Meet Nicole Pollard, Miss Indiana 2009

Local Title: Miss Duneland  Hometown: Lafayette, Indiana

Education: Indiana University Jacobs School of Music—Graduate with Distinction— Bachelor of Music Education Lafayette Jefferson High School—Academic Honors Diploma

Platform Issue: The Awareness and Prevention of Eating Disorders

Scholastic/Career Ambition: Obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education/high school choral educator

Talent: Broadway Vocal – “And This Is My Beloved” from Kismet

Scholastic Honors: Wells Scholar Nominee; Indiana University Dean’s List—10 consecutive semesters; National Society of Collegiate Scholars; Honors College Scholarship recipient; Jacobs School of Music Dean’s and Faculty’s Talent Scholarship; Pi Lambda Theta education Honor Society; and National Youth Leadership Forum on Law participant.

Leadership Roles: Consultant for Indiana University’s Body Image Campaign; Indiana spokesperson for the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD); Founding member of the Indiana Eating Disorder Coalition; Drafted legislation for the Indiana General Assembly advocating for a statewide eating disorders education and public awareness campaign; Leadershape IU participant; and Singing Hoosiers Student Manager, Ladies’ Costume Advisor and Varsity Singers Member.

Accomplishments: Recipient of the 2008 Presidential Service Award; Recipient of an Indiana House of Representatives Resolution; First student to be invited to a Professional Onsite at Remuda Ranch; Featured Speaker concerning the Miss America Organization in Trikala, Greece; Indiana Junior Miss (2004); Cross Country 4-year Varsity Letter Winner; Spoken to more than 1500 children and adults throughout the state of Indiana concerning ANAD.

Interesting Facts: Master of overcoming disaster during student teaching; Hidden talent of performing “tongue tricks;” Named “New Face of IU”; Found 40 Mongolian dancers and got free burritos in only 30 minutes for an event celebrating the Dalai Lama; Traveled to Greece in May 2007 as a singing and speaking ambassador for IU and the Miss Indiana Organization; Had the opportunity to “fly” in The Wizard of Oz.

Employment: Student Teacher—Carmel High School; Student Manager—Indiana University Auditorium; Intern—Tippecanoe County Clerk’s Office; Pianist/Vocalist—Self-Employed.