By Rikki Cason<br><a href="mailto:rikki.cason@journal-register.com">E-mail Rikki</a>
Days after winning the New York State Junior Miss Scholarship Program, Lyndonville senior Alissa Gee was still in shock.
“I couldn’t believe it,” she said. “I went to have fun and enjoy myself and meet the girls participating.”
Gee, who took the Orleans County Junior Miss title in November, competed Saturday in Buffalo against 11 other contestants. The competition is based on scholastics, talent, fitness program, self expression and interview.
“It could have been anyone,” Gee said. “Any of the girls on stage had just as much of a chance as I did.”
For winning, Gee took home a $4,000 scholarship and will now go on to compete in the America’s Junior Miss Scholarship Program at the end of June in Mobile, Ala. She also won the Be Your Best Self Award, that Orleans County Pageant Director Amy Miller said is the Junior Miss platform. Miller said she won that category because of the speech she gave on the topic.
“I’m most proud of her,” Miller said. “She’s a great representative. I can see why they picked her as the winner.”
This is the first time since 1990, when Lyndonville’s Debra Bently competed, that a contestant from Orleans County took the state title.
“I think it’s fantastic,” said Lyndonville High School Principal Kenneth Smith. “I can’t think of a better student as the face of Lyndonville. She’s academically strong, involved in many activities, a sweetheart to work with and a great person to represent not only Lyndonville but Orleans County.
Smith said that one of the things that is special about her is that she doesn’t walk around like “I’m Junior Miss.”
“She’s very humble,” he said. “Very appreciative of recognition and had very positive things to say about all the other girls.”
For Gee, even though she now has to miss her high school graduation to compete at the national level, the title is a huge honor.
“It gave me a lot of confidence in myself and who I am,” Gee said.
