Vernon Hills girl vies for preteen title

Submitted by Miss Northern Suburbs Pageant

Cassidy Raasch of Vernon Hills will represent the northern Illinois area as Miss Northern Suburbs’ Outstanding Pre-Teen to compete for the title of Miss Illinois’ Outstanding Pre-Teen 2011 July 1 in Marion, Ill.

The Miss Illinois Pageant will feature 18 contestants from across the state to compete for the opportunity to represent Illinois as Miss Illinois’ Outstanding Pre-Teen 2011.

Phases of competition include lifestyle and fitness, evening wear, talent and onstage question. Raasch will be singing for her talent competition.

Also representing the northern Illinois area in Marion will be Miss Northern Suburbs’ Outstanding Teen Kalina O’Brien from Oswego, competing for the title of Miss Illinois’ Outstanding Teen 2011, also July 1; and Miss Northern Suburbs 2011 Natalie Sherer, a 22-year-old from Normal, competing for the title of Miss Illinois 2011 July 2.

The Miss Illinois Outstanding Teen Pageant will feature 20 contestants competing for the opportunity to represent Illinois at the 2011 Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Pageant in Orlando, Fla., this August. The Miss Illinois Pageant will feature 26 contestants competing for the opportunity to represent Illinois at the 2012 Miss America Pageant in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Joining Natalie Sherer at the Miss Illinois competition will be Sophia Thompson from Libertyville. Thompson is the current Miss Northern Suburbs Princess. She will be among 36 young girls who make up the 2011 Class of Miss Illinois “Princesses” that will grace the stage during the weeklong competition.

The Miss Illinois and Miss Northern Suburbs princess programs enable girls ages 5-12 to be mentored by local titleholders who will be competing for the title of Miss Illinois.

Established in 2008, the Miss Northern Suburbs Scholarship Organization provides opportunities for young women to achieve their personal and professional ambitions. Contestants also participate in community service activities and develop leadership skills that help them excel in their chosen career and life goals.

A not-for-profit affiliate of the Miss America Organization, the Miss Northern Suburbs Scholarship Organization has made available more than $18,450 in scholarships and in-kind funds to six young women throughout the northern Illinois area.

Winners of the annual Miss Northern Suburbs Competition are eligible to compete in the Miss Illinois Competition, held every year in Marion.

The Miss America Organization is one of the nation’s leading achievement programs and the world’s largest provider of scholarship assistance for young women. Each year, the Miss America Organization makes available more than $40 million in cash and tuition scholarship assistance.

Based in Linwood, N.J., the Miss America Organization provides young women with a vehicle to further their personal and professional goals and instills a spirit of community service through a variety of unique nationwide community-based programs.

On an annual basis, Miss America state and local titleholders, along with the organization’s network of volunteers, participate in more than 12,000 community-service projects, providing in excess of 500,000 service hours to worthy causes.

For more information about the Miss America Organization, visit missamerica.org. For more information about the Miss Illinois Competition, visit missillinois.org.

For more information about the Miss Northern Suburbs Scholarship Organization, contact Kristen Hadap or Robin Ruchti at (224) 717-6112 or (847) 872-7140, or visit www.missnorthernsuburbs.com.

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