Miss WCU to educate public about homelessness

Allison Short was crowned as Miss WCU last week. In the competition, she chose homelessness as her platform.

WEST CHESTER >> Allison Short, who is all too familiar with homelessness, was crowned as Miss WCU last week. In the competition, she chose homelessness as her platform.

Short, 23, is a member of West Chester University’s Promise Program.

Experiencing homelessness and other obstacles throughout her life, Short was able to attend college thanks to the Promise Program initiative and will spend her year of service committed to educating and advocating for homeless youth by sharing her story.

Short, a social work major, said her goal is to educate people about homelessness. She is one of about 70 WCU students who are homeless or formerly on foster care. Short became homeless at age 18 and has lived in shelters.

This year, WCU had its first-ever contestant on the Autism spectrum—Emma Billingsley—who placed 1st runner up.

The Miss West Chester University Scholarship Organization was founded at WCU in 1998 as a residence hall event but over the past 22 years has evolved into one-of-akind pageant that creates an opportunity for emerging female leaders on campus to showcase their leadership and academic achievements by providing scholarships and a platform to further community service initiatives. The organization has provided close to $60,000 in scholarships to nearly 500 women that have gone on to become doctors, professors, lawyers and more. The last three Miss WCU’s have even been honored on the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives for their dedication to community service in and around West Chester.

BERGER PHOTOGRAPHY—MEDIANEWS GROUP The top five: Michaela Karalesses, Emma Billingsley, Miss WCU 2020Allison Short, Kayleigh Deisley and Noni Diarra.

Miss WCU contestants Allison Short, Noni Diarra, Emma Billingsley, Michaela Karalesses, and Kayleigh Deisley.