Former Miss Ball State Jennie Keller competed in the Miss Ohio pageant on Saturday, June 14. Keller is a Ball State graduate and advocate for preventing dating violence.
"At state there are such high expectations of you," Keller said. Pageant activities in the weeks prior to the competition keep the contestants busy with preparations and appearances. Unfortunately, Keller did not win the title of Miss Ohio. The title went to Jenelle Couts of Akron, Ohio.
Keller's first pageant was the Miss Ball State pageant her junior year. "I really enjoyed that experience," she said. Since that first pageant, Keller has not stopped.
"I gained a whole new sense of the Miss America program," she said. Keller said being in the Miss America program is rewarding because it promotes education for women. Miss America is the largest provider of scholarships for women, she said.
"Being involved in pageants is wonderful," Keller said.
She had not considered participating in pageants prior to that year when a friend wanted Keller to compete with her. The next year, Keller won the title of Miss Ball State 2002.
Since winning Miss Ball State in 2002, Keller has competed in many other pageants. She received first runner-up in Miss Mansfield, Miss North Coast and Miss Summit County in her home state of Ohio. She then competed in the Miss Buckeye State pageant, which is a pageant for women who placed first runner-up. Keller was crowned Miss Buckeye State, which gave her the opportunity to be in the Miss Ohio pageant.
Keller was described as very outgoing by Carol Kosisko, director of the Miss Ball State program. "She doesn't know a stranger," she said.
Kosisko said she "expects to see great things from [Keller]."
Kosisko attributes Keller's Miss Ball State win to "her love of her platform."
Keller's platform for pageants, including Miss Ball State 2002, is "Dating Violence: Breaking the Silence."
While at Ball State, Keller was hired to be a resident assistant in the spring of 2001, shortly after competing in her first Miss Ball State.
As an RA in Botsford/Swinford hall, Keller began to see a problem with dating violence. "I dealt with a lot of cases of dating violence on my floor," she said. "More than I knew what to do with."
Keller began to explore ways she could reach out to the residents on her floor. She contacted the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV) to receive information on how to help the women on her floor.
"In the midst of all of this I was crowned Miss Ball State 2002," she said.
"I realized that there needed to be a voice for women who were in unhealthy relationships and I decided to be that voice," Keller said.
Shortly after Keller became Miss Ball State, she attended a training program through ICADV. "Everything began to fall into place," she said.
At the training program, Keller learned many statistics regarding abuse. One important thing she learned was that men can also be subjected to dating violence and abuse.
"Anyone can be abused," she said.
Keller began using the information not only to educate the women on her floor, but also students all over campus. She gave presentations at Woodworth Hall, Botsford/Swinford Hall, twice at Lafollette Hall, Dehority, Studebaker East for the Freshmen Connections program, Residence Assistance Orientation and twice for Greek 101. She has given almost 20 additional programs since she graduated last December.
"Your crown is a microphone," Keller said.
Keller hopes to continue working to spread the word on dating violence. She hopes to find a position with a nonprofit organization so she can devote more time to her cause. In August, Keller is scheduled to speak at Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio. She will share her program with 66 resident assistants and 11 graduate students.
"I see that there is a great need for intervention in the college and high school realm," Keller said.
Although Keller has one more year of eligibility for competing in the Miss America program, she has not yet decided if she will continue. "I'm not sure I am going to do it again, but it's very tempting," she said. Pageant season does not start again until the fall.
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