Meghan Coffey is a lot like any other ambitious 22-year-old. After receiving her bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering from Marquette University this past spring, she's focused on the rest of her life. Choosing where to go to law school, starting a future career, and eventually starting a family are in the cards.
But first, she's going to try to be Miss America.
Coffey will compete for the title of Miss America this January. For her, it's something of a dream come true.
"I've watched the Miss America pageant my whole life," she says. "This is the pinnacle, something I've been wanting to do my whole life."
She started twirling at age 6, and called competitive pageants a "natural step" from twirling. By winning the Miss Wisconsin pageant on June 25, she qualified for what she says will be her "last hurrah" in the pageant world.
Every contestant in the Miss America pageant has a "platform," a charitable cause that they help support. Coffey's is Start-A-Heart, a program that raises awareness of sudden cardiac arrest and raises money for emergency defibrillators in schools and other places.
It is somewhat of a personal cause for her. Her cousin suffered a sudden cardiac arrest at the age of 8 after getting hit in the chest with a baseball. He survived, but as Coffey says, "A lot of others aren't so lucky."
She will spend the next year giving speeches and making appearances as Miss Wisconsin regardless of what happens in January. From there, it's on to civilian life. She plans on going to law school, with Marquette as the likely destination. After an internship with the Food and Drug Administration in Washington, DC, she's decided to become a patent attorney.
"It's something more interactive and social (than engineering) that allows me to help other engineers," Coffey says.
The Miss America Pageant takes place Jan. 23-25 and will be shown on Country Music Television all three days.
But first, she's going to try to be Miss America.
Coffey will compete for the title of Miss America this January. For her, it's something of a dream come true.
"I've watched the Miss America pageant my whole life," she says. "This is the pinnacle, something I've been wanting to do my whole life."
She started twirling at age 6, and called competitive pageants a "natural step" from twirling. By winning the Miss Wisconsin pageant on June 25, she qualified for what she says will be her "last hurrah" in the pageant world.
Every contestant in the Miss America pageant has a "platform," a charitable cause that they help support. Coffey's is Start-A-Heart, a program that raises awareness of sudden cardiac arrest and raises money for emergency defibrillators in schools and other places.
It is somewhat of a personal cause for her. Her cousin suffered a sudden cardiac arrest at the age of 8 after getting hit in the chest with a baseball. He survived, but as Coffey says, "A lot of others aren't so lucky."
She will spend the next year giving speeches and making appearances as Miss Wisconsin regardless of what happens in January. From there, it's on to civilian life. She plans on going to law school, with Marquette as the likely destination. After an internship with the Food and Drug Administration in Washington, DC, she's decided to become a patent attorney.
"It's something more interactive and social (than engineering) that allows me to help other engineers," Coffey says.
The Miss America Pageant takes place Jan. 23-25 and will be shown on Country Music Television all three days.
Tyler Casey was born and raised in the Twin Cities, but hes lived in Milwaukee for the last four years working and going to school. A senior at UWM with one semester left before he gets his print journalism degree, Tylers grown incredibly fond of his new city and hopes to stay here for good. Hes been with OnMilwaukee.com since June 2006.
Despite retaining certain customs of his fatherland (Tyler bleeds purple and gold), he considers Milwaukee his home. Spending most of his time on the East Side, Riverwest and Downtown (as well as wherever the nearest bus line can take him), Tylers always looking to experience what the city has to offer.
