MISS ILLINOIS 2007 ASHLEY HATFIELD
Serving as Miss Illinois 2007 has truly been a blessing that I will cherish for the rest of my life. The Miss America Organization has provided me with the opportunity to touch the lives of others and has helped me to grow as an individual. This organization is not only dedicated to promoting education, but it is also an outlet for young women to gain confidence, experience and communication skills as they reach out to their communities.
As an ambassador for the Miss Illinois Scholarship Association, I have seen the impact that one young woman can have on individuals of all ages. It is truly amazing how an experience like this can be both exhilarating and humbling all at once. This experience has changed my perspective by teaching me to look beyond myself and see the world through another’s eyes.
Being Miss Illinois has enabled me to travel all over the country and experience things that I never imagined. The Miss America cruise, reality show and live finale were among the many events that I will not soon forget. I have made life long friends and I will cherish the memories that we made. However the most fulfilling moments were the ones that I experienced while here at home in Illinois.
The opportunity to positively impact the lives of so many people across the state of Illinois has truly been a rewarding experience. As Miss Illinois I have traveled over 30,000 miles across our state promoting CHARACTER COUNTS! and Right Decisions Right Now to students of all ages. I was privileged to do appearances on behalf of all three of Illinois’ Children’s Miracle Network hospitals including a special holiday visit last year to Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago that I will treasure always. My partnerships with American Cancer Society and The Pampered Chef’s Help Whip Cancer Campaign have enabled me to spread the word to women around the state about my personal platform “Breast Cancer: Action, Awareness and Advocacy.”
As I prepare to turn the page on this chapter in my life, I look back on my Miss Illinois experience as one of personal growth, opportunity and a foundation on which I will build my future. So many doors have been opened to me as a direct result of being Miss Illinois and because of that I look forward with great anticipation to the exciting journeys that await.
I want to thank the many volunteers of the Miss Illinois Scholarship Association for their tireless efforts to make this organization what it is. To my family, friends and countless supporters around the state, thank you for your love, your prayers and your encouragement.
To the people of Illinois, thank you so much for a wonderful year. I am truly grateful and blessed to have represented you.
God Bless,
Ashley Hatfield
Miss Illinois 2007
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