GRACE STANKE is CROWNED Miss America 2023!!!

Grace Stanke Wins the Life Changing Title of Miss America 2023, A Six Figure Salary and $50,000 in Scholarships

The Future Nuclear Engineer Wins Miss America 2023 Crown & Sash, Bringing Home to Wausau, for Wisconsin State

MISS WISCONSIN CROWNED MISS AMERICA 2023

Grace Stanke is Third Miss Wisconsin after Miss Americas, Terry Meeuwsen Miss America 1973 and Laura Kaeppeler Miss America 2012 who brought national crown to home state

Image: Miss America 2023, Grace Stanke with her full court Taryn Smith, Averie Bishop, Elizabeth Lynch and Kelsey Hollis

Grace Stanke as Miss Wisconsin emerged WINNER of the Talent Award $2500 scholarship provided by Kawai Pianos in Preliminary Night 2 on Tue, Dec 13th, 2022

“Being crowned Miss America 2023 is impossible to put into words – it is a dream come true and has literally changed my life in an instant,” said Grace Stanke, Miss America 2023. “I am so grateful for the opportunity to compete alongside so many inspiring, brilliant, talented women. I hope to live up to the impeccable legacy of Miss America, serving as a positive role model for women of all ages and my community. It’s been an honor to represent the great state of Wisconsin and I look forward to the opportunity to change the world through my social impact initiative Clean Energy, Cleaner Future on the national stage.”

Thu, Dec 15, 2022: Reigning Queen 94TH Miss America 2022, Emma Broyles has just crowned her successor, the winner against 50 contestants GRACE STANKE Miss America 2023 at The Grand Coronation Ceremony at the end of Grand Finale in Earth Expo & Convention Center Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, Montville, CT today on Thu, Dec 15, 2022 commencing LIVE at ROKU & PageantsLIVE.com from 8PM PST / 11 PM ET.

Following three action-packed nights showcasing talent, interview skills and social impact achievements, one outstanding woman was left speechless to a standing ovation as the newly crowned Miss America 2023 by The Miss America Organization, the nation’s oldest women’s competition and leading provider of scholarships for women in the United States. Grace Stanke, representing her home state as Miss Wisconsin, was awarded a $50,000 cash scholarship, the iconic Austrian Crystal emblazoned crown and the life changing title of Miss America 2023. Emceed by Laura Rutledge, former Miss Florida 2012 and on-air talent on ESPN and SEC Network, the final round of competition was held in front of a packed house on Thursday night at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn. and live streamed exclusively on www.PageantsLive.com. This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the first Miss Wisconsin, Terry Meeuwsen, to win Miss America.

Fans are cheering Hurraaaa "Miss Wisconsin is the NEW MISS AMERICA!!!! So proud of you Grace Stanke!!!!!!" Grace calls herself "nuclear nerd who loves to ski & travel." She is Nuclear Fuels Co-Op at Exelon Corporation, the nation's leading competitive energy provider. She is Undergraduate Research Assistant at HSX Stellarator.

Each year, The Miss America Organization awards more than $5 million dollars in cash scholarships and millions more in-kind through its national, state, and local programs. Stanke, 20, will also earn a six-figure salary, benefits and will travel approximately 20,000 miles a month during her reign as a representative of the Miss America Organization. The primary function of Miss America is to earn the position as a role model and advocate for young women while sharing her passion, life story, and the more than 100-year legacy of the Miss America Organization.

Jennifer Marie Schmidt Miss Wisconsin 2021 crowned Grace Stanke Miss Wisconsin 2022 at Alberta Kimball Auditorium Oshkosh Located in Oshkosh West High School on Sat, June 18, 2022!!! She was Miss Wisconsin's Outstanding Teen 2017 too.

She is Student at University of Wisconsin-Madison in Class of 2023, Studying Nuclear Engineering. Grace did schooling at Wausau West High School and lives in and Native of Wausau, Wisconsin. As per her social media profile she is in a relationship with with her boyfriend Ridge Vanderhei.

Stanke, who earned a cumulative total $68,900 in scholarship assistance through her state and Miss America competitions, will use her national platform to continue advocating for Clean Energy, Cleaner Future. She believes that America needs to convert to zero-carbon energy sources and her social impact focuses on breaking down misconceptions surrounding nuclear power. Stanke is in her senior year at University of Wisconsin – Madison studying nuclear engineering. For the talent portion of the competition, Stanke won the talent scholarship during night two of the preliminary competition for classical violin performance.

GRACE STANKE Miss America 2023 is full-time, paid contractual employee of Miss America Organization who will perform her duties by positively advancing the goals and objectives of MAO as well as her own Social Impact Initiative.

“It has been an honor and privilege to serve as Miss America this past year,” said Emma Broyles, Miss America 2022. “Not long ago, I was in the same shoes as these 51 incredible, young women and can attest to the hard work and tireless hours they have invested, not just this week, but all year,” she said.  “I wish the best to this year’s candidates, and especially to Grace Stanke, as she has clearly proven to be a strong, intelligent role model who represents the best of what young women aspire to be. I look forward to seeing all she accomplishes throughout her reign and beyond.”

“On behalf of the Miss America Organization, we congratulate our newly crowned Miss America 2023, Grace Stanke” said Shantel Krebs, Miss America Organization Board Chair. “Since 1921, The Miss America Organization has been leading by example as one of the most recognizable names empowering young women through education, professional development, advocacy and community service. The role of Miss America is not of vanity, but rather community impact and contribution to the crown. Grace has strongly demonstrated her abilities and there is no doubt in our mind she – and all of this year’s class of candidates – are destined for greatness.”
 
Earlier in the competition week, the Miss America Organization also awarded scholarships to two Preliminary Talent Winners and two Social Impact Pitch Winners during its preliminary competitions on Monday, December 12 and Tuesday, December 13. The organization also announced the Non-Finalist Talent Winners, Non-Finalist Social Impact Pitch Award and Miss Congeniality Scholarship and unveiled the 2022 Scholarship Award winners for Women in Business, STEM, Social Impact Initiative, Equity and Justice, Military Awareness, Allman Medical and Forever Miss America as part of the 2023 Miss America competition. The finalists were interviewed on Wednesday, Dec. 14.  Over $500,000 in scholarship assistance was awarded to the 51 candidates this week, a historic high.

GRACE STANKE is 95TH America 2023 who will reign and perform official duties travelling across United States, now let's have the look at her Miss America Journey:.

The Newly Crowned GRACE STANKE Miss America 2023 has passed through tough competition including following Day-wise Activities, Rehearsals and Competitions:
Day 5 - The Grand Finale & Coronation Day:
Day 4 - The Special Scholarship Award Day:
Day 3 - The Preliminary Night 2 Competition:
Day 2 - The Preliminary Night 1 Competition:
Day 0 – Departure from Home & Arrival at Mohegan Sun Uncasville, Montville:

GRACE STANKE Miss WI 2022 Representing Her YY State As Miss America 2023 Contestants Activities:
Send-off Party
Fundraiser
As stated by The Miss America Organization Inc., GRACE STANKE Miss America 2023 as “full-time, paid contractual employee of MAO, The job which an exciting, fun, challenging Year of Service requiring energy, positivity, professionalism and courtesy while engaging in extensive travel, often logging 20,000 miles a month and at times changing locations every 8-24 hours, throughout the United States and, at times, to other countries.”
Miss America 2023, GRACE STANKE has to work with the MAO staff that schedules and provides logistical, support and guidance, she uses her term to promote and market the program to her peers and the next generation of young women.

Official BIO

Grace Stanke
Miss Wisconsin 2022
School: University of Wisconsin – Madison

College Major: Nuclear Engineering

Scholarship Winnings: $16,400

Scholastic Honors: Dean’s Honor List Recipient;
Dean’s Engineering Undergraduate Scholarship; Graduated from high school at age 17 with the equivalent of an Associate’s Degree through dual enrollment courses at local college

Career Ambition: To produce efficient, clean, zero-carbon energy for America through nuclear energy in a core design position.

Talent: Violin

Social Impact Initiative: America needs to convert to zero-carbon energy sources, and I’m helping to make that happen by breaking down misconceptions surrounding our most powerful source of zero-carbon energy: nuclear power. I advocate for nuclear power & improved communication about nuclear science with both the general public and nuclear engineers to bridge the gap of the unknown between the two groups of people.

What is the best advice you’ve ever received? “Impunctuality breeds disorganization” is a phrase I grew up with, thanks to my dad. In Wisconsin, we’ve always believed in what is called “Lombardi time,” which is if you are ten minutes early, you are on time. If not, you are late. My dad reinforced this with his bumper sticker phrase, and it lives with me to this day as I believe that being on time is the one of the best ways to show respect!