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Miss UCF Named Runner-Up in Miss Florida Pageant

Mon, 09 Jul 2012 21:05:46 +0000

Alexa Schmidt, Miss ��ֱ��, on Saturday narrowly missed becoming the fourth UCF consecutive student to be named Miss Florida.

Schmidt, a Jacksonville senior majoring in psychology, was the first runner-up to the new Miss Florida, Laura McKeeman, a St. Petersburg TV sportscaster.

Schmidt won $7,100 for being named runner-up and posting high scores in the preliminary talent, preliminary interview and newcomer-of-the-year categories.

Two other UCF students made it to the top 11 finalists chosen from the 43 contestants: Jerusha Cavazos of Celebration, a junior majoring in musical theatre who holds the title of Miss South Florida, and Meagan Cartaya of Homestead, a sophomore majoring in advertising and public relations who holds the title of Miss Homestead. Each earned $750.

If Schmidt had won the title, she would have followed in the footsteps of three other UCF students named Miss Florida: Kristina Janolo in 2011, Jacqueline Raulerson in 2010 and Rachael Todd in 2009.

Nine of the 43 contestants at the pageant in St. Petersburg were UCF students.

The new Miss Florida will advance to compete for the title of Miss America early next year.

9 UCF Students to Compete in Miss Florida Scholarship Pageant

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 19:08:54 +0000

If it were possible to have a dynasty in the world of scholarship pageants, the ��ֱ�� should be part of that discussion.

The university is riding a streak of three consecutive Miss Florida titles held by students: currently Kristina Janolo, preceded by Jacqueline Raulerson in 2010 and Rachael Todd in 2009.

And in next week’s 2012 Miss Florida Scholarship Pageant, nine of the 43 contestants are UCF students – so perhaps the streak will extend to four titles.

Janolo, a marketing major from Kissimmee, will turn over the title to her successor at the conclusion of the July 4-7 pageant in St. Petersburg.

The new contestants from UCF have career ambitions that range from providing therapy for brain trauma patients, to becoming a CPA, to performing as a classical pianist.

They are:

Alexa Schmidt of Jacksonville, who holds the title of Miss ��ֱ�� and is a senior majoring in psychology. Her platform is to prevent drivers from texting, and her career goal is to provide neurofeedback therapy to patients with neurological deficiencies and brain trauma.

Dasha González of Orlando, who holds the title of Miss Volusia County and is a senior majoring in health sciences/pre-clinical. Her platform is to encourage healthy habits for kids, and her career goal is to become a doctor of physical therapy and establish a practice serving underprivileged individuals.

Amanda Harris of Jacksonville, who holds the title of Miss Orlando and is a senior majoring in advertising and public relations. Her platform is to benefit the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, and her career goal is to become the national director of a dance marathon to benefit the hospitals.

Jerusha Cavazos of Celebration, who holds the title of Miss South Florida and is a junior majoring in musical theatre. Her platform is to encourage the arts, and her career goal is to obtain a career in entertainment.

Meagan Cartaya of Homestead, who holds the title of Miss Homestead and is a sophomore majoring in advertising and public relations. Her platform is taking the “dis” out of “disability,” and her career goal is to become a public relations manager for a social media company or nonprofit organization.

Music Meier of Panama City, who holds the title of Miss Florida Sunshine and is a junior majoring in piano performance. Her platform is to enhance the lives of service veterans, and her career goal is to become a classical pianist.

Sara York of Orlando, who holds the title of Miss Orange County and is a master’s student in communication. Her platform is combatting bullying by building self-esteem, and her career goal is to become a social responsibility specialist for a major corporation.

Erin O’Flaherty of Florence, S.C., who holds the title of Miss Pasco County and is a senior majoring in business administration. Her platform is suicide prevention, and her career goal is to become a CPA.

Lauren Chase of Sarasota, who holds the title of Miss Florida Sunshine and is a senior majoring in interdisciplinary studies. Her platform is Dreams Against Drugs and High-Risk Behaviors, and her career goal is to become a recording artist and motivational speaker and to pursue a master’s in nonprofit organization.

Janolo, who is returning to UCF as a senior to complete her degree, said she is looking forward to going back to the classroom.

“I’m excited that the scholarships I’ve won through the Miss America organization will allow me to graduate debt-free,” she said. She won $35,000 for her education while participating in pageants for the past six years. “I look forward to crowning the next Miss Florida – maybe another UCF woman.”

The new Miss Florida will advance to compete for the title of Miss America. Janolo finished in the top 12 of the 2012 Miss America competition in Las Vegas.

Miss Florida Returns to UCF as Reign Winds Down

Gene Kruckemyer — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 18:54:59 +0000

Kristina Janolo, the third consecutive ��ֱ�� student crowned Miss Florida, said she learned more about herself than she envisioned she would during her one-year term that soon comes to a close.

“You don’t know what you’re made of until you stretch yourself,” she said. “I don’t know how I did it all. There is a lot of glitz and glamour – but it is a full-time job.” She made more than 250 official appearances during the year around the state, Washington, D.C., and other national destinations.

Janolo, a marketing major from Kissimmee, entered the Miss Florida Pageant as Miss Winter Park, and was a top-12 finalist last summer at the Miss America Pageant in Las Vegas. Come July 7, she’ll turn over her crown in St. Petersburg to the next chosen Miss Florida.

Janolo said it will be a “bittersweet moment to open a new chapter in my life.” She has competed in scholarship pageants for six years and has won $35,000 toward her education. Her term follows the reigns of two other UCF women to become Miss Florida: Rachael Todd in 2009 and Jacqueline Raulerson in 2010.

One of her top memories, she said, was getting the chance to lobby before legislators in Washington about the Everglades and her platform, America’s Wake Up Call – Protect Our Environment.

“The thing about protecting our environment is that it is a lifestyle. You just don’t promote it for a year. You have to live it,” she said.

Protecting the environment is important to her for another reason. As someone with chronic asthma, she is concerned about air quality.

“Often we don’t even think about it, but some days it is really a high risk to be outside,” she said. “Two years ago I started running to build up my lungs and ended up finding that I love it. I’ll be running my first half marathon in January.”

She also is an advocate for rights of the elderly and the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

“She has been our busiest Miss Florida to date,” said Mary E. Sullivan, executive director and president of Miss Florida Scholarship Pageant Inc.

“She lobbied in Washington and Tallahassee for clean water and preserving and restoring the Everglades, which went hand in hand with her platform. She has been an incredible representative of the Miss Florida program.”

Classes resume for Janolo next week after taking off the year for her pageant travels and duties. She re-enters the classroom as a senior and with the goal to one day be the executive director of a nonprofit organization. She is scheduled to graduate in May.

“The beauty of being Miss Florida is that it opened my eyes to so many things,” she said. “Now I have a year to focus on my degree.”

Kristina Janolo Competes for Miss America

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:10:58 +0000

UCF senior and Miss Florida, Kristina Janolo, was in Las Vegas January 5-14 competing in the Miss America Pageant 2012. A total of 53 contestants competed in categories of personal interview, lifestyle and fitness, talent and evening gown. In addition, they made numerous appearances and media interviews.

The finals were televised on ABC on January 14. Janolo was first called as a top 15 finalist and then as a top 12 finalist. Unfortunately, her journey ended there but she was successful in earning both recognition and scholarships to complete her education.

Janolo has returned to the Sunshine State to complete her reign as Miss Florida and was back at the Capital in Tallahassee immediately upon her return lobbying with the Florida Everglades Foundation on her platform, “America’s Wake-up Call—Protect Our Environment.” She will continue to make appearances with her platform and with the Children’s Miracle hospitals, the national philanthropy of the Miss America organization.

Miss America Contestant Advocates for Environment, Elderly

Gene Kruckemyer — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 23:23:42 +0000

Since earning the Miss Florida title in July, Janolo has traveled the state promoting the Miss Florida organization and her personal platform, America’s Wake-up Call – Protect Our Environment. The senior Marketing major from Kissimmee also is an advocate for rights of the elderly and the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

She has won more than $35,000 in scholarships during her participation in the Miss Florida program. After graduation, she hopes to work as an executive director for a nonprofit organization.

The pageant will be televised at 9 p.m. Saturday on ABC. There will be 53 contestants — one from each state, the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Janolo will sing during the talent portion of the competition.

The Miss America Organization last year made available more than $45 million in cash and scholarship assistance. The organization provides young women with an opportunity to further their personal and professional goals and instills a spirit of community service.

UCF College of Business Administration’s Miss Florida Helping Environment

College of Business Administration Office of Communications — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 21:39:05 +0000

Miss Florida Kristina Janolo, a marketing major, met with Florida Governor Rick Scott and the Cabinet and discussed the importance of funding projects to continue restoration of the Florida Everglades. She said she will continue to raise awareness about the Everglades as Miss Florida. She competes for the Miss America title in January.

Kristina Janolo Crowned Miss Florida 2011

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 15:51:59 +0000

Kristina Janolo was crowned Miss Florida 2011 Saturday in St. Petersburg. She is from Kissimmee and is a senior Marketing major in the College of Business Administration at the ��ֱ��.

Janolo competed on the platform called CARE, Commitment to Always Remember the Elderly. She aspires to become the director of a nonprofit organization.

Two other UCF women were top ten finalists, Jacqueline Boehme, and Stephanie Ziajka.

It was a great year for UCF women with 11 students competing for the crown. Janolo is the third consecutive UCF woman to become Miss Florida, following Rachael Todd, Miss Florida 2009, and Jacqueline Raulerson, Miss Florida 2010.

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