3:02 p.m., July 14, 2009----University of Delaware student Heather Lehman has been crowned Miss Delaware 2009 and will go on to compete for the title of Miss America in the pageant to be held Saturday, Jan. 30, 2010, in Las Vegas.

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Lehman, a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences, is studying political science with a concentration in American politics and minoring in theatre. She said she hopes to pursue a master's degree and eventually become a lobbyist.

When speaking about the University of Delaware, Lehman says that she enjoys many aspects of the University. “The campus at the University of Delaware and the overall environment is beautiful. It has a great atmosphere for learning, but it also has a great sense of spirit that we show every weekend there's a football game in the fall,” Lehman, who is from Magnolia, Del., said.

Of her favorite professors and courses at the University, Lehman cited her academic adviser, James Magee, professor of political science and international relations, and Wayne Batchis, assistant professor in the department, for his Constitutional law course. “They taught some of the best courses I have taken at the University,” she said, adding, “I also took a Fundamentals of Jazz Dance course over the winter that was a ton of fun and a great learning experience at the same time.”

Lehman competed in the Miss Delaware competition, which is a preliminary to the Miss America pageant, as Miss Diamond State and while her favorite category is talent, what she likes most about the pageant is “the incredible skills I have learned throughout the years that have and will help me reach my goals in life. Public speaking, interview skills, a healthy lifestyle, and self confidence are all examples of what I have taken away from this experience.”

Starting as a freshman in high school to raise scholarship money for college after seeing an advertisement in a newspaper about a scholarship pageant, Lehman has come a long way in her pageant career and now looks forward to performing all of the duties that come along with being Miss Delaware.

“As Miss Delaware I have several duties. I will be going throughout the state to promote my platform CharacterCounts!, Right Decisions Right Now, and the national platform for the Children's Miracle Network,” she said. “I will also be serving my community and getting involved in activities to promote the organization as well as be a role model for people to observe an example of good character and behavior.”

Perhaps most exciting about being crowned Miss Delaware, however, is the chance to compete in the Miss America pageant.

“It still feels like a dream that I am even going to participate in the Miss America pageant. I am completely excited and I know this will be a once in a life time chance so I plan to make the most out of it,” Lehman said.

As Miss Delaware, Lehman succeeds another UD student, Galen Giaccone, also of the College of Arts and Sciences, who won the preliminary talent award at the 2009 Miss America pageant.

Article by Adam Thomas