The YSU graduate will represent Ohio in the national pageant in September.

The YSU graduate will represent Ohio in the national pageant in September.
VINDICATOR STAFF/WIRE REPORT
MANSFIELD -- A Warren woman is on her way to compete in the Miss America pageant after being crowned Miss Ohio 2004 Saturday at the Renaissance Theater.
Shortly after being crowned, Amanda Beagle, 24, said the moment was a little surreal.
"It's just such an accomplishment," she said. "It's such an amazing milestone in my life."
Background
A graduate of Youngstown State University and the Cleveland Institute of Music, Beagle holds undergraduate and master's degrees in vocal performance.
Beagle, daughter of Gerald and Marie Beagle, competed as Miss Lake Erie. Her platform is SMARTS: Students Motivated by the Arts -- "Providing quality after-school, weekend and summer arts programming for at-risk youth. Literacy is at the core of the SMARTS mission."
SMARTS, at YSU, offers arts education to inner-city children. Beagle works there and said she hopes to promote the program as a model across the state and nation.
"Almost five years ago I started working with my students at SMARTS," she said. "Seeing them reach their dreams is just a wonderful accomplishment. I feel working with them I can make a difference."
Beagle competed against 20 other contestants in the three-evening competition. Contests included evening wear, lifestyles/fitness in swimsuit, and talent. Earlier in the week, each contestant also was interviewed by judges and evaluated on intelligence, conversation and ambitions.
During the talent phase of the competition, Beagle sang "Quando M'en Vo." She also received the Betty Estep Memorial Award for Outstanding Classical Performance and the Hamlish Grand Talent Scholarship.
She has been singing since she was 2.
She said she's come a long way since her first local competition years ago.
"It certainly has been an incredible struggle to reach that confidence to believe I can be Miss Ohio," she said. "That's one thing the Miss America program gives you."
Third time
This was Beagle's third time competing in the contest. She was first runner-up last year. Because of age requirements, this year was her final chance.
"It was all or nothing," she said.
Beagle receives a $15,000 scholarship, sponsored by Newman Technology, Steve Cobb's Weidner Motors and Stockbridge Dealer Services and Sprint. She also wins an official state crown and an official Miss Ohio crown pin sponsored by Kingston Residence of Marion; $1,100 from the Miss America Organization for wardrobe; and dozens of other prizes.
She will represent Ohio in the Miss America pageant in Atlantic City on Sept. 18.
Beagle was to begin her first day as Miss Ohio 2004 by joining family, friends and supporters of the Miss Ohio Scholarship Program for a breakfast this morning in the Holiday Inn Ballroom in Mansfield.