Miss America plans education scholarship for past winners

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) - There she is: Miss America, on her way back to school.

The Miss America Foundation is creating a new scholarship for past winners of the Miss America pageant who still need financial help completing their education.

The winner of the national pageant gets a $50,000 scholarship for her education. But pageant officials say many past winners still want to continue their education after the 10-year scholarship window has expired.

"When Miss America 2017 is crowned this September in Atlantic City, she will receive a $50,000 scholarship to further her education for the decade ahead," said Sam Haskell, executive chairman of the Miss America Organization and trustee of The Miss America Foundation. "However, many of our Miss Americas wish to further their educational goals after their 10-year scholarship window has expired."

Josh Randle, chief operating officer of the Miss America Organization and secretary of The Miss America Foundation, said the groups saw a need and decided they could help.

"Women of all generations are going back to school, getting a new degree, starting a second career," he said. "Following this national trend, we took a look at what we could do to help the women who have come through our program."

The award will be called the Former Miss America Discretionary Scholarship.

The foundation will approve up to $10,000 a year for scholarships for one or more applicants. The awards will be approved and allocated at the discretion of the foundation's scholarship committee.

The next Miss America will be crowned Sept. 11 in Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall.

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