PHOTO: Dan DuVerney / Karen DeWert |
Site Designed & Maintained by AF WEB DESIGNS MODIFIED 8/26/04 |
PHOTO GALLERIES & NEWS LINKS: Erika is garnering hundreds of news articles all over the countries. Here we try to post as many original articles as we can. Some news pieces that are picked up by AP affiliates won't necessarily be listed in this space, as they are duplicated dozens of times in various publications. News Gazette (Champaign-Urbana) "A Tribute to Lincoln" 11/12/02 Harvard School of Public Health Newsletter (Erika speaks; Photo) 11/15/02 issue Connecticut's Commission on Children (PHOTOS) 11/1/02 Erika on HOLLYWOOD SQUARES (Aired week of Nov. 4, 2002) People Magazine 10/28/02 issue Monday's (9/23/02) The Press of Atlantic City Monday's Washington Post Sunday's Washington Post October 4's USA TODAY carries an op-ed piece by Erika on page 13A. Here is a portion of it: Harassment causes long-term pain As Miss America 2003, I am issuing a national call to action, challenging all segments of American society to take a proactive, comprehensive approach to eradicating this culture of degradation and indifference: * Parents should talk with their children about the importance of treating all people with respect and be advocates for their children if they are victimized. * All school districts should formulate and uniformly enforce effective anti-harassment policies that are easy for students to comprehend. * Each state should adopt anti-harassment laws. The standard of proof applied by courts hearing harassment cases should be based on a school's conduct in its role as the temporary stand-in for its students' parents, rather than allowing school districts to hide behind higher standards of proof. * Most importantly, young people must usher in a new age of civility by defending victimized classmates and refraining from harassment themselves. My year as Miss America will not be about me, but about achieving these goals. Freeing our youth from harassment will empower them to become the change we seek in this world. Erika Harold became Miss America 2003 on Sept. 21. |
Press Releases: (Scroll Down For More News & Photo Links) |
CLICK HERE for PHOTOS of Erika at Miss America (Thanks SUZIE FOOTE for photos!) INTERVIEW PRELIM WINNER at MISS AMERICA! ONSTAGE INTERVIEW WINNER at MISS AMERICA! MISS AMERICA 2003! WINNER OF A $50,000 SCHOLARSHIP FOR HER STUDIES AT HARVARD!!! "A Chain Reaction of Hope," says Miss Illinois (press release from just after Erika won Miss Illinois) Erika Harold, Miss Illinois 2002, has launched a statewide speaking tour focusing on her platform against youth violence. As an advocate against gang pressures, drugs, crime and gun violence, Erika is calling to action all students as a collective voice in proclaiming "youth violence stops with us". A national spokesperson for Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, The Teen Victims Project of the National Center for Victims of Crime and The Student Pledge Against Gun Violence, she addresses issues of positive social change and calls for a halt to the climb of youth violence statistics. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Illinois, Erika has been admitted to Harvard Law School where she will pursue Public Interest Law and Public Policy after her year of service as Miss Illinois. A classically trained vocalist who has sung in Japan, she won a Preliminary Talent Award at Miss Illinois for her presentations of Habanera from "Carmen." As Miss Illinois, Erika receives $15,000 in scholarships with at total of $40,300 awarded among all 35 participants of this year's program. In addition, colleges and universities throughout the state offer over $2.7 million in-kind scholarships or tuition waivers to contestants. Held annually in Oakbrook Terrace, the Miss Illinois Program strives to provide educational opportunities to the young women of the state through scholarship, service and volunteerism. It strives to recognize the intelligence, talent, moral character and personal commitment of its exceptional participants as they pursue excellence resulting in positive life experience, spirit and goodwill. AT A GLANCE... Erika Harold Urbana, Illinois Age: 22 Parents: Robert Harold and Donna Tanner-Harold Education: Entering Harvard Law School in 2003 Also: Urbana High School, University of Illinois Graduate Platform Issue: Empowering Youth Against Violence Scholastic Ambition: Accepted to Harvard Law School to pursue a career in the fields of Public Interest Law & Public Policy Talent: Operatic Aria Scholastic Honors: Phi Beta Kappa; U of I Chancellor Scholar chosen as a Truman Scholarship finalist and USA Today's All-USA College Academic Second Team; selected for membership in "Senior 100 Honorary" by U of I Alumni Association for outstanding leadership & academic achievement Other Accomplishments: Submitted written testimony to the U.S. House of Representatives' Energy & Commerce Committee on Welfare Reform Reauthorization Proposals; Vice President of minority student newsletter & recipient of first prize in Afro-American Studies research paper competition; represented high school in Japan as part of the JALEX Study Program Employment: Illinois Gubernatorial Candidate's Campaign Youth Coordinator; teaching assistant; motivational speaker & public relations coordinator; TV intern Family: Father is owner of satellite installation co. and a director of midwest operations for a youth baseball program. Mother is college counselor and foster parent trainer. She has three siblings: Alexandra, 20, Anastasia, 17, & Nicholas, 14. Career Ambition: To become a lawyer & seek political office at the state and/or national level Local Competition Sponsor: Miss Land of Lincoln State Competition Sponsor: Miss Illinois Scholarship Pageant, Inc., Oakbrook Terrace ERIKA IN THE NEWS: (Pre-Miss America Win; Scroll Down For Miss America Links) Morton Courier 8/13/02 Lincoln Daily News 8/19/02 Morton Courier 8/20/02 More Links of Interest: MISS ILLINOIS' MISSION:VIOLENCE PREVENTION click here for a list of resources CLICK HERE for Anti-Bullying Links Have YOU spotted Miss Illinois/Miss America or contestant-news in YOUR local newspaper? LET US KNOW & provide copy...you'll get a free autographed photo of the NEW MISS ILLINOIS! |
Miss Illinois 2002 becomes MISS AMERICA 2003 -- Erika Harold "You must be the change you wish to see in the world" |
Miss Illinois 2002 becomes MISS AMERICA 2003 -- Erika Harold "You must be the change you wish to see in the world" |
CLICK HERE for PHOTOS of Erika at Miss America (Thanks SUZIE FOOTE for photos!) INTERVIEW PRELIM WINNER at MISS AMERICA! ONSTAGE INTERVIEW WINNER at MISS AMERICA! MISS AMERICA 2003! WINNER OF A $50,000 SCHOLARSHIP FOR HER STUDIES AT HARVARD!!! "A Chain Reaction of Hope," says Miss Illinois (press release from just after Erika won Miss Illinois) Erika Harold, Miss Illinois 2002, has launched a statewide speaking tour focusing on her platform against youth violence. As an advocate against gang pressures, drugs, crime and gun violence, Erika is calling to action all students as a collective voice in proclaiming "youth violence stops with us". A national spokesperson for Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, The Teen Victims Project of the National Center for Victims of Crime and The Student Pledge Against Gun Violence, she addresses issues of positive social change and calls for a halt to the climb of youth violence statistics. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Illinois, Erika has been admitted to Harvard Law School where she will pursue Public Interest Law and Public Policy after her year of service as Miss Illinois. A classically trained vocalist who has sung in Japan, she won a Preliminary Talent Award at Miss Illinois for her presentations of Habanera from "Carmen." As Miss Illinois, Erika receives $15,000 in scholarships with at total of $40,300 awarded among all 35 participants of this year's program. In addition, colleges and universities throughout the state offer over $2.7 million in-kind scholarships or tuition waivers to contestants. Held annually in Oakbrook Terrace, the Miss Illinois Program strives to provide educational opportunities to the young women of the state through scholarship, service and volunteerism. It strives to recognize the intelligence, talent, moral character and personal commitment of its exceptional participants as they pursue excellence resulting in positive life experience, spirit and goodwill. AT A GLANCE... Erika Harold Urbana, Illinois Age: 22 Parents: Robert Harold and Donna Tanner-Harold Education: Entering Harvard Law School in 2003 Also: Urbana High School, University of Illinois Graduate Platform Issue: Empowering Youth Against Violence Scholastic Ambition: Accepted to Harvard Law School to pursue a career in the fields of Public Interest Law & Public Policy Talent: Operatic Aria Scholastic Honors: Phi Beta Kappa; U of I Chancellor Scholar chosen as a Truman Scholarship finalist and USA Today's All-USA College Academic Second Team; selected for membership in "Senior 100 Honorary" by U of I Alumni Association for outstanding leadership & academic achievement Other Accomplishments: Submitted written testimony to the U.S. House of Representatives' Energy & Commerce Committee on Welfare Reform Reauthorization Proposals; Vice President of minority student newsletter & recipient of first prize in Afro-American Studies research paper competition; represented high school in Japan as part of the JALEX Study Program Employment: Illinois Gubernatorial Candidate's Campaign Youth Coordinator; teaching assistant; motivational speaker & public relations coordinator; TV intern Family: Father is owner of satellite installation co. and a director of midwest operations for a youth baseball program. Mother is college counselor and foster parent trainer. She has three siblings: Alexandra, 20, Anastasia, 17, & Nicholas, 14. Career Ambition: To become a lawyer & seek political office at the state and/or national level Local Competition Sponsor: Miss Land of Lincoln State Competition Sponsor: Miss Illinois Scholarship Pageant, Inc., Oakbrook Terrace ERIKA IN THE NEWS: (Pre-Miss America Win; Scroll Down For Miss America Links) Morton Courier 8/13/02 Lincoln Daily News 8/19/02 Morton Courier 8/20/02 More Links of Interest: MISS ILLINOIS' MISSION:VIOLENCE PREVENTION click here for a list of resources CLICK HERE for Anti-Bullying Links Have YOU spotted Miss Illinois/Miss America or contestant-news in YOUR local newspaper? LET US KNOW & provide copy...you'll get a free autographed photo of the NEW MISS ILLINOIS! |
Press Releases: (Scroll Down For More News & Photo Links) |
PHOTO GALLERIES & NEWS LINKS: Erika is garnering hundreds of news articles all over the countries. Here we try to post as many original articles as we can. Some news pieces that are picked up by AP affiliates won't necessarily be listed in this space, as they are duplicated dozens of times in various publications. News Gazette (Champaign-Urbana) "A Tribute to Lincoln" 11/12/02 Harvard School of Public Health Newsletter (Erika speaks; Photo) 11/15/02 issue Connecticut's Commission on Children (PHOTOS) 11/1/02 Erika on HOLLYWOOD SQUARES (Aired week of Nov. 4, 2002) People Magazine 10/28/02 issue Monday's (9/23/02) The Press of Atlantic City Monday's Washington Post Sunday's Washington Post October 4's USA TODAY carries an op-ed piece by Erika on page 13A. Here is a portion of it: Harassment causes long-term pain As Miss America 2003, I am issuing a national call to action, challenging all segments of American society to take a proactive, comprehensive approach to eradicating this culture of degradation and indifference: * Parents should talk with their children about the importance of treating all people with respect and be advocates for their children if they are victimized. * All school districts should formulate and uniformly enforce effective anti-harassment policies that are easy for students to comprehend. * Each state should adopt anti-harassment laws. The standard of proof applied by courts hearing harassment cases should be based on a school's conduct in its role as the temporary stand-in for its students' parents, rather than allowing school districts to hide behind higher standards of proof. * Most importantly, young people must usher in a new age of civility by defending victimized classmates and refraining from harassment themselves. My year as Miss America will not be about me, but about achieving these goals. Freeing our youth from harassment will empower them to become the change we seek in this world. Erika Harold became Miss America 2003 on Sept. 21. |
Site Designed & Maintained by AF WEB DESIGNS MODIFIED 8/26/04 |
With City Year Washington, DC Volunteers on "Make A Difference Day" |
Erika in "People" magazine 10/28/03 |
Erika crowns Victoria Vullo during a Nov. 5 visit to St. Leo the Great School, in Middletown. |
PHOTO: Dan DuVerney / Karen DeWert |
