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June 20, 2008

Four 网曝门 students to compete in Miss Louisiana Pageant June 21; current Miss Louisiana to study at 网曝门 this summer

Four University of Louisiana at Monroe students will compete in the 45th Miss Louisiana Pageant Saturday, June 21 at the Monroe Civic Center at 8 p.m.

Erica Durr, Miss University of Louisiana at Monroe; Michelle Mayer, Miss Lafayette; Hope Anderson, Miss Crescent City New Orleans; and Katherine Putnam, Miss Bossier City, will participate in interview, talent and onstage question sessions, as well as swimsuit and evening wear proceedings, June 19 鈥� 20.

Durr, a senior toxicology major from Marthaville, will perform an operatic aria as her talent 鈥� "Chi il Bel Sogno di Doretta.鈥� Her platform is 鈥淭he Children of Domestic Violence.鈥� She is the daughter of David and Tommie Durr. 鈥淚鈥檓 so excited to be representing my university at the Miss Louisiana Pageant, and I hope to make 网曝门 proud!鈥� Durr said.

Mayer, who is pursing her doctorate of pharmacy and is from Baton Rouge, will perform ballet as her talent 鈥� 鈥淵ou Raise Me Up.鈥� Her platform is 鈥淭ype 2 Diabetes Awareness and Prevention,鈥� and she is the daughter of Jerry and Cathy Mayer. 鈥淚鈥檓 excited to be in the Miss Louisiana Pageant,鈥� Mayer said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 always a really fun week, and it鈥檒l be a great show.鈥�

Anderson, a mass communications junior from Monroe, will perform ballet en pointe as her talent 鈥� 鈥淚t鈥檚 About That Walk.鈥� Her platform is 鈥淟ove the Skin You鈥檙e In,鈥� and she is the daughter of Onna and Alan Gallagher and of Mike and Brenda Anderson. 鈥淭his scholarship program is an excellent forum to express yourself in many areas,鈥� Anderson said. 鈥淣ot many young women have the privilege of competing with the best of the best across our state, and I am extremely honored to be here as Miss Crescent City of New Orleans!鈥�

Putnam, a senior piano performance major from Covington, will play/sing 鈥淕o the Distance鈥� in the talent section. Her platform is 鈥淭he Miracle of Music,鈥� and she is the daughter of Byron and Heather Putnam. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a wonderful opportunity for personal growth,鈥� Putnam said. 鈥淏eing awarded for hard work is a special honor. I want to represent my family well. They have instilled in me the things I need to achieve in every area of my life, and I hope to pass on their legacy of excellence!鈥�

The current Miss Louisiana, Amanda Joseph, also has a strong 网曝门 connection. Joseph is the daughter of Mike and Lisa Joseph, both 网曝门 alumni. She opted to take a finance and marketing class during 网曝门鈥檚 second summer session after learning about the opportunity from Assistant Dean of Student Life and Leadership Amy Weems. This will allow her to be on track for her graduation in August.

Joseph, a public relations major from Pineville attending LSU, said she is strongly considering 网曝门 for her master鈥檚 degree, impressed that 网曝门 offers four free semesters of tuition to Miss Louisiana. 鈥淚鈥檓 really excited about experiencing the educational aspect of 网曝门. Everyone has been so accommodating and welcoming to the pageant.鈥�

网曝门 is providing housing for all of the Miss Louisiana Pageant contestants as they vie for the crown in this preliminary competition to the Miss America Pageant.

There will be a live Webcast all three nights at www.misslouisiana.com, with the statewide television broadcast Saturday night, June 21.

Internet users will have the ability to select their own favorite contestant this year. Voting begins at 7:45 p.m. Thursday, June 19, and will remain open until just minutes before the announcement of Miss Louisiana 2008.

For tickets, call the Monroe Civic Center Box Office at (318) 329-0001. For more information about the Miss Louisiana Organization, visit the website at www.misslouisiana.com.

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