Benedictine student competes in national scholarship pageant
Chrissy Sitarski won't be modeling a swimsuit when she competes next week in the America's National Teenager Scholarship Organization National Miss pageant in Nashville.
Sitarski, selected the Miss Illinois ANTSO National Miss in February, is busy decorating a pair of bluejeans for the personal expression portion of the pageant. To represent the state of Illinois, her jeans will feature the Chicago skyline on the front and corn stalks on back with 3-D sparkling fabric, glitter, glue and corn tassels hanging off.
"Hopefully, I will be the first National Miss," said the 20-year-old Benedictine University student from Medinah.
ANTSO pageants are different from others she has participated in, Sitarski said. So when the organization added a new National Miss category for ages 19 to 25 this year, Sitarski wasn't going to let the opportunity pass.
"I did an ANTSO pageant two years ago and I loved it," she said.
ANTSO sponsors competitions in which contestants are judged on their academics, extracurricular activities, community service and personal expression. That's a good fit for Sitarski, a dean's list student who enjoys volunteer work and the opportunity to serve as a role model for young girls.
"I love putting smiles on young girls' faces," she said. "They get so excited."
Sitarski said that since being selected Miss Illinois ANTSO, one event she has enjoyed most was visiting Trinity Lutheran Preschool in Roselle, which she attended as a child, and reading a story to students of her former teacher.
As Miss Illinois, she also threw out the first pitch at a Benedictine baseball game this spring, participated in the university's annual Relay for Life benefit for cancer research, helped out at a Lions pancake breakfast in Itasca, rode in Itasca's Memorial Day Parade and modeled in the Bloomingdale Women's Club fashion show.
Meanwhile, the full-time student, who will be a junior in the fall, continued her studies as a nutrition major with a biology minor; volunteered at her church as usher and lector; and worked part time at a chiropractic practice.
"You're very busy and you really have to be on top of a lot of things," Sitarski said of her pageant experience. "I have binders of paper and phone calls to make all the time."
Pageant director Jennifer Telwar said Sitarski's community involvement, organizational skills and attention to detail impressed her and the other judges in a telephone interview when Sitarski was selected Miss Illinois.
"She was so articulate and so together," Telwar said. "It was easy when it came down to our decision."
Telwar added that Sitarski already is getting involved with Boys and Girls Club of America, ANTSO's national charity.
"She has exceeded my expectations," Telwar said.
Sitarski said her participation in pageants has helped make her the person she is. "I used to be very shy," she said.
At 16, she entered the Miss Illinois Teen USA pageant while a student at Lake Park High School in Roselle. She also participated in Roselle's Rose Queen pageant.
If she becomes the first ANTSO National Miss, she'll win a $5,000 scholarship and a chance to promote causes she believes in. Sitarski, who is studying to become a registered dietitian, said she probably would focus on her area of study.
"I love nutrition. It's a passion of mine," she said. "My family has had a lot of heart conditions and things like that so nutrition has had a big role in my family and extended family."
Sitarski said her parents and sister, Michelle Lynn, who will be joining her at Benedictine in the fall, are her No. 1 fans. Her dad drives her to events, her mom helps with her wardrobe and Michelle is with her behind the scenes at pageants. They'll be there for her in Nashville, too.
"(I'm) a little nervous, but very excited," she said.