NEWS RELEASE

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

AMERICA’S JUNIOR MISS TO WELCOME 2008 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 16th, 2008, for the 51st 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 2008.

The contestants will stay in Mobile until June 29th, 2008, 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 2008 National Finals are as follows:
(State – Name; Hometown; High School; Parents; College Choice)

Alabama – Norma Boyd; Enterprise; Enterprise High School; Julian and Debra Boyd; University of Alabama
Alaska – Johanna Soderlund; Fairbanks; Austin E. Lathrop High School; David and Carolyn Soderlund; Carnegie Mellon University
Arizona – Hannah Marsh; Mesa; Mountain View High School; Allen and Karen Marsh; Brigham Young University
Arkansas – Maggie Day; Fayetteville; Fayetteville High School East; William and Deana Day; University of Mississippi
California – Jacqueline Rotman; Santa Barbara; Santa Barbara High School; Kenneth and Kate Rotman; Stanford University
Colorado – Nanxi Liu; Superior; Fairview High School; Juhua Liu and Nan Geng; University of California, Berkley
Connecticut – Lauren Morrissey; Newtown; Newtown High School; Donald and Elizabeth Morrissey; University of Connecticut
Delaware – Cori McCowan; Frankford; Indian River High School; Jeffrey McCowan and Marlene Fetty; Virginia Tech
Florida – Kayla Loveday; St. Augustine; St. Augustine High School; Todd and Kimberley Loveday; Flagler College
Georgia – Laura Brett Harshbarger; Milledgeville; Baldwin High School; Bruce and Deborah Harshbarger; Harvard University
Hawaii – Trina Hyun; Honolulu; Punahou School; Sam and Susong Hyun; University of Pennsylvania
Idaho – Hannah Yeats; Coeur d’Alene; Coeur d’Alene High School; David and Meghan Yeats; University of Idaho or University of Washington
Illinois – Heather Siemienas; Arlington Heights; Saint Viator High School; Gerald and Barbara Siemienas; Northwestern University
Indiana – Anah Hewetson; Bedford; Bedford North Lawrence High School; Bruce and Julie Hewetson; University of Virginia
Iowa – Lisa McGonegle; Norwalk; Norwalk High School; Terry and Geri McGonegle; Central College
Kansas – Jairrah Mansfield; Kansas City; Piper High School; Gary and Shawnette Mansfield; Kansas University
Kentucky – Alison Lovely; Salyersville; Magoffin County High; Brian Lovely and Tonya Fields; Eastern Kentucky University
Louisiana – Lauren McCalmont; Alexandria; Alexandria Senior High School; Jim and Colleen McCalmont; Louisiana Tech University
Maine – Molly Bouchard; Caribou; Caribou High School; Jeffery and Bonnie Bouchard; The Boston Conservatory
Maryland –Kali Phillips; Frederick; home schooled; Timothy and Angela Phillips; Villa Julie College
Massachusetts –Samantha Lyman; Easthampton; Easthampton High School; Thomas and Pamela Lyman; Springfield College
Michigan – Erin Wheeler; Plymouth; Ladywood High School; Richard and Patricia Wheeler; Central Michigan University
Minnesota –Brianna Fernholz; Willmar; Willmar Senior High School; Joseph and Sandy Fernholz; University of Minnesota- Twin Cities
Mississippi – Marianna Breland; Forest; East Rankin Academy; Allen and Mitzi Breland; University of Mississippi
Missouri – Danielle Peltonen; Hazelwood; Hazelwood West Senior High School; Daniel Peltonen and Pamela Helfer; University of Missouri, Columbia
Montana –Jana Barros; Helena; Helena High School; Michael and Susan Barros; Savannah College of Art and Design
Nebraska – Madison Rezaei; Omaha; Elkhorn High School; Mohsen and Rebecca Rezaei; Dartmouth College
Nevada – Misty Moyle; Fallon; Churchill County High School; Mark and Teresa Moyle; Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
New Hampshire –Meaghan Biggio; Nashua; Nashua Christian Academy; Terry and Carole Biggio; Troy University
New Jersey –Amy Kao; Edison; John P. Stevens High School; Robert and Tsui-Yu Kao; Carnegie Mellon University
New Mexico –Mayela Arrieta; Los Lunas; Los Lunas High School; Arnoldo and Rosa Arrieta; New Mexico State University
New York – Katie Racitano; Jamestown; Frewsburg Central School; Frank and Lori Racitano; SUNY Fashion Institute of Technology (Manhattan)
North Carolina –Helen Ching; Cary; Athens Drive Senior High School; Stephen and Irene Ching; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
North Dakota –JorDan Lawson; Minot; Magic City Campus; Joel and Lori Lawson; Minot State University
Ohio –Lauren Gessner; Canfield; Canfield High School; Larry and Renee Gessner; University of South Alabama
Oklahoma –Kaileigh Bullard; Wagoner; Wagoner High School; Mary and Gayle Bullard; Belmont University
Oregon – Twila Tschan; Newberg; Newberg High School; Manfred and Vicki Tschan; University of St. Louis
Pennsylvania –Christine Marty; Sarver; Freeport Senior High; John and Marion Marty; Princeton University
Rhode Island – Elizabeth Wong; East Greenwich; East Greenwich High School; Kathleen Roche; Oberlin College
South Carolina – Brooke Gibbons; Aiken; South Aiken High School; De and Bonnie Gibbons; Brigham Young University
South Dakota –Kara Wevik; Beresford; Beresford Senior High School; Douglas and Christine Wevik; University of South Dakota
Tennessee – Chandler Lawson; Tullahoma; Tullahoma High School; Dan and Karen Lawson; University of Tennessee
Texas –Alexis Keslinke; Garland; L.V. Berkner High School; Robert and Sheryl Keslinke; American University
Utah – Lindsey Brinton; Salt Lake City; West High School; Gregory and Sally Brinton; Harvard University
Vermont – Celie Dagesse; Newport; North Country Union High School; Paul and Barbara Dagesse; Husson College
Virginia – Lily Voth; Lynchburg; Virginia Episcopal School; Michael and Sallie Voth; University of Virginia
Washington – Annie Wang; Pullman; Pullman High School; Hongjun Wang and Changhong Peng; Wellesley College
West Virginia –Ashton Marra; Clarksburg; Robert C. Byrd High School; David and Shelia Marra; Marshall University
Wisconsin –Jordan Kirkegaard; Franklin; Franklin High School; Steve and Danita Kirkegaard; Butler University
Wyoming – Marianne Miles; Afton; Star Valley High School; Corey and Michelle Miles; Utah State College


In addition to preparing for the 51st Annual National Finals, the AJM Class of 2008 will participate in the following events during their visit to Mobile:

Monday, June 16 AJM Arrival Ceremony
Tuesday, June 17 Welcome Breakfast at Mobile’s Bellingrath Gardens; Line Dancing at USS Alabama Battleship Hangar
Wednesday, June 18 Lunch with Mobile Kiwanis Club; Luau at Gordon Oaks Retirement Center
Thursday, June 19 “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); Mardi Gras Party at Fort Conde
Friday, June 20 Tour of University of South Alabama; Girl Scouts of America Luncheon; Mardi Gras Parade in downtown Mobile; Mardi Gras Ball
Saturday, June 21 Colonial Bel Air Mall Meet and Greet Autograph Session
Sunday, June 22 Beach Party at Dauphin Island
Monday, June 23 Wintzell’s Oyster House Oyster Eating Contest; Pajama Party
with Tweens at Dauphin Way Baptist Church
Tuesday, June 24 Lunch with Lions Club of Mobile
Mobile BayBears Baseball Game
Wednesday, June 25 AJM Community Night
Thursday, June 26 National Finals – 1st Preliminary
Friday, June 27 National Finals – 2nd Preliminary
Saturday, June 28 51st Annual National Finals

America’s Junior Miss will celebrate its 51st Annual National Finals June 26-28, 2008 in Mobile, Alabama. The program will be broadcast live at 7 p.m. June 28 on WPMI-TV 15's Web site, www.nbc15online.com. Major sponsors for 2008 are the City of Mobile and Mobile County. 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-