Sponsorship needed for Miss Nevada

Staff Reports

Sponsors are needed to keep Miss Nevada on the road to the Miss America Pageant in Las Vegas on Jan. 30.

Miss Nevada is Christina Keegan, 23, who is a 2004 Douglas High School graduate and Nevada's candidate for Miss America 2010.

"Sponsorships would cover some of the costs of travel expenses," Keegan said. "I have All About Dance studio, World Gym and a wardrobe sponsor, but gas and car insurance is all on me."

Sponsorship means having your business information on the Miss America Web site. Donations made to Keegan go toward what she needs to prepare for the contest and for travel expenses. Whatever's not used goes into the Miss America scholarship fund.

Her schedule of fulfilling her duties as Miss Nevada in public appearances, weekly dance classes and flying to Arizona and Florida for Miss America training and meetings with her wardrobe sponsor, doesn't allow her to work a regular job.

The position of Miss Nevada is not a paying job and Keegan doesn't have a corporate sponsor. Keegan said being a Miss America candidate can be very expensive, but she tries to keep her costs low.

"It can cost a lot, but I wasn't like that. I used stuff, the same dresses, year in and year out," she said. "A scholarship makes a difference and I want to keep my costs low."

Miss America is an outlet to help Keegan financially as a medical student. She graduated from the Undergraduate Women's College at Rosemont, Pa., with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology in 2008 and completed her first year of medical school at the University of Utah this year.

She said she's leaning toward the field of neurology with a pediatric specialty, but is taking a year off school to fulfill her duties as Miss Nevada and compete for Miss America.

"I've received $20,000 in scholarships, so for me as a medical student, anything I don't have to pay back is wonderful."

Keegan said she's excited to represent her state as the hometown girl in the Miss America contest in Las Vegas.

"The job of Miss America is 365 days a year. You see that one day at the pageant but the other days of the year we're working in the community," she said. "I consider myself a public servant for the state of Nevada."

To make a donation or to schedule a personal appearance, contact Keegan by e-mail at missnevada2009@hotmail.com or 220-1427.

Information about Miss America at www.missamerica.org