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The next contestant featured in our series, “The Road to Miss America,” is Miss Utah, Lauren Wilson.

Age: 21

Hometown: Pleasant Grove, Utah

Platform Issue: With Help Comes Hope: Suicide Awareness and Prevention

Talent: Dance

Education: Utah Valley University

Scholastic Ambition: Obtain my Doctorate in Psychology

Scholastic Honors: UVU Dean’s List 2013-2016, Recipient of New Century Scholarship, Recipient of Academic Scholarship in Humanities, Sterling Scholar in Dance, Graduated with Silver Cords

What I’ve learned from the Miss America Program: The importance and value of serving other people all the time, not just when you think people are watching you.

My Defining Moment: Traveling to Burkina Faso, Africa to build wells for the residents there. I earned this trip by collecting the most shoes in a shoe drive leading up to my state pageant.

Losing a best friend is hard.  Losing a best friend to suicide is unimaginable. I experienced this three years ago and have worked tirelessly ever since to help my community and my state work towards our goal of zero suicides. I’ve dedicated my education earning my Bachelor’s Degree in psychology with plans to obtain my Master’s Degree in the same field. Being a local title holder three different times and now a state title holder has given me the opportunity to share my passion for suicide prevention and interact with people that I would’ve never had the chance to meet.