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Miss Indiana Katie Stam Crowned Miss America in Las Vegas

Miss Indiana Katie Stam from Seymour, Indiana was crowned Miss America 2009 last night at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas (Photo: © Erik Kabik/ RETNA/ www.erikkabik.com).  The Miss America Pageant was broadcast live from Las Vegas on TLC .

Katie’s triumphant walk across the stage was just the beginning of a journey that will take her to every corner of the country during her year of service as Miss America 2009. She will travel approximately 20,000 miles each month speaking to audiences about her platform of Passion for Service: Promoting Community Service and Involvement and acting as the official National Goodwill Ambassador for Children’s Miracle Network. Children’s Miracle Network, a non-profit organization dedicated to saving and improving the lives of children by raising funds for children’s hospitals, is the national platform partner of the Miss America Organization.

Photo: © Erik Kabik/ RETNA/ www.erikkabik.com

Photo: © Erik Kabik/ RETNA/ www.erikkabik.com

Katie also appeared along with the other 51 Miss America contestants in TLC’s four-part reality series COUNTDOWN TO THE CROWN. Katie secured the first gold sash awarded, which made her eligible for “America’s Vote” – a possible spot in the pageant’s top 15. America responded and placed Katie directly into the semi-finals, bringing her that much closer to the crown.

Photo: © Erik Kabik/ RETNA/ www.erikkabik.com

Katie is a student at the University of Indianapolis. Her scholastic ambition is to earn her bachelor’s degree in Communication with an emphasis on electronic media and she ultimately hopes to become a television news reporter and anchor. Along with the title of Miss America 2009, Katie won a $50,000 scholarship to continue her education. For the talent portion of the competition, Katie sang “Via Dolorosa.”

Photo: © Erik Kabik/ RETNA/ www.erikkabik.com

The first runner-up was Miss Georgia Chasity Hardman, who earned a $25,000 scholarship. Her talent performance was the song, “Home” from the musical, The Wiz and her personal platform is Boys and Girls Club of America: DREAMing Through Music.

Second runner-up honors and a $20,000 scholarship were awarded to Miss Iowa Olivia Myers. Her talent was a tap dance to “Fever”, and her personal platform is Teaching Tolerance: Fostering a Just and Caring Culture from the Classroom Out.”

Miss Indiana Katie Stam, Miss South Dakota Alexandra Hoffman, Miss Georgia Chasity Hardman, and Miss Alabama Amanda Tapley were the winners of TLC’s America’s Choice, an online competition where viewers got the opportunity to vote four Miss America contestants into the Top 15. The contestants were announced at the beginning of the 2009 Miss America Pageant broadcast.

As the world’s largest provider of scholarship assistance for young women and one of the nation’s leading achievement programs, the Miss America Organization last year made available more than $45 million in cash and scholarship assistance. The Miss America Organization provides young women with a vehicle to further their personal and professional goals and instills a spirit of community service through a variety of nationwide community-based programs.

Additional information about the Miss America Organization can be found at www.MissAmerica.org.