Penn State OTR: Penn State Alum is in Miss America Pageant

Penn State Alum is in Miss America Pageant

Posted by ha-mace 07/01/2008 12:55 PM
Category: Tags: Miss America, Miss Virginia, Tara Wheeler

Quick, name a famous Penn State Alum that wasn't an athlete? It's tough, right? I've got Jonathan Frakes (Commander Riker on Star Trek: The Next Generation) and Benjy Bronk (he's on the Howard Stern show). Yea, it's a short list, which is ridiculous considering we're supposed to have the largest alumni association in the country. Oh well, if things work out we might add a Miss America to our list. You're right, probably not.

Last weekend Tara Wheeler, who graduated in 2006 with a degree in journalism, was crowned Miss Virginia meaning she will move on to the 2009 Miss America pageant and won a $16,000 scholarship. So, that's what you do with a journalism degree! Silly me, I was looking for jobs with a newspaper or something.

Anyway, Wheeler has a pretty interesting story. Obviously going to the Miss America pageant is a big deal, but Wheeler doesn't seem like the typical pageant girl (not that I would really know I guess), since she was the goalie on the Penn State women's ice hockey team and was a cadet for the Air Force ROTC. Impressive.

Two years ago Wheeler was Miss Pittsburgh and competed for the Miss Pennsylvania crown but lost. She then jumped ship and went to Virginia where she was Miss Blue Ridge Mountains last year and Miss Arlington this year. The move to Virginia was probably a smart one since the last time a Miss Pennsylvania won the Miss America pageant was 1954.

So good luck to Tara. You didn't win Hottest Girl on Campus, so maybe the whole Miss America thing can be a good consolation prize.

+ 10 comments

Erroneous says,

Comedian Adam McKay (of Anchorman fame), author Joseph Heller (of Catch-22 fame), and dancer Gene Kelly (of... dancing fame?) all attended Penn State (Heller taught) but left within a couple of years because they couldn't afford it. Which is the least surprising news of all time. Posted 07/01/2008 12:47 PMReply

psuper_dave says,

among the more infamous
Valarie Plame
Rick Santorum

Favorite = Richard James Inventor of the Slinky Posted 07/01/2008 2:37 PMReply

ha-mace says,

OK, first of all people, it was a comedy thing, the school has no famous people, just go with it.
Secondly I knew about Heller taught here because there's a plaque somewhere on campus but I didn't know anything about Kelly and McKay (I guess because they didn't graduate).
Thirdly, good call on Plame and Santorum.
And Fourthly, free slinky's to the first 2000 fans at tonight's Spikes game. I don't know if they know of the Penn State connection though. They're giving them away as part of "80's night." I'll be there!!! Posted 07/01/2008 2:55 PMReply

psuper_dave says,

I forgot Johnny Bananas. My bad. Posted 07/01/2008 4:23 PMReply

Anonymous says,

Is that the Real World guy? @ <a href="#c18091">psuper_dave</a>: Posted 07/02/2008 10:09 AMReply

Anonymous says,

I bet she is really flexible, I wonder what her talent is..... ummmm I don't want to stand up. Posted 07/02/2008 11:27 AMReply

Anonymous says,

I so want to go 5 hole on her. Posted 07/02/2008 4:22 PMReply

Anonymous says,

Wow how did also graduate in 2006 with a journalism degree and never had a class or even saw this chick?? I am officially angry Posted 07/02/2008 6:52 PMReply

ha-mace says,

@ Anonymous: Well I'm pretty sure she was a broadcast journalism major, so that might answer that Posted 07/02/2008 6:58 PMReply

Anonymous says,

It is tough to find famous, non-athlete PSU grads. Lisa Salters played point guard for the Lady Lions before moving to ESPN / ABC as a sideline reporter. Posted 07/03/2008 05:55 AMReply