MISS OKLAHOMA WINS THE 2006 MISS AMERICA COMPETITION

Las Vegas, NV - January 21, 2006 - Miss Oklahoma Jennifer Berry was crowned
Miss America 2006 tonight at The Aladdin Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Her walk
across the stage marked her first steps on a journey that will take her from spotlight 
to spotlight, coast to coast, traveling approximately 20,000 miles each month during
her upcoming year of service.

Jennifer Berry, 22, a resident of Tulsa, Oklahoma, is a student at the University of 
Oklahoma. She is majoring in elementary education.Berry's platform issue is Building Intolerance to Drunk Driving and Underage
Drinking. Listed on the President's Honor Roll at the University of Oklahoma, Berry's 
scholastic ambition is to obtain a Master's Degree in Education. Her career ambition:
 to be an elementary school teacher. 

With the title, Berry won a $30,000 scholarship to continue her education. She wascrowned Miss America during the final competition, which aired livefrom Las Vegason CMT. Berry performed ballet en pointe as her talent selection for the evening.

The first runner-up was Miss Georgia, of Atlanta, Georgia, who earned a $20,000scholarship after a piano performance of Chopin's "Polonaise in G Sharp Minor."
Monica Pang holds a B.A. in Consumer Journalism from the University of Georgia and hopes to be a producer for music industry. 

Second runner-up honors and a $15,000 award went to Miss Alabama Alexa Jones of Andalusia, Alabama. Miss Virginia Kristi Lauren Glakas took home a $10,000 awardas third runner-up. Miss District of Columbia Shannon Schambeau earned an $8,000scholarship as fourth runner-up.

For the first time since 1974, the Miss Congeniality Award was handed out, going to Miss Hawaii Malika DudleyThe Award is the only award voted on solely by contestants, and is given to the contestant who is most liked and respected by her peers.

As the world's largest provider of scholarship assistance for young women and one of
the nation's leading achievement programs, The Miss America Organization, and its 
state and local organizations, last year made available more than $45 million in cash
and tuition scholarship assistance.