HIGH POINT, N.C., Sept. 3, 2009 ? Marie Ventrone, a junior majoring in performance theatre with a minor in vocal music at High Point University, recently spent an exciting four days in New Orleans ? she competed in and placed third runner-up in the Miss National U.S. Pageant.
Ventrone, who was one of 11 semifinalists in the event and won the “Sponsorship and Advertising Award,” reigns as Miss North Carolina National US 2009.
Ventrone explains the pageant is a system that focuses on community service, continued education and inspiring women across the country to follow their dreams, take control of their choices and reach their full potential.
The competition itself consisted of interview, swimsuit and evening gown components, as well as a final question for the top five finalists.
“We do a lot more than just walk across stage, though,” Ventrone says. “Delegates of MNUS also spent time during the week working with the New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity organization, building houses in areas hit the hardest by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.”
At High Point University, every student receives an extraordinary education in a fun environment with caring people. HPU, located in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina, is a liberal arts institution with 3,700 undergraduate and graduate students from 50 countries and 44 states at campuses in High Point and Winston-Salem. It is ranked by US News and World Report No. 5 among comprehensive universities in the South and No. 1 in its category among up-and-coming schools. Forbes.com ranks HPU in the top 6 percent among “America’s Best Colleges.” HPU was included in The Chronicle of Higher Education’s “Great Colleges to Work For” 2009 listings. The university offers 68 undergraduate majors, 40 undergraduate minors and seven graduate degree programs. It is accredited by the Commission of Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and is a member of the NCAA, Division I and the Big South Conference. Visit High Point University on the Web at www.highpoint.edu. Chris DudleyVice President for [email protected]