[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 153 (Thursday, September 28, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S14541-S14542]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        OKLAHOMA'S MISS AMERICA

  Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, It is with great pleasure and pride that 
I congratulate Miss Shawntel Smith, who was crowned Miss America 1996 
recently in Atlantic City on her 24th birthday.
  Shawntel is the fourth Oklahoman to be named Miss America in the 
pageant's 75 years. She joins three other Oklahomans who have won that 
honor: Norma Smallwood in 1926, Jane Jayroe in 1967 and Susan Powell in 
1981.
  Shawntel is a native of Muldrow, Oklahoma, a town of about 3,200 
residents who are by all accounts very proud and supportive of this 
young lady. When she was crowned Miss Oklahoma earlier this year, the 
town erected road signs along the Eastern Oklahoma roads leading into 
Muldrow.
  It seems, now, however, those signs are a little outdated.
  During the next year, Shawntel will represent Oklahoma and all of 
America as she travels to special events and speaking engagements as 
Miss America.
  Her platform is to raise awareness for the need to prepare students 
for the job market. Shawntel believes that ``by exposing students to 
potential careers and making them aware of the education needed, 
students can make their dreams become realities.'' And Shawntel 
obviously knows a little something about making dreams become 
realities.
  Education has been an important part of Shawntel's own life. Through 
competition in pageants she has been able to earn enough in scholarship 
money to put herself through Northeastern Oklahoma State University, 
where she is now working as a marketing director. Shawntel's winnings 
from the Miss Oklahoma and Miss America pageants will allow her to 
continue her education. Her goal is to obtain a master's degree in 
business administration from Oklahoma City University, and I have no 
doubt she will. 

[[Page S 14542]]

  She already has demonstrated her affinity for hard work and tenacity. 
Shawntel competed in three Miss Oklahoma pageants before she won the 
title in July of this year.
  After the pageant, Shawntel's father, Gailen Smith, commented that 
when Shawntel speaks to people, her inner beauty shines through. What a 
wonderful and appropriate sentiment. I congratulate Gailen, and 
Shawntel's mother, Karen, whose daughter possesses not only physical 
beauty, but inner beauty and strength of character as well.
  Mr. President, Shawntel's example rekindles our belief in each 
individual's ability to accomplish something extraordinary and restores 
our confidence in the American spirit of helping others realize their 
dreams. Our State of Oklahoma, which is home to the finest people 
anywhere, celebrates her achievement.
  Congratulations, Shawntel. We are pleased for you and look forward 
with great pride to the year ahead as you represent our State and our 
Nation.

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