TERRE HAUTE, IND. — When the name for Miss Indiana 2002 was read Saturday night it was a choice between two Purdue roommates.
Tangra Riggle, a senior in the School of Liberal Arts and Miss North Central Indiana, was named the 62nd Miss Indiana. Her roommate from Purdue, Micah Howard, a sophomore in the School of Liberal Arts and Miss Harvest Homecoming, was named runner up at the Hulman Center on the Indiana State University campus.
"Micah has been my roommate for the past year," said Riggle. "Her and I both perform together in Purdue Musical Organization, but we were so excited, every night we both stepped up and got an award."
Riggle and Howard swept the two nights of preliminary competition on Thursday and Friday. Both received the artistic expression in talent awards and the lifestyle and fitness in swimsuit awards. Riggle also received a preliminary award for her interview.
Both Riggle and Howard sang for the talent portion of the competition, with Riggle singing "God Bless America" and Howard performing "Cry Me a River."
Howard and Riggle lived together in an apartment the past year and Howard said the living relationship between Riggle was different than in the competition, but she was proud of her.
"She brings so many things to her platform and to her entertainment quality," said Howard. "She is going to be fantastic."
Both Howard and Riggle agreed that it was nice to have someone they knew around.
Howard said it was great because she could ask Riggle questions.
"She had done this once before so she knew what was happening so if I had questions I could ask her," said Howard. "She is really, really helpful and supportive, we had a good time. I had never done a Miss America system pageant before. She gave me a lot of advice and we talked about it before and it was kind of a coincidence that we ended up here together."
Riggle, the oldest of 11 children, said being a member of a large family had a lot to do with how she got to the position she is in now.
"Being the eldest of so many siblings has taught me what I need to know to carry on this title and had taught me what I need to know to be a role model, what it means to be leader," said Riggle. "I am so blessed to have them to support me, and they have taught me a lot and I owe everything really to my family."
Barbara Ellen, Miss Indiana 1977 and a judge for Saturday night's pageant, said being Miss Indiana will change a contestant's destiny and life forever.
"With every step you take in life it creates your destiny further and further," said Ellen. "It is a great stepping stone for women that want to continue on in their careers. It is a wonderful opportunity also if you have a strong passion for philanthropic work."
Ellen said she took the job of being a judge very seriously and it was tougher than being a contestant.
"My empathy level was so powerful and when they came on stage I brought tears to my eyes and I never had tears in my eyes I think even when I won," said Ellen. "But when I saw the women out there and their hopes and their dreams and all the hard work they had done — you would like to vote for everybody. It is really difficult to narrow it down."
But despite how hard it was for the judges to pick a winner, it was Riggle that was chosen to represent the state of Indiana in Atlantic City, N.J., for the Miss America Pageant on Sept. 21.
Riggle said being Miss Indiana is an incredible honor and a privilege. She said she couldn't wait to see what her year-long reign would bring.
"To be given the voice as Miss Indiana is what I got into this program for," said Riggle. "That is what this program is about and I am going to use that voice to the fullest of it's potential. I had said before if I was given that baton I was going to run with it. I can't wait to make a difference in Indiana."
But with her new title, Riggle said she might have to take some time off from school.
"They (Miss Indiana Pageant) have a contract with the department of education to visit hundreds of schools throughout the year and I can't do both," said Riggle. "So I am going to have to go see my counselor as soon as I get back."
Six Purdue students were involved in the competition which was the most of any other university. Marcy Astrup, Miss Purdue University and a 2002 graduate in business management; Aleah Voelker, Miss Elkhart County and a junior in the School of Liberal Arts; Stacy Scheibelhut, Miss Northeast Indiana and a sophomore in the School of Liberal Arts and Krista Kober, Miss Mideast Indiana and a senior in the School of Nursing were the other Purdue participants with Riggle and Howard.
Krista Kober was one of the 10 finalists, but did not make into the final five with Riggle and Howard. She said she was proud of how well represented Purdue was.
"It is just a great feeling to know that we represented our University so well and actually took home the crown," said Kober.
Howard said the representation from Purdue showed how great the Boilermakers are and is a testament to what Purdue is.