About the Organization
The Miss Cardinal Scholarship Organization, Inc. is a registered 501(c)3 and an official preliminary competition to the Miss Indiana and Miss America pageants. We are excited to work with a Miss and Teen titleholder each year, both of whom have the opportunity to compete for the titles of Miss Indiana and Miss Indiana's Teen. Winning a Miss Cardinal title could just be a ticket onto the Miss America or Miss America's Teen stage!
The Miss America Opportunity (MAO) is the leading scholarship provider for women in the world. Last year, MAO and its state and local organizations like the Miss Cardinal Scholarship Program made available over $45 million in cash and scholarship assistance. Indiana has had much success on the Miss America stage in recent years, from Non-Finalist Talent wins and Top 15 finishes, to Miss Indiana 2008, Katie Stam, being crowned Indiana’s first ever Miss America in 2009.
Meet the Directors
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Paige Clinkenbeard
Paige first became involved in the Miss America Organization when she competed in her first local, Miss Purdue University 2008. There, she placed 1st Runner-Up, and became hooked on the system! During the 2009 season, she was honored to win the title of Miss Hoosier Valley (Fun fact: Paige was the FIRST Miss Hoosier Valley!). She competed at Miss Indiana in June of that year, and was named a Preliminary Swimsuit winner, the People’s Choice Award winner, and finished in the Top 10.
Because she already had plans to marry the following year and therefore couldn't compete again herself, Paige began volunteering in August of 2009 in order to stay involved with the organization. She is a previous member of the Sweeps Team as the Miss Heart of Indiana Director, and she is excited to now serve as a Miss Cardinal Director. Paige's background includes vocal performance, dance, and theater.
Paige graduated in 2010 with a BA in English Education, and also holds an MS in Curriculum and Instruction, both from Purdue University. She is continuing her studies at Ball State University to earn a 2nd Master's degree in Educational Administration and Supervision while teaching 6th grade English full time at East Tipp Middle School in Lafayette, IN. In addition, she is a proud and active volunteer as an alumna of Phi Mu Fraternity. You can usually find her spending time with her husband and former Miss Indiana Local Director, Nick, and their two boys, Jackson and Nolan--typically on the baseball field!
Lee Ann Happ
Lee Ann began volunteering with the Miss America Organization in 1985 when she joined the inaugural Board of Directors of the newly formed Miss West Central Scholarship Pageant. She served as Special Events Director on the West Central Board from 1985 to 1989.
In 1989, then president of the Miss Indiana Scholarship Board, Don Morrison, asked Lee Ann if she would be willing to take control of the Miss Purdue Scholarship Program. She accepted & served as the director from 1989-2004.
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Lee Ann became a member of the Sweeps Team in 2006 when she was asked to take over as director of the Miss Wabash Valley title by her dear friends, Lyn Rodgers and Kelly Kober, former directors of the Sweeps Pageant. She continued as the Miss Wabash Valley director when Paige joined the team in 2010.
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In June 2022, Lee Ann left the Sweeps Team with Paige to co-direct the Miss Cardinal program, and couldn't be more thrilled to start a new chapter of her service to the Miss America Organization.
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At the Miss Indiana 2022 competition, Lee Ann was recognized as the recipient of the Academy of Honor award for all her years of service to the Miss Indiana Organization.
Lee Ann has also been a Miss America preliminary judge since 1989, and she has judged numerous other competitions - such as America's Junior Miss, Indiana State Festival Queen, and various county fair queen pageants.
Braxton Hiser
Bio to come!
