NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Cassidy Grimes, Public Relations Director
251-438-3621 (office) cassidy@ajm.org


AMERICA’S JUNIOR MISS TO WELCOME 2007 CONTESTANTS TO MOBILE


The National Office of America’s Junior Miss is pleased to announce that it will welcome the Class of 2007 to Mobile, AL on Monday, June 18th, 2007, for the 50th Annual National Finals. One contestant from every state will compete for a share of $150,000 in college scholarships and the title of America’s Junior Miss 2007.

The contestants will stay in Mobile until July 1st, 2007, and will prepare for the finals throughout their stay. In addition, the participants will enjoy various activities throughout the Mobile community and participate in a “Day of Caring” to serve Mobile area service projects.

The young women who will compete in the 2007 National Finals are as follows:
(State – Name; Hometown; High School; Parents; College Choice)
Alabama – Mary Catherine McAnnally; Decatur; Decatur High School; Robert and April McAnnally; Birmingham-Southern College
Alaska – Aimee McClory; Ketchikan; Ketchikan High School; Robert and Emily McClory; University of Miami
Arizona – Lanae Carmichael; Gilbert; Mesquite High School; David and Liane Carmichael; Brigham Young University
Arkansas – Hannah Leigh Caldwell; Conway: Conway High School – West; John and Dianna Caldwell; University of Arkansas
California – Joyce Chang; San Jose; Leland High School; Ping and Ching-Yuann Chang; UC Berkeley
Colorado – Chelsea Ann Seegers; Dillon; Summit High School; Randall and Pamela Seegers; Cornell University or University of Denver
Connecticut – Alexandra (Lexi) Ellen Novak; Woodbury; Nonnewag High School; John and Robin Novak
Delaware – Erica Elizabeth Evans; Frankford; Indian River High School; L. and Toni Presley; Swarthmore College
Florida – Morgan Brittney Bennett; Lakland; Harrison Center for the Visual and Performing Arts; Anthony and Penny Bennett; Belmont University
Georgia – Bliss Alayne McMichael; Dublin; Trinity Christian School; Allen and Lisa McMichael; University of Georgia
Hawaii – Kaitlin Siu Lin Koga; Pearl City; Roosevelt High School; Dave and Kathleen Koga; Harvard University
Idaho – Brooklyn Lee Draper; Burley; Burley High School; Bruce and Brenda Draper; Brigham Young University
Illinois – Emily Marie Boker; Belleville; O’Fallon Township High School; William Boker and Pamela Boker; Wake Forest University
Indiana – Kristine (Krissy) Jones; Portage; Portage High School; Kelly Jones and Nancy Maletta; Point Park University
Iowa – Paige Marie Ledger; Williamsburg; Williamsburg High School; Gary and Ann Ledger; Iowa State University
Kansas – Jammie Suzzane Layman; Marysville; Marysville High School; Larry and Amy Krogman; Kansas State University or New York University
Kentucky – Alice Weaver; Morehead; Rowan County Senior High School; Tony and Frances Weaver; University of Georgia
Louisiana – Heather Hope Badeaux; Alexandria; Holy Savior Menard High School; Joseph and Jennifer Badeaux; Louisiana State University
Maine – Samantha Joanne Mick; South Berwick; Marshwood High School; David and Lori Mick; University of New Hampshire or Northeastern University
Maryland – Lindsay Kaye Hanna; Frostburg; Beall High School; Bruce and Theresa Hanna; McDaniel College or Randolph-Macon College
Massachusetts – Rebecca (Becky) Lynn Geggatt; Bridgewater; Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School; Jonathon and Denise Geggatt; Marymount Manhattan College
Michigan – Lauren Schultes; Grosse Pointe Park; Grosse Pointe South High School; John and Karen Schultes; University of North Carolina
Minnesota – Nora Khorsheda Ali; Mendota Heights; South St. Paul High School; Zaki and Mahfuza Ali; Harvard University
Mississippi – Caitlyn Terrell Smith; Columbus; Heritage Academy; Jeffrey and Laura Smith; University of Alabama
Missouri – Ashley Whoberry; St. Louis; Mehlville Senior High School; Richard and Kimberly Whoberry; Lindenwood University
Montana – Virginia Alice Duke; Billings; Duke Home School; David and Roxanne Duke; University of Oklahoma
Nebraska – Jessica Lauren White; Bellevue; Bellevue West High School; Elbert and Felicia White; Creighton University
Nevada – Chantel Breanne Hopper; Las Vegas; The Meadows School; William and Heidi Hopper; Duke University
New Hampshire - Tara Nicole Fairweather; Manchester; Manchester Central High School; Eric and Kathy Fairweather; Arizona State University
New Jersey – Elizabeth Chang Wendel; Fort Monmouth; High Technology High School; John and Joan Wendel; Stanford University
New Mexico – Destinee Muller; Los Lunas; Los Lunas High School; Charles and Shelly Muller; University of New Mexico/Troy University
New York – Brynn Armstrong; Orchard Park; Orchard Park High School; Carl and Ruthanne Armstrong; SUNY Genesseo
North Carolina – Jane Densmore Chaffee; Greenville; Junius H. Rose High School; John and Jody Chaffee; University of North Carolina
North Dakota – Gabrielle (Gabby) Clayton; Bismarck; Century High School; Steve and Juanita Clayton; University of Mary
Ohio – Kathleen Ann Voss; Powell; Olentangy Liberty High School; Greg and Carolyn Voss; Marymount Manhattan College
Oklahoma – Jamie Anne Franks; Pawnee; Pawnee High School; Charlie and Annetta Franks; Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Oregon – Mallory Peebles; Happy Valley; Clackmas High School; Douglas Peebles and Yvonne Peebles; California State Polytechni University – Pomona
Pennsylvania – Karin Tsai; York; West York Area High School; Fuhfeng and Lishu Tsai; Princeton University
Rhode Island – Erin Galvin Gaudreau; Warren; La Salle Academy; Joseph and Patricia Galvin; University of Massachusetts Amherst
South Carolina – Brooke Alexandrea Beard; Aiken; South Aiken High School; Steven and Debra Beard; Clemson University
South Dakota – Lisa Jan Thvedt; Beresford; Beresford High School; Jon and Joyce Thvedt; Northwestern College
Tennessee – Hannah Danielle Disterdick; Hixson; Soddy Daisy High School; John and Desiree Disterdick; University of Tennessee
Texas – Keelan O’Connell; Abilene; Wylie High School; Dennis and Janelle O’Connell; St. Bonaventure University
Utah – Sarah Hampton; North Ogden; Polar Star Academy; Stephen and Cynthia Hampton; Brigham Young University
Vermont – Alexandra Mae Larrow; Vergennes; Vergennes Union High School; Jim and Nancy Larrow; Undecided
Virginia – Rachel Gillette; Lynchburg; E.C. Glass High School; Michael and Jodi Gillette; Wesleyan University
Washington – Aleix (Lexi) Joan Fairbanks; Pullman; Pullman High School; Alfred and Gayle Fairbanks; Washington State University
West Virginia – Katlyn (Kate) Marie Hendershot; Middlebourne; Tyler Consolidated High School; Richard and Cathy Pyles; West Virginia University
Wisconsin – Kaila Mattson; Hartland; Arrowhead High School; Gary and Sharon Mattson; University of Wisconsin – Eau Clair
Wyoming – Lacy Fry; Gillette; Campbell County High School; Douglas and Jeri Fry; Chadron State College

In addition to preparing for the 50th Annual National Finals, the AJM Class of 2007 will participate in the following events during their visit to Mobile:
Monday, June 18 AJM Arrival Ceremony
Tuesday, June 19 Welcome Breakfast at Mobile’s Bellingrath Gardens; Luau with residents of Gordon Oaks Retirement Community
Wednesday, June 20 Lunch with Mobile Kiwanis Club
Thursday, June 21 “Day of Caring,” sponsored by the Junior League of Mobile (Contestants to participate in community service activities at Dearborn YMCA, United Cerebral Palsy Summer Camp, and Habitat for Humanity build-site)
Friday, June 22 AJM Prom
Saturday, June 23 Colonial Bel Air Mall Meet and Greet
Sunday, June 24 Beach Party at Dauphin Island
Monday, June 25 Wintzell’s Oyster House Oyster Eating Contest; Pajama Party with Girl Scouts of the Deep South
Tuesday, June 26 Lunch with Lions Club of Mobile and Mobile BayBears Baseball Game
Wednesday, June 27 AJM Community Night
Thursday, June 28 National Finals – 1st Preliminary
Friday, June 29 National Finals – 2nd Preliminary
Saturday, June 30 50th Annual National Finals

America’s Junior Miss will celebrate its 50th Annual National Finals June 28-30, 2007 in Mobile, Alabama. The program will be broadcast live at 7 p.m. June 30 on WPMI-TV 15's Web site, www.nbc15online.com. Major sponsors for 2007 are the City of Mobile, Mobile County, and the Mitchell Company. Category sponsors are Alabama Power, Encore Rehabilitation, Mobile Gas, Regions Bank, and Wintzell’s Oyster House.

America’s Junior Miss (AJM) is the nation’s oldest and largest scholarship program for college-bound high school seniors. The program, headquartered in Mobile, Alabama, began in 1958. Since then, AJM has awarded more than $87.7 million in college scholarships at the local, state, and national levels. Over 700,000 young women from all over the country have participated in Junior Miss programs. AJM is proud to have the assistance of more than 17,000 volunteers throughout the United States, who help to make the Junior Miss program successful at the local and state levels.

For more information, please contact Cassidy Grimes, AJM Public Relations Director, at 251-438-3621 or cassidy@ajm.org, or visit www.ajm.org.

-AJM-