May 27, 2008

LIVINGSTON, Ala.--Miss University of West Alabama Stevi Bolen will compete for the Miss Alabama crown June 4-7 in Birmingham. The senior language arts/secondary education major will be one of 50 contestants competing to represent the state at the Miss America pageant in January 2009. She is the daughter of Leigh and Crystal Bolen of Jackson.

Bolen, who will compete as contestant #31, will be evaluated by five judges in the categories of private interview on Tuesday, evening wear on Wednesday, talent and on-stage question on Thursday and swimsuit/physical fitness on Friday. The final competition and Miss Alabama crowning is set for Saturday, June 7.

Since winning the Miss UWA title in February, Bolen has raised awareness about her platform, organ donation and the Children’s Miracle Network. On a recent trip to Washington DC, Bolen met with Alabama congressional staff and toured Children’s National Medical Center, where she distributed get well cards made by her mother’s elementary art classes.

Bolen, who will perform a vocal talent, “Light the Fire Within,” can receive mail the week of the pageant at SU Box 292266, Birmingham, AL 35229. In addition, flowers and other gifts may be sent to the Alpha Delta Pi sorority house on the Samford campus.

The competition begins at 7:30 p.m. nightly at the Wright Center at Samford University. For ticket information, please contact the Miss Alabama office at 205-871-6276 or e-mail bamaseats@yahoo.com.   

The Miss America Organization is the world's largest provider of scholarship assistance for young women, with more than $45 million in cash and scholarship assistance awarded last year. Miss America is also one of the largest community service organizations in the country, with contestants donating more than 500,000 hours each year to more than 12,000 community service projects.