Las Vegas Weekly

January 28, 2010 · 11:06 AM

Miss America Pageant announces 2010 Quality of Life Award winners

By Robin Leach

The 2010 Miss America Pageant contestants make an appearance at Fashion Show on Jan. 23, 2010. Miss Nevada Christina Keegan is at center.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

Three 2010 Miss America Pageant contestants shared $12,000 in scholarships when they were announced as winners in the annual pageant’s Quality of Life Awards for their charity and public service platforms. The winners were announced at a ceremony this morning at Planet Hollywood.

Miss Oklahoma Taylor Treat won first place and $6,000 for her platform “Engaging Students Through Service Learning.” Miss New Hampshire Lindsey Graham was first runner-up and the winner of $4,000 for “Speaking Out for Mental Illness,” and our Miss Nevada Christina Keegan was second runner-up and the winner of $2,000 for “Rape Education & Recovery.”

Additionally, the $25,000 Charles and Theresa Brown Scholarships were awarded to 10 pageant participants. The trust fund was established in 1992 and continues to award 10 $2,500 scholarships each year. With $50,000 awarded to the Miss America winner and $70,000 for the four runners-up, plus scholarships to three nights of preliminary winners, finalists and contestants, a total of $340,00 will be awarded to the 53 contestants.

Each contestant receives $3,000 in scholarship assistance for participating in the Saturday pageant. The ladies vote for Miss Congeniality, which has a $2,000 scholarship.

The Quality of Life Awards are given to the women who excel in their commitment to enhance the quality of life for others through volunteer work and community service. Last year, the Miss America Organization and its state and local organizations made available more than $45 million in awards.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

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Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

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