There’s more to Kalies than meets the eye
Posted on Wednesday, September 3, 2008
She won the first three beauty pageants she entered; now she's headed to college on academic and athletic scholarships to major in biochemistry.
Ashlyn Kalies - Miss Pea Ridge 2007, Miss Oktoberfest 2007 and Miss Arkansas High 2008 - is a new member of the cheerleading squad at the University of Tulsa.
The daughter of Marina Herzbert of Pea Ridge and Kevin Kalies of Shawnee, Okla., Kalies graduated this spring from Pea Ridge High School and was offered a scholarship as a member of the all-girl squad at Tulsa. Kalies is the granddaughter of Ruth Ward of Pea Ridge.
"I've just been in three pageants. Miss Pea Ridge was my first. I'm new to it," she said. "I entered Miss Pea Ridge because of pride for Pea Ridge. I wanted to be involved in my community. I entered the latest one for the scholarship."
Kalies said she did not expect to win the pageant held in Benton, but only hoped to gain experience. She was pleasantly surprised when she won the cash prize and a valuable wardrobe.
"I had no idea it was so large. It is a preliminary for Miss Arkansas," for which she is now qualified, although she said she won't enter this year because of the demands of school: "I am majoring in biochemistry and think I will be a little busy. I will still be eligible next year."
She was offered a scholarship to Hendrix, but Tulsa was able to match the offer. The possibility to enter a program working with a professor researching cancer-causing agents also drew her to Tulsa.
Planning to enter pre-med with an emphasis in neurology, Kalies hopes to eventually attend the University of Arkansas.
"I want to work with Alzheimer's disease. I've really just taken a passion for it. I don't know anyone with it, but it's such a sad disease," she said, adding that she's read that scientists are on the brink of discovering a cure.
"I think it's close; I would love to work with those patients. This past summer I worked trying to get experience with the medical field," Kalies said, telling of her work at the Sunshine School where she worked with severely handicapped children.
"My mother is a nurse and when I was little, I adamantly resisted the medical field," Kalies remembered.
A teacher, Mr. David Wentz, made a difference in her life.
"It was definitely Mr. Wentz getting me into chemistry. I can't wait to go further with bio-chem studies. I like personal relations; I don't want to be secluded in a lab all day," she said.
"I believe in pageants not necessarily being about a pretty face on a stage. All women can benefit by learning poise and respect for self," Kalies said, explaining that the interview portion of a pageant is essential, both in the judging and in life preparation.
"The interview part will prepare you for job interviews, college meetings, scholarships interviews," she said. "There are always interviews. Sometimes they ask about politics, the world, you, your beliefs, where you come from, why you believe what you do... it's a challenge to know what you stand for and to be focused to have a goal in sight and learn and to take steps to achieve what you want."
"A lot of times, when I'm talking to someone, they'll tell me they thought I was a stuckup snob, but now, they realize there's a lot more behind me. That's a compliment and a challenge. It makes me realize that you don't judge. You give everyone a fair chance: "You can't judge a book by it's cover."
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