(Orange, CA) – Santiago Canyon College (SCC) Associated Student Government (ASG) President and Rancho Santiago Community College District (RSCCD) Student Trustee Elisabeth Neely recently participated in the Miss City of Orange Pageant, placing as First Runner Up in the competition.
The pageant began with individual interviews of each candidate from a panel of judges. Neely said she felt very comfortable as many of the questions focused on leadership and her role within student government.
“As the elected student representative of RSCCD, I'd like to obtain a title not only for myself but for the district as well," she said. “I believe that holding a title will bring much-needed visibility to our colleges and hopefully increase enrollment as well."
The rest of the pageant involved a production number, introductions, on stage questions and social impact pitches. The pageant would end with the candidates performing their special talent and then modeling their formal wear.
Neely's social impact pitch, “A Healthier, Cleaner, and Greener Future," focuses on educating community members on how small changes can make big impacts within the environment. Neely isn't all bark and no bite – she has made environmental sustainability a part of her mission at RSCCD and SCC too. Once she transfers to a university, she plans to earn her undergraduate degree in environmental science, then work on a master's degree in environmental policy. Her ultimate goal is to work within the presidential management fellows -- and work at the state department or Environmental Protection Agency to continue working toward a more sustainable future for the planet.
President Dr. Pamela Ralston, who attended the event to cheer on Neely, said she was impressed by her poise and confidence.
“Student Trustee Elisabeth Neely has been a standout advocate for students in the Rancho Santiago Community College District," Ralston said. “Her leadership is thoughtful, well researched and powerfully conveyed. We are so proud of her work here at Santiago Canyon College and so proud of her efforts in the Miss City of Orange Competition."
Neely has been participating in pageants since the age of 14, she said. After a few years away from pageant life, Neely got the hunger and drive to compete again before aging out of eligibility. Having entered the Miss City of Orange pageant in January, Neely was one of five contestants competing for the Miss City of Orange title in hopes of winning and moving onto the Miss California pageant.
Although Neely did not take home the crown, she is far from deterred. She will enter the next upcoming open pageant later this month where she will be competing for one of three titles, Miss University Heights, Miss San Bernardino and Miss Southland. If Neely were to win one of the three titles, she would then be eligible to compete for Miss California this summer.
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About Santiago Canyon College
Santiago Canyon College (SCC) is one of two colleges in the Rancho Santiago Community College District and serves approximately 16,000 students annually. Accredited in 2000, this dynamic and award-winning institution is located in Southern California, in the city of Orange, and provides an array of educational opportunities to the over 195,000 residents comprising the eclectic community. SCC offers 221 degree and certificate programs (including 28 associate degrees for transfer). SCC has been ranked among the “50 Best Community Colleges" in the U.S. by College Choice, recognized multiple times by The Chronicle of Higher Education as one of “The Great Colleges to Work For," received Gold-level status as a Military Friendly School®, and boasts award-winning, dedicated faculty, high-quality and student-centered education, and has an excellent university transfer rate supported by transfer-guarantee programs. www.sccollege.edu
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