By Mary Frances McCarthy
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 9/25/03)

Just a few months ago, Catholic University junior Lisa Ferris decided to try something new. The musical theatre major competed in the Miss District of Columbia Pageant, her first pageant ever.

Ferris was chosen as Miss District of Columbia, and competed last weekend in the Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City.

Ferris, originally from Portland, Ore., had a friend who competed in Miss Oregon a couple years ago and praised the pageant.

Ferris said she figured she’d try it out and see if she liked it. The result of this trial, "Oh, I love it," she said. "It is truly the most incredible program for personal growth and the opportunity to serve. It is truly not just a beauty pageant."

The Miss America Organization is the largest competitive scholarship program for young women in the world. According to its Web site, in 2002 more than $45 million in scholarships were awarded to participants in the Miss America program.

In preparation for the Miss America Competition, Ferris led an unusually busy summer for a college student.

In order to help her prepare, D.C. Board member Jim Lindsey worked with Ferris every week to practice for the 12-minute press conference style interview. She also spent time networking and selecting her wardrobe for the competition.

Ferris began promoting her platform issue — fighting childhood obesity by promoting nutrition and exercise for children. She met with the "movers and shakers" in DC including Dr. Richard L. Atkinson Jr. from the American Obesity Association and representatives from D.C. Action for Healthy Kids and the Presidential Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.

Since becoming Miss District of Columbia, Ferris has had the opportunity to sing the National Anthem for the Redskins and to participate in the Fourth of July parade in Washington.

Ferris practiced for the talent portion of the competition every day this summer. She performed "Gimmee Gimmee" from "Thoroughly Modern Millie."

Ferris has been dancing since she was six years old and singing since her freshman year of high school. "I’ve been blessed to work with talented teachers and mentors."

Among those mentors is Fleta Hylton, her voice instructor at Catholic, who Ferris said, "is so much more than a voice teacher. She gently guides her students. She is brilliant and incredibly talented herself."

Ferris is also thankful for the instruction of Michael Bobbitt, a former dance instructor and her choreographer for the pageant. Ferris’ ultimate career goal is to perform on Broadway.

The skills Ferris has worked on for the competition, including interviewing, public speaking and budgeting, are skills she knows she will be able to apply to many situations in life.

The Miss America Competition began in D.C. with five days of public appearances. Then it was off to Atlantic City for two weeks of rehearsal. The competition itself began on Sept. 15 for Ferris, when she had her interview. After four days of preliminary competition, and the Miss America "Show Us Your Shoes" Parade on Friday night, the Miss America Pageant was broadcast live on Sept. 20.

Ferris’ parents traveled to the east coast from Portland to support their daughter at the competition. Ferris said that although there are many miles between them, she and her parents are determined to remain close while she lives in D.C. "Thank goodness for nationwide long distance on my cell phone," she said.

Aside from crediting her teachers, mentors and family, Ferris attributes her success in the competition to her Catholic faith. "Faith has always been a grounding force in my life," she said. "The abilities and gifts I have been given are a blessing. Being able to do this is a way to share that. It’s one giant Amen to the gifts I have been blessed with."