From staff reports

ALTUS -- Elizabeth Kinney, Miss Oklahoma 2004, is in town this week visiting schools and civic groups.

On Wednesday she spoke to students at Will Rogers Elementary. Today she will be at Sunset and Washington schools, and Friday she will speak to students in Blair.

She encourages students to pursue their talents and activities they enjoy in life.

The reigning state queen will be in attendance during the 2005 Miss Altus Pageant to be held at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Altus City Auditorium.

Elizabeth Kinney is a graduate of Oklahoma State University with a bachelor of science degree in agricultural communications and a minor in agricultural economics. While at OSU, Kinney was a member of Student Alumni Board and President's Posse, serving as an official spokesperson for President David Schmidley and as an alumni liaison and university recruiter. Kinney graduated summa cum laude.

During college, Kinney was an active member of Chi Omega sorority, serving on the executive team as new member trainer in 2002. She was active with the School of Journalism and Broadcasting, winning three Oklahoma Broadcast Education Association awards. Kinney interned with KWTV News 9 in Oklahoma City, working as an associate producer and reporting intern. She started her broadcast work at SUNUP, an agricultural news program on Oklahoma's public television affiliate, where she was a producer, reporter, and substitute anchor. Kinney also interned with the Ladies Professional Golf Association in Daytona Beach, Florida and worked as a National Leadership Conference trainer for the National FFA Organization, speaking to students in five states.

In 2000, Kinney graduated from Mooreland High School in Northwest Oklahoma with 26 students in her graduating class. She began studying tap, jazz and ballet at 3 years old and performed regularly with Oklahoma Kids.

In high school she was active in cheerleading, 4-H, FCCLA, National Honor Society, and FFA. Kinney served as the state FFA reporter in 2000-01 and represented Oklahoma at the National FFA Extemporaneous public speaking finals.

Through FFA, Kinney developed a passion for public speaking that spurred her interest in pageants. This was her fourth attempt to become Miss Oklahoma. Kinney first entered the program in 2000 as Miss Collinsville, placing fourth runner-up. In 2003, as Miss Northwest Passage, she was named a top 10 finalist and preliminary interview winner. In 2004, Kinney won the title, competing at Miss Oklahoma State Fair, and took home preliminary swimsuit and talent awards. During the Miss America Pageant in September, Kinney was a finalist for the Quality of Life Award and placed as a top 10 finalist to Miss America 2005.

Kinney is the 22-year-old daughter of John and Melinda Kinney. She has one sister, Jennica, who is 17.