In order to compete in the Miss New Hampshire competition, young women first have to win one of 28 local-level competitions. In New Hampshire, the average scholarship awarded to the first-runner up at local competitions is $900. Hypothetically, a contestant could never make it to the Miss New Hampshire stage and make $25,200 in one year. With $25,200, she could cover the costs of tuition, room, and board at New Hampshire's public colleges and universities.
The Miss America Organization is the largest scholarship program for women in the world. However, scholarship money is not the only way the organization enables young women to achieve their professional goals through educational attainment. The organization provides participants with countless opportunities to become involved in their communities, network professionally, promote causes they are passionate about, and develop leadership skills.
Every participant has a platform that she promotes throughout her year of service. Volunteers in the organization provide young women with the support to advocate for the causes they are passionate about. Therefore, the organization not only eases the financial burden on students, but provides students with the cultural capital needed to thrive educationally and professionally.
Further, women participating in the Miss America Organization are diverse, passionate, eager, and willing to change the world. Sponsorships and sisterhood provide participants with the necessary tools, both tangible (clothing, services, fitness memberships, etc.) and intangible (mentorships, professional development opportunities, leadership skills, life-long friendships) to succeed in the organization.
Personally, not only would I not be able to attend graduate school if not for the Miss America Organization, but I absolutely would not be the person I am today without it. I would not have friends that know me more than I know myself. I would have never interned at the New Hampshire State House, sung the National Anthem for President Obama, logged over 1,000 community service hours, gained valuable leadership skills from developing empowerment workshops for teenagers, or even fallen in love with the idea of working in college access. The Miss America Organization is a college access program, and I will defend that statement for the rest of my life.
