After reaching top 10 status in 2013 and the top five in 2014, Alicia Cooper became the fourth Clark County resident in 67 years to win the title of Miss Washington. Cooper rose above 20 other contestants from around the state to claim her crown. The 2012 Skyview High School graduate and 2016 Miss Clark County tapped to “Let’s Get Loud” for her talent. Her platform was “Live on Purpose: Defining Your Legacy.”
Cooper went on to compete in the Miss America pageant in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in September 2016. She was named the third runner-up.
At Skyview, Cooper took Advanced Placement classes, led the school’s advanced marketing program and earned numerous awards including the 2011 George C. Marshall Citizenship Award. After graduation, she earned an associate degree from Clark College. Currently she is a senior at Washington State University Vancouver, where she is working toward a bachelor’s degree in social science, specializing in personnel psychology and human resources. A licensed real estate broker, Cooper also is a member of the WSUV HR society and mentor to teens, among many other activities.
The Miss America Organization’s scholarship assistance drove Cooper’s participation in the competition. As the third runner-up in the Miss America competition, she received a $15,000 scholarship, in addition to the $11,000 scholarship she earned as Miss Washington and her winnings at the local level.
Said Cooper in her resume, “From the age of 17, I made the decision to fund my collegiate career on my own. The Miss America Organization provided incredible scholarship opportunities to help bring my goal to fruition.
“Aside from the scholarship opportunities, I am extremely grateful for the skills that this program has taught me. I have become more passionate in my volunteerism. I am a more confident public speaker and now have the skills to land my dream job.”
(Photo courtesy of the Miss Washington Scholarship Organization)