One of UTM’s own students, Valli Kugler, was crowned Miss Tennessee on June 30. She will represent the state at the annual Miss America pageant, to be shown on ABC at 7 p.m. on Saturday, September 21.

“When she was first named,” said Chancellor Nick Dunagan, “I first thought of how deserving she was and how proud all of UTM were of this great accomplishment.”

Kugler, a senior fashion merchandising major from Rutherford, competed after winning the title of Miss UTM. Her platform, while competing for the Miss Tennessee, was “Gaining Understanding and Insight of Learning Disabilities,” a topic close to her own heart. She also won the preliminary swimsuit competition of the pageant.

“I’m really proud of her,” commented her brother Josh, a junior communications major, “but it doesn’t matter whether or not she’s crowned Miss America; she’ll always be Miss America to me.”

According to www.missamerica.org, the organization is “a not-for-profit organization that has maintained a tradition for many decades of empowering American women to achieve their personal and professional goals, while providing a forum for them to express their opinions, talents and intelligence.”

“Pretty is as pretty does,” said her mother Vickie, “she has great inner beauty by just being herself and being a good person.”

On Thursday, August 22 a reception was held at UTM in honor of Kugler. Guests included faculty, students, the Martin community, family and friends. Also present were two previous Miss Tennessee’s from UTM, Linda Shoemate, Miss Tennessee 1967, and Elise Davis, Miss Tennessee 1979.

Shoemate and Davis offered words of encouragement to Kugler in her quest for Miss America. “I simply told her that each girl there is there for the same reason,” said Davis. “They all are very gifted and talented in their own right. The best way to enjoy the pageant is to enjoy the friendship with each of the other girls, then it will be a wonderful experience.”

At the reception, Kugler commented, “It was refreshing to step away from the craziness of preparing for the Miss America pageant.”

“Valli is a terrific ambassador for UTM,” said Dr. Katie High, Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs. “This is a reflection on the UTM community.”

For more information, visit the Miss Tennessee Web site at www.misstennessee.org or the Miss America Web site at www.missamerica.org.