Charlotte Fraser is crowned Miss Apple Blossom Festival 2011.

Charlotte Fraser ’12 won the local title of Miss Apple Blossom Festival 2011 qualifying her for the Miss Virginia Pageant in June

Roanoke College junior Charlotte Fraser was crowned “Miss Apple Blossom Festival 2011” last fall. Fraser, from Charlottesville, will host The Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival in April and compete for the title of Miss Virginia at the Roanoke Civic Center June 23-25.

At the pageant, Fraser’s platform will be hazing prevention and awareness. She was recently awarded the Robert Bickel Scholarship to the 2011 Novak Institute for Hazing Prevention. The scholarship, named in honor of Institute namesake Kimberly Novak’s mentor, Robert Bickel, a professor at the Stetson College of Law, covers registration and housing for an undergraduate or graduate student at the Institute.

“I believe that Charlotte has the dedication, passion and desire to encourage positive dialogue regarding this important issue,” said Roanoke College Greek Life Coordinator, Lindsay Faulstick. Fraser plans to use her title in the Miss America Organization to speak to groups of all ages and demographics about hazing prevention.

Fraser has competed in pageants with the dream of making it to the Miss Virginia pageant since her sophomore year at Albemarle High School in Charlottesville. In order to qualify for Miss Virginia, Fraser first had to win a local title. “I entered 11 local pageants before winning Miss Apple Blossom,” Fraser said. “After being named first runner-up four times, finally winning was surreal.” Her hard work and perseverance landed her a $3,000 academic scholarship funded by The Miss America Organization, the world’s largest source of scholarship assistance for young woman.

Submitted by Roanoke College.

Read on for more information about the Miss Virginia Pageant.

The winner of the Miss Virginia pageant is selected based on the categories of artistic expression, presentation and community achievement, presence and poise, and lifestyle and fitness. Judges look for accomplished individuals who are active in their communities and serve as role models to young women everywhere. Fraser has worked hard to better both herself and the community by volunteering with United Way and staying involved on campus. Motivated by the lack of female representation in the math and science fields, Fraser co-founded Females Excelling More in Math and Science (FEMMES) at Roanoke College. As co-president of FEMMES, vice president of Phi Mu and member of the mathematics honors society, Pi Mu Epsilon, Fraser has proven to be an outstanding leader.

The Miss America Organization is especially close to Fraser’s heart due to its association with Children’s Miracle Network (CMN), a non-profit organization dedicated to helping children in community hospitals. Fraser served as philanthropy chair of Phi Mu at Roanoke College, helping to raise over $5,000 for CMN in 2010.  Individually, Fraser went above and beyond the $250 required of Miss Apple Blossom contestants and raised $1,000 for local CMN hospitals. She has set a goal of raising $2,000 before the upcoming Miss Virginia Pageant.

“The leadership opportunities I’ve had at Roanoke have helped me gain the skills and confidence necessary to succeed in pageants,” said Fraser, “I’m grateful to have such supportive peers and faculty advisors.”

The Miss Virginia Pageant will be held June 23-25 at the Roanoke Civic Center.

For additional information, call the Roanoke College Public Relations Office at (540) 375-2282.