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Tara Osseck
Miss Gateway St. Louis 2008 Tara Osseck, a native of St.
Charles, MO, is a graduate of the Truman State University with a
Bachelors of Science degree in Pre-Med Health Science. Tara
graduated Cum Laude and while at Truman was a Truman Leadership
Scholarship recipient, a United States Achievement Academy Scholar and
a member of the American Medical Students Association. Very
involved in health issues, Tara is certified in fitness and nutrition
assessment, is a certified MDHSS smoking cessation instructor, a Red
Cross HIV prevention instructor and also certified as a People with
Arhritis Can Excercise (PACE) geriatric fitness instructor. As
Miss Gateway St. Louis 2008, Tara will be taking her platform "Raising
Awareness of Eating Disorders" to the St. Louis community. Eating
disorders affect over ten million females and one million males
annually, and the first step in raising awareness, states Tara, is to
eliminate the taboo from this issue. As a Certified Health
Education Specialist she has spoken to both males and females ranging
from elementary school to college level students about the risks of
eating disorders. "Not only do I have the academic knowledge
necessary to be an affective spokesperson and mentor for eating
disorders awareness," states Tara, "but I also possess community-based
hands-on experience to reinforce what I teach. I can ensure that
audiences I reach will be armed with solid knowledge on prevention an
intervention information, as well as resources for help."
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 Photo by Doyle Whitten
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 Photo by Doyle Whitten |
Lacey Fitzgerald
Miss Gateway to the West 2008 Lacey
Fitzgerald, a native of
Richmond, MO is a graduate of Northwest
Missouri State University with a Bachelors of Science degree in
Broadcasting. As a student at Northwest, Lacey was on the Dean's
Honor Roll, nominated for Blue Key Honors Organization and a member of
the Order of Omega Greek Honors Fraternity. She served on the Phi
Mu
sorority executive board, was selected as "DJ of the Year" with the
Northwest Missouri State radio station (LZLX) and was chosen to be a
permanent intern through the Kansas City T-Bones baseball
club. As
Miss Gateway to the West 2008, Lacey will be promoting the Big
Brothers, Big Sisters program as her platform in the St. Louis and
Kansas City areas. Lacey feels by working with the
organization one
can truly see the impact mentoring can have on a child. "My goal
is to
educate society by partnering with this organization and reach out to
students providing them hope," states Lacey. "Motivating our
youth and
seeing the rewards students receive by accomplishing sucess is
something that drives me to succeed in my everyday life. This is
not
a simple program of spending a few moments with a child, but
establshing desire within that individual to carry with them for the
rest of their lives."
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Sydnee Stottlemyre 
 Stephanie PattonSydnee Stottlemyre Miss Gateway St. Louis Outstanding Teen 2008 Sydnee
Stottlemyre is a resident of Chesterfield, MO and is an 8th
grader at
Rockwood Valley Middle School. She is on Student Council, a
member of
academic club, on the track team and on the dance hip hop and pom pon
competition line. She also particuiaptes on three
competitive
basketball teams. Her platform is Stray Rescue. "My
family adopted a
puppy mill dog who otherwise have been killed," said Stottlemyre.
"Because of the adoption, I have learned a lot about puppy mills and
the inhumane treatment of the dogs." She has worked with Stray
Rescue,
a St. Louis organiztaion that rescues dogs and finds adoptive homes for
them., and hopes to edcuation people about the significance of
pet
adoption.
Stephanie Patton Miss Gateway to
the West Outstanding Teen 2008
Stephanie Patton is a seventh grade student at Christ, Pince of Peace School in St. Louis. She is a member of Student Council, Middle School Advisory Council, Speech Team and is a cantor at school mass. Patton also is active in area community theater and is a member of The Muny Kids. Her platform is "Promoting Diabetes Awareness. "I was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes at the age of five," states Patton. "I want people to know that diabetes education, testing and research is a cause that needs support. Education, discpiline and determination will help overcome the difficulty of diabetes." Patton participates in local fundraising for diabetes awereness and has also been involved in efforts in Washington D.C.. She has also shared the cover of Walgreen's Diabetes magazine with Miss America 1999 Nicole Johnson and was featured on a St. Louis billboard with St. Louis Cardinal Matt Morris to promote diabetes awareness. |
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Gateway News |
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Gateway Titleholders Visit
Crown Chic
Tara Osseck and Lacey Fitzgerald, along with their families and Gateway directors Gary Bogener and Stefanie Dunlop, visited Crown Chic on December 28th; while Sydnee Stottlmyre and Stephanie Patton, along with their mothers and Gateway Outstanding Teen directors Mary McInosh and Kerri Kime visted Chrown Chic on January 19th. Crown Chic co-owners Sherri Litton and Lisa Forbes, and designer Ashley Litton provided a great fun atmosphere for us and gave the four Gateway titleholders their focused attention for hours. Tara, Lacey, Sydnee and Stephanie will compete at state in June in awesome gowns provided by Crown Chic. Thanks to Sherri, Lisa and Ashley for being a great Gateway sponsor! Gateway Talent Review The Gateway St. Louis Scholarship
Program board of directors hosted a 2008 Gateway Talent Review on
January 6th at Fulton Junior High, O'Fallon, IL. All four
Gateway titleholders performed several talent selections and received
feedback from the board, plus guests from the fine arts fields.
Miss America Party The weekend of Miss America was a busy one for the Gateway titleholders. Tara and Lacey did a photo session with Doyle Whitten, a long-time Gateway sponsor, then did a Boot Camp the following morning along with Stefanie Dunlop in Eureka. We held our first Mock Interview for the four Gateway titleholders, then did a quick shopping trip to West County Mall. That evening, Stefanie and Kris Dunlop hosted a Miss America viewing party, complete with lots of games, including a talent competition, decorated shoe contest and Miss America Trivia. Diagraph Outstanding Supplier Luncheon Miss Gateway St. Louis 2008 Tara Osseck was the special guest and made certificate presentations at the 2007 Diagraph Outstanding Supplier Luncheon, Tuesday, January 29th. Diagraph, a leader in the marking and coding industry located in Weldon Springs, annually recognizes suppliers that score an outstanding performance for the year. This year's lunch was held at J Bucks in O'Fallon, MO and honored 14 suppliers that achieved the outstanding rating for 2007. Tara & Lacey Hand Down 2007 Titles Tara Osseck and Lacey Fitzgerald both handed down their 2007 local titles on Saturday, February 2nd. Tara crowned Jenna Osseck, a freshman at Truman University, as the new 2008 Miss Kirksville. Tara and Jenna will be the fourth set of sisters to compete for the Miss Missouri title in recent years...behind Lori Reid and Leah Reid, Megan Ebers and Erin Ebers, and Jocey Kendrick and Julie Kendrick. Lacey was on hand at the 20th annual Miss Northwest program. The new 2008 titleholders are: Trisha Dean, Miss Northwest Counties; Sydney Frair, Miss Marvyville; and Kara Adams, Miss Northwest. Sydnee Stottlemyre Helps with Variety Club Children's Ski Camp Miss Gateway St. Louis Outstanding Teen Sydnee Stottlemyre took part in the Variety Club's Children's Ski Camp held at Hidden Valley on February 13th. The event, the Gateway Disabled Ski Program, is part of the Variety Club program that was held three Wednesdays in February. Sydnee was asked to be trained as a disabled ski assistant once she enters high school. Tara Osseck Takes Platform to Fulton Jr. High Tara Osseck spent Friday, February 15th, speaking to seven classes at Fulton Junior High in O'Fallon, IL, about her platform, "Raising Awarness of Eating Disorders." She spent time in the junior high health classes speaking about healthy eating and the warning signs of eating disorders. Gateway Titleholders Visit Eureka Day Care, Speak and Perform for Kirkwood Rotary Lacey Fitzgerald and Tara Osseck were special guests the morning of February 28th at the Creative Expressions Learning Center daycare in Eureka. The visted three classrooms, read and did crafts with the pre-kindergarteners. Later in the day, they were featured guests at the February 28th lunch meeting of the Kirkwood Rotary. Invited by Rotarian Gina Evans (known as the former Gina Vermillion to the Miss Missouri family!), Lacey and Tara both spoke and performed talent for the members. Thanks to Gina for the invitation! Stray Rescue Holds Adoption Event Sydnee Stottllemyre helped Stray Rescue of St. Louis kick off their 101 Dalmations event Saturday, March 1st, at Petsmart in South St. Louis. The first 101 dogs adopted from the organization's web site will receive a 101 Dalmations dog starter kit complete with a leash, food scoop, dog tag, tennis ball and the new platinum edition Disney DVD, "101 Dalmations" to be released from the Disney Vault March 4th. Stray Rescue had many dogs and puppies for adoption at the event. |
 Crown Chic Visit (l-r): Ashley Litton,
Sydnee Stottlemyre,
Sherri Litton, Stephanie Patton & Lisa Forbes  Tara & Lacey from Doyle Whitten Photo Shoot  Marissa and the Gateway Titleholders at Miss America Party!  Tara at the 2007 Diagraph Outstanding Supplier Luncheon with honorees Kathy Guntli and Marv Vorhi from MVI, Inc, of Sunset Hills, MO  Tara & Lacey at the Creative Expressions Learning Center daycare in Eureka  From Left to Right: Gina Evans, Kirkwood Rotary; Lacey & Tara; Kirkwood Rotary President Jim Rose  Sydnee Stottlemyre is pictured with Stray Rescue founder Randy Grimm and a puppy available for adoption |
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Gateway
Ttitleholders Official Head Shots
Courtesy of Miss Gateway St. Louis Sponsor Limelight Studio (www.limelightstudio.us)  
  Tara Lacey Sydnee Stephanie |
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An
Official Preliminary to Miss Missouri & Miss America
The Miss America
Organization is one of the nation's
leading
achievement programs and the world's largest provider of scholarship
assistance for young women. Last year, the Miss America Organization
and its state and local organizations made available more than $45
million in cash and scholarship assistance. This assistance is not just
for the handful of young women who become Miss America, but is
available to the over 12,000 young women who compete in the state and
local competitions as well. Rich in history and social
significance, the Miss America Organization is a not-for-profit
organization that has maintained a tradition for many decades of
empowering young women to achieve their personal and professional
goals, while providing a forum in which to express their opinions,
talent and intelligence. Scholarships have been the cornerstone of the
Miss America program since 1945 when Bess Myerson was the first Miss
America to receive a scholarship. Participating in the
Miss
America system not only helps young women pay for college and prepare
for a career, it also provides an opportunity to gain additional life
experience, the opportunities to work on issues of importance to
society, enhances their personal, professional and interview skills and
develops
their performance-related talents.
The Miss Gateway St. Louis and Miss Gateway to the West Scholarship Program are two of approximately 34 local preiminary pageants in the Miss Missouri system. Miss Gateway St. Louis is a "closed" program, meaning only eligible contestants in St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County Jefferson County and Franklin County are eligible to compete. Miss Gateway to the West is an "open" program, in which any eligible contestant from within the State of Missouri can compete. For competition information, see the link above.    |
LAST UPDATE:
March 11, 2008
For Further Information, Contact:
For Information on the Miss Gateway St. Louis Outstanding Teen Pageant, Contact:
Mary McIntosh, Director
636-667-0531 mcintosh@fidmail.com
All Rights Reserved 2008
March 11, 2008
For Further Information, Contact:
Gary
Bogener, Executive Director
Stefanie
Dunlop, Co-Director
314-651-2337 gbogener@sbcglobal.net 636-938-5800 krisandstef@charter.net
314-651-2337 gbogener@sbcglobal.net 636-938-5800 krisandstef@charter.net
For Information on the Miss Gateway St. Louis Outstanding Teen Pageant, Contact:
Mary McIntosh, Director
636-667-0531 mcintosh@fidmail.com
All Rights Reserved 2008