IU graduate student wins Miss Indiana title

After being named Miss IU in February, graduate student Betsy Uschkrat was crowned as the 2006 Miss Indiana Saturday night at pageant held in the Zionsville, Ind. Performing Arts Center. \nThe 24-year-old student will now move on to compete in the national stage representing the state of Indiana in next January's Miss America pageant. \n27 local participants competed in the pageant from all over the state for the week-long activities that led up the crowning Saturday according to the pageant's Web site. 21-year-old Nicole Rash of Plymouth, Ind. who was competing as Miss Wabash Valley was the The first runner-up in the contest. Kaleena Dale, 22, of Vincennes and Tonya Cooper, 24, of Valparaiso, were the respective second and third runner-ups. \nUschkrat was named the first Miss IU after a 37 year absence of the competition, granting her an automatic bid to compete in the Miss Indiana pageant.