Last modified: Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Jacobs School of Music alumna brings Miss Indiana crown back to IU
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 8, 2009
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana University Jacobs School of Music alumna Nicole Pollard has been crowned Miss Indiana 2009. She captured the contest's runner-up title the previous two years after Jacobs alumna soprano Betsy Uschkrat held the crown in 2006.
"It is an absolute honor to become Miss Indiana," said Pollard. "I was so thrilled to be crowned, and I still am having a hard time believing it's actually true! The tradition is for the new Miss Indiana to sleep with the crown and sash on the pillow next to her so when she wakes up, she realizes it wasn't a dream. I woke up Sunday morning, smiled to myself and thought, 'I am Miss Indiana. I'm going to Miss America. I am so blessed.'"
Pollard was crowned Miss Indiana on June 27. She received a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the Jacobs School in May 2009, where she completed voice instruction under Professor Teresa Kubiak. She was principal soloist during her four years at IU with the Singing Hoosiers as well as student manager of the group in 2007-08.
Pollard credits her performance success to her years at the Jacobs School, saying that she has won a preliminary talent award in the Miss Indiana competition the last three years because of the training and guidance she received at IU.
For the next few months, she will be preparing for the Miss America pageant, which will be held on Jan. 30, 2010, at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.
During that time, Pollard will also be speaking and performing at numerous functions and promoting her personal platform of "The Awareness and Prevention of Eating Disorders," in addition to Miss America's national platform of "The Children's Miracle Network."
For more information about the IU Jacobs School of Music, visit https://music.indiana.edu.
