Miss Ohio 2010 Erica Gelhaus

Erica Gelhaus
St. Henry, Ohio
Age: 21

Education:
St. Henry High School
Otterbein College

Platform Issue: Turning the Page for Children's Literacy

Scholastic Ambition: To obtain a Doctorate degree in Vocal Performance

Talent: Classical Vocal

Scholastic Honors: Torch and Key Scholar, Dean's List, Alpha Lambda Delta Member

Career Ambition: To become a professional performer for a major opera company

Local Competition Sponsor: Miss Clayland Scholarship Program

State Competition Sponsor: Miss Ohio Scholarship Program

Miss Ohio 2009 Karissa Renee' Martin

Karissa Renee' Martin
Woodsfield, Ohio
Age: 20

Education:
Homeschooled
West Liberty State College

Platform Issue: Skin Cancer Prevention for the Next Generation

Scholastic Ambition: To obtain a Bachelor's degree in Music/Theatre Communications

Talent: Vocal

Scholastic Honors: Elbin Scholar; Dean's List; Honors Program

Career Ambition: To perform on Broadway

Local Competition Sponsor: Miss Clayland

Miss Ohio 2008 Roberta J. Camp

Roberta J. Camp
Grove City, Ohio
Age: 23

Education:
Grove City High School
- Ohio State University - Otterbein College

Platform Issue: Change Our World: Build Character

Scholastic Ambition: To acquire a B.A. in Communication from OSU

Talent: Vocal

Scholastic Honors: Dean's Award from Otterbein College

Other Accomplishments: Becoming a Certified Character Development Trainer

Career Ambition: To be successful and respected within the Entertainment Industry

Local Competition Sponsor: Miss Maple City

State Competition Sponsor: Miss Ohio Scholarship Program

Miss Ohio 2007 Melanie Murphy

Melanie Murphy
Brook Park, Ohio
Age: 20

Education:
Midpark High School
Cleveland State University – Attending – Digital Media & Film Production with emphasis in Journalism

Platform Issue: ABC’s of Volunteerism

Scholastic Ambition: To obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in Digital Media & Film Production with emphasis in Journalism

Talent: Dance

Scholastic Honors: Student of the Year; Graduated with Honors and Technical Honors in High School; Dean’s List

Career Ambition: To become a News Anchor and/or Talk Show Host

Local Competition Sponsor: Miss Miami Valley

State Competition Sponsor: Miss Ohio Scholarship Program

Miss Ohio 2006 Marlia Elisha Fontaine

Marlia Elisha Fontaine
Massillon, Ohio
Age: 23

Education:
Jackson High School
University of Akron-graduate-Sociology/Law Enforcement

Platform Issue: Diabetes: Educate to Alleviate

Scholastic Ambition: To obtain a Master’s Degree in Human Rights and Democratization

Talent: Vocal

Scholastic Honors: Magna cum Laude graduate; Member of four honor societies; Honored as “Outstanding Student”

Career Ambition: To become an Ambassador to the United Nations’ Human Rights Commission

Local Competition Sponsor: Miss Lake Erie

State Competition Sponsor: Miss Ohio Scholarship Program

Miss Ohio 2004 Amanda Beagle

Amanda Beagle
Warren, Ohio
Age: 24

Education:
Howland High School
Youngstown State University – Bachelor of Music, Vocal Performance;
Cleveland Institute of Music – Incoming – Master of Music, Vocal Performance;

Platform Issue: Improving the Quality of Life for At-Risk Youth Through SMARTS – Students Motivated by the Arts

Scholastic Ambition: Obtain a Master of Music in Vocal Performance

Talent: Operatic Aria

Scholastic Honors: Awarded a $12,000 Scholarship to attend the Cleveland Institute of Music; Golden Key National Honor Society member; Cum Laude graduate of Youngstown State University

Career Ambition: To pursue a professional operatic career

Local Competition Sponsor: Miss Lake Erie

State Competition Sponsor: Miss Ohio Scholarship Program

Three Nouns that Can Describe the Contestant: Opera Singer Teacher Ballroom Dancer

Miss Ohio 2002 Tiffany Haas

Tiffany Haas
Cincinnati, Ohio
Age: 20

Education:
Western Branch High School and Governor School for the Arts
University of Cincinnati – College Conservatory of Music

Platform Issue: Operation Smile

Scholastic Ambition: To complete a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Cincinnati – College Conservatory of Music

Talent: Classical Vocal

Scholastic Honors: Accepted into Governor School for the Arts where she completed the 4 year program; accepted into the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music – Vocal Performance and Musical Theatre Depts.

Other Accomplishments: Received the Inaugural Marvin Hamlisch Performing Arts Scholarship Award-selected and presented by Mr. Marvin Hamlisch himself; appointed as a National Spokesperson for Operation Smile and to the Board of Directors of the Cincinnati Chapter of Operation Smile; auditioned for & selected to attend the Broadway Theatre Project in FL with Ann Reinking, Ben Vereen & Gregory Hines where she met one of her role models, Julie Andrews

Employment: Dance instructor

Family: Father is self-employed as a financial planner. Mother owns her own dance studio.

Career Ambition: To perform on Broadway and with the Metropolitan Opera

Local Competition Sponsor: Miss Heart of it All Scholarship Program

State Competition Sponsor: Miss Ohio Scholarship Program and Mansfield Area Chamber of Commerce, Mansfield

Miss Ohio 2003 Janelle Couts

Janelle Couts
Akron, Ohio
Age: 22

Education:
Alliance High School
Mount Union College Graduate

Platform Issue: Bridging the Generation Gap Through Music

Scholastic Ambition: To pursue musical theatre courses in addition to obtaining a master’s degree in entertainment marketing

Talent: Vocal

Scholastic Honors: Ann McConahay Academic Scholarship; Dean’s List

Other Accomplishments: Active in community theatre; OCTA participant; IMTA award recipient; studied abroad in France

Family: Father is a pastor. Mother is a teacher. She has one brother, Robert, 30, and one sister, Jeanette, 28.

Career Ambition: To work in international marketing and to perform on Broadway

Local Competition Sponsor: Miss Medina County

State Competition Sponsor: Miss Ohio Scholarship Program, Mansfield

Miss Ohio 2001 Natalie Witwer

Natalie Witwer
Dublin, Ohio
Age: 19

Education:

Dublin Coffman High School
Miami University of Ohio

Platform Issue: Youth Ministry: Start at the Core

Scholastic Ambition: To obtain a Bachelor’s degree in marketing

Talent: Piano

Scholastic Honors: Graduated from high school Magna Cum Laude; National Honor Society; Who’s Who Among American H.S. Students; Celebration of Excellence Award; Dean’s list; member of honors program; Honors Award; Edward & Mary Rue Shephard; Souers Award; Lutheran Brotherhood Scholarship

Other Accomplishments: Superior rating, Piano Performance at GUILD competition and Ohio Music Teachers Association; organized Senate Communication Team for Miami freshman class; girls’ high school academic All-American

Employment: Piano instructor; print model

Family: Father is a manufacturing auditor/consultant. Mother is a homemaker and former teacher. She has one brother, Nicholas 13

Career Ambition: To become a marketing director/company spokesperson

Local Competition Sponsor: Miss Ashland

State Competition Sponsor: Miss Ohio Scholarship Program and Mansfield Area Chamber of Commerce, Mansfield

Miss Ohio 2000 Stephanie Meisberger

Stephanie Meisberger
Hopewell, Ohio
Age: 22

Education:
West Muskingham High School
Franklin University

Platform Issue: 4-H Awareness

Scholastic Ambition: To obtain a Master's Degree in Marketing and Communication

Talent: Vocal

Scholastic Honors: Dean's List; President's List; Selected to be the President of Franklin University's Chapter of the IABC

Other Accomplishments: President of the 4-H Club; Won Various 4-H Pin Awards; Selected for 4-H Club Congress

Employment: Assistant Director of Development, Alumni Relations and Annual Giving at Franklin University

Family: Father is a Chief Information Officer. Mother is a seamtress/child care provider. She has five sisters, Amanda, 24, Kristen, 13, Lindsay, deceased, Elisha, 19, and Julie, 6.

Career Ambition: To become a development director for the 4-H Foundation

Local Competition Sponsor: Miss North Coast

State Competition Sponsor: Miss Ohio Scholarship Program and Mansfield Area Chamber of Commerce, Mansfield

Miss Ohio 1999 Tiffany Baumann

Tiffany Baumann
Cleveland, Ohio
Age: 22

Education:
Seminole High School
Cleveland State University

Platform Issue: Youth Volunteering and Mentoring

Scholastic Ambition: To Graduate and Possibly go on to Graduate or Law School

Talent: Vocal

Scholastic Honors: Dean's List

Other Accomplishments: Self Financed Entire College Education Will Be First in Family to Graduate From College

Employment: Student

Family: Father is a Business Owner. Mother is a Human Resources Assistant. She has one brother, Billy, 26.

Career Ambition: Web Advertising or Law

Local Competition Sponsor: Miss Greater Cleveland Scholarship Pageant

State Competition Sponsor: Miss Ohio Scholarship Pageant and Mansfield Area Chamber of Commerce, Mansfield

Miss Ohio 1998 Cheya Ranice Watkins

Cheya Ranice Watkins
Cincinnati, Ohio
Age: 21

Education:
Princeton High School

Platform Issue: Mentoring

Scholastic Ambition: Obtain a Master's Degree in Computer Science

Talent: Gospel Vocal

Scholastic Honors: National Latin Honor Society

Other Accomplishments: Active member of Procter and Gamble's Volunteer Support System; member of "1,000 Hands" community project

Employment: Administrative and technical assistant to advertising department at Procter and Gamble

Family: Father is a security supervisor. Mother is a senior business analyst. She has one sister, Lisa, 28; and two brothers, Preston, 19, and Chris, 15.

Career Ambition: Own and manage a management information systems firm

Local Competition Sponsor: Miss Southeastern Ohio Pageant

State Competition Sponsor: Miss Ohio Pageant, Inc. and Mansfield Area Chamber

Miss Ohio 1997 Kelly Ann Creager

Kelly Ann Creager
Hamler, Ohio
Age: 19

Education:
Patrick Henry High School - 1996
Ohio Northern University

Platform Issue: Family Values

Scholastic Ambition: To maintain Dean's List status and eventually earn a master's degree

Talent: Vocal

Scholastic Honors: Dean's List, Alpha Lambda Delta; academic achievement and talent scholarships from ONU

Other Accomplishments: Ohio Elks Most Valuable Student; Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizenship Award; Principal's Leadership Award; PNC Bank Big 33 Scholarship Winner; Mary in Ohio Northern's Christmas Pageant; member of University Singers

Employment: Singing for weddings/funerals; modeling in bridal shows

Family: Father is the pastor of Harvest Fellowship Church and an Algebra teacher. Mother is a homemaker and church secretary. She has four brothers: Kent, 16, Ross, 13, Clint, 9, Luke, 4

Career Ambition: To teach at the elementary level and remain active in church and community to promote better family relationships

Local Competition Sponsor: Miss Conneaut

State Competition Sponsor: Miss Ohio Scholarship Program, Mansfield