Schreyer Scholar to Compete for Miss America

Penn State alumna to compete for Miss America title
Amazing. How many other universities can say that their top students not only are Goldwaters, Rhodes, Marshall, and other scholarship winners, but also in the running for Miss America?

Miss Pennsylvania Emily M. Wills is a 2006 graduate of Penn State, holding a bachelor's degree in psychology from the College of the Liberal Arts.
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After winning the Miss Penn State title as a freshman, Wills received the usual congratulatory phone messages from friends and family on her cell phone. She also received an unexpected, but much-appreciated message that began, "Hello, this is Graham Spanier …"

"For the president of a Big Ten university to take time out of his schedule to call, that just threw me," said Wills.

"Being named Miss Penn State made me step outside my comfort zone. It really does open a lot of doors and helped me to think on my feet and to be able to articulate," Wills continued. It also opened doors to opportunities she otherwise would not have had. For example, she sang the national anthem at a football banquet with Joe Paterno on one side and President Spanier on the other. "JoePa came in and gave me a hug," Wills said.

In addition to serving as Miss Penn State, Wills was:

-- Schreyer Honors College student;

-- a four-year member of the Penn State Dance Team;

-- the College of the Liberal Arts scholarship winner for both 2003 and 2004;

-- winner of the Asbury Award for Outstanding Leadership, Community Service and Promotion of Diversity; and

-- named a Promise Fellow, part of the America's Promise initiative.

Congratulations to Emily and best of luck!

(Via Penn State Live.)