Ohio Northern University’s Freed Center for the Performing Arts will be the site of a Miss Ohio 2012 sendoff celebration in honor of Elissa McCracken, ONU student and current Miss Ohio, on Sunday, Dec. 9, at 4 p.m.

The celebration will feature a performance from McCracken, who also will preview several select items from her Miss America apparel. In addition, seven other pageant contestants are scheduled to perform, including Ohio Northern students Layne Schneider, Miss Crystal Lake and a senior communication arts major from Dayton, Ohio, and Kelsey Barrett, Miss West Central Ohio and a freshman theatre arts major from Wapakoneta, Ohio.

Also expected to perform are Miss Miami Valley Cayla Halwarth and the top four runners-up in the Miss Ohio pageant: fourth runner-up Mahogany Fleming, third runner-up Kristen Free, second runner-up Anjelica Francisco, and first runner-up Alissa Brumbaugh.

On June 23, McCracken was chosen Miss Ohio 2012 at the Renaissance Theater in Mansfield, Ohio. The competition featured 25 contestants from around the state. As Miss Ohio, McCracken received a $10,000 scholarship sponsored by Newman Technology. For the talent portion of competition, McCracken performed a piano arrangement to “Cumana.” McCracken will represent the state of Ohio at the Miss America Pageant on Jan. 12, 2013, in Las Vegas. McCracken is a fourth-year pharmacy student at Ohio Northern. 



The Miss Ohio Scholarship Program is an official Miss America State competition. The Miss America Organization is one of the nation’s leading achievement programs and the world’s largest provider of scholarship assistance for young women. Last year, the Miss America Organization and its state and local organizations made available more than $45 million in cash and scholarship assistance.

Tickets for the event are $20 for general admission and $5 for students. Also available are special VIP tickets for $100 that include a private reception with McCracken at 2:30 p.m. All proceeds benefit the Children’s Miracle Network.

The Freed Center box office is open Monday through Friday from noon to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Phone orders are accepted with American Express, MasterCard, VISA or Discover by calling 419-772-1900. Tickets also are available online at www.freedcenter.com