart; Miss Massachusetts Valerie Amaral, whose platform is Encouraging Youth to Volunteer; Miss Minnesota Jennifer Hudspeth, whose platform is The Missing Piece - Understanding Autism; Miss North Carolina Jessica Jacobs, whose platform is "Read to Me"; Miss Rhode Island Ashley Bickford, whose platform is The kNOw HIV/AIDS Campaign; and Miss Tennessee Grace Gore, whose platform is Graceful Sounds "Bring Music to Their Ears."
Be sure to watch as a new Miss America is crowned on 2008 Miss America Live! airing on TLC, Saturday, January 26, at 8 p.m. EST and 7 p.m. Central. Miss America Live! will be tape delayed to air at 8 p.m. PST and 9 p.m. Mountain.
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