Thursday 6/8/2017 the Miss Alaska Scholarship Foundation hosted the 2017 Miss Alaska Pageant in the Wendy Williamson Auditorium at UAA.
The pageant theme "Think Pink – Come Rain or Come Shine" was in honor of Miss Alaska 1992 Keri Baumgartner Schroeder wo sang “Come Rain or Come Shine” at the Miss America Pageant 25 years ago but passed away from breast cancer 5 years ago. Following the national anthem sung by Megan Killoran, the Miss Alaska contestants took the stage to perform a routine choreographed by Michelle Wilkins to Mamba #5 highlighting Miss Alaska 2016 Kendall Bautista and Miss Alaska Outstanding Teen 2016 Danielle Stam, with lyrics including the names of each contestant sung by 2016 Great Alaska Talent Competition winner Benji Beach.
Your new Miss Alaska 2017 is 23 year old Angelina Klapperich from Wasilla.
Angelina's career ambition is to get into the Education field, Teaching and/or Counseling.
Her platform issue is "Cultivating Compassion: Honoring the Value of Every Person".
Angelina's talent presentation was a piano rendition of "Bumble Boogie", a lively adaptation by Jack Fina of "The Flight of the Bumble-Bee" by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov.
First Runner-Up to Miss Alaska2017 is Ellie Gottstein from Anchorage.
Ellie’s platform issue is"Investing in the Future: Our Public Schools". For her talent presentation Ellie performed an aerial silk acrobatic dance routine.
Second Runner-Up to Miss Alaska 2017 is Ashley LaMoureaux. Ashley’s platform issue is "It Takes a Village". For her talent presentation Ashley performed a vocal number.
Third Runner-Up to Miss Alaska2017 is Courtney Schuman.
Courtney’s platform issue is "Empowering Youth for a Brighter Tomorrow".Courtney performed a spoken monologue.
Fourth Runner-Up to Miss Alaska2017 is Sierra Kinworthy.
Sierra’s platform issue is "Special Olympics: Focus on Building Community".
For her talent presentation Sierra performed a dance routine.
A Miss America Organization Outstanding Teen competition for girls between the ages of 13 and 17 was held in conjunction with the Miss Alaska competition. Miss Alaska's Outstanding Teen 2017 is 16 year old Emma Broyles from Anchorage. Emma’splatform issue is"Special Olympics: Focusing on Ability Not Disability". For her talent presentation Emma performed a vocalrendition of "They Just Keep Moving the Line"from the television series “Smash”.
First Runner-Up to Miss Alaska's Outstanding Teen 2017 is Meghan Scott from Eagle River. Meghan’s platform issue is "Just Read – The Importance of Early Literacy". For her talent Meghan did a vocal performance of “Someone Else's Story” from the musical “Chess”.
The Miss Alaska Scholarship Foundation also has a mentoring program named the "Alaska Gold Nugget Princess Program" for girls between the ages of 5 and 12. These young girls, Chandra Davis, Bethany Greenlund, Josephine Greenlund, Star Hunter, Lauren Pickett, Marissa Stam, Delanie Wagers, and Sycely Wheeles, and Honorary Nuggets Ellie Bloechi and Ashley Perry, learn to be well rounded leaders of the future by emulating the Miss America ideals of Scholarship, Service, Style and Success. The Alaska Gold Nugget Princess Program is directed by Viana Rodriguez Stam.
Helping to keep the brightest and best Alaskan students in Alaska, the University of Alaska has provided a 4 year scholarship for the new Miss Alaska,one year scholarships for the rest of the top five Miss Alaska contestantsand Alaska Career College offered 3 scholarships of $5,000 each.More than $67,000 in scholarships were awarded overall.
A variety of awards were givenamongst the following categories.
Miss America Academic Award
Miss Kezia Belisle
Miss America Quality of Life Award
Miss Ellie Gottstein
State Quality of Life ScholarshipAward
Teen Emma Broyles
Children's Miracle Network Miracle Maker Award
Miss Ellie Gottstein
Other Children's Miracle Network Fundraising Awards
Teen Meghan Scott
Miss Jordan Naylor
Alaska Career College Scholarship
Teen Emma Broyles
Miss Jordan Naylor
Miss Sierra Kinworthy
Miss Congeniality - voted on by contestants
Teen Lauren Lindemuth
Miss Angelina Klapperich
Ticket Sales
Teen Emma Broyles
Miss Ellie Gottstein
Volunteers’ Choice Award
Teen Madison Dooley
Miss Courtney Schuman
Producers Award
Teen Kateri Miller
Miss Ellie Gottstein
Competition Awards:
Keri Schroeder Talent Award
Teen Emma Broyles
Miss Ellie Gottstein
Teen Fitness in Sportswear Award
Emma Broyles
Miss Fitness in Swimsuit Award
Ellie Gottstein
The Miss Alaska Pageant could not happen without the support of volunteers such as these.
Executive DirectorBonnie Faulk
PresidentBeth Helgeson
Production ManagerMatt VanNortwick
Choreographer Michelle Wilkins
Master of CeremoniesKurt Haider
Public Relations and Script by Beth Helgeson & Holly Adkins
Patricia Grenier chaired the distinguished panel of judges, which included:
Danielle Lewis: Educator and performer
Clark Penney: Partner, VP & Senior Financial Advisor with The Cypress Group at Merrill Lynch
Eddie P.: Alaskan media personality, event promoter & hotel manager
Miss Alaska 2002 Peggy Porter: MBA in Health Services Administration, Native health leader
Representative Dan Saddler, Chugiak-Eagle River District 12 Representative
Kari Hall: Allure Day Spa and Hair Design founder & partner
Auditors from BDO, formerly known as Mikunda Cottrell & Co. were:
Julia Green
Keith Ward
For more information, please visit our web sites.