Miss Kansas teaches Centre students self-defense
No! Go! Yell! Tell!
These were the key words Miss Kansas imprinted on students' minds during her presentation Friday at Centre Elementary School.
She is Jeanne Anne Schroeder of Hutchinson, and it is her goal as Miss Kansas to increase public awareness and encourage participation in quality self-defense classes.
She told the students about the time someone tried to break into her house while she was a student at Friends University. She found out the culprit was a neighbor and school acquaintance whom she trusted.
Since then, she has taken classes in Tai Kwon Do and martial arts, learning to defend herself, and teaching self-defense to others.
She showed the students simple things they could do to get away when approached by a stranger. Thus the slogan: No! Go! Yell! Tell!
She also stressed that drugs and alcohol are bad because they "make you less able to stay safe" and slow down reaction time.
"People on drugs and alcohol don't know how to make a good decision," she said.
She encouraged students and adults alike to be aware of their surroundings at all times and to avoid people about whom they feel uneasy whenever possible.
Schroeder competed for the honor of Miss Kansas five times, taking third place in 1997, fourth place in 1998, second place in 2000, and first runner-up in 200l. She was voted "most inspirational" by her peers in 1998.
She said she pursued the honor mainly for the scholarships it provides. During her five years in competition, she earned $21,000 in scholarships.
She participated in the Miss America pageant about a month ago but did not place in the top 15. Her talent was opera singing.
She has a bachelor's degree in vocal performance from Friends University, Wichita, and is pursuing her master's degree from the University of Kentucky. She plans to become a free-lance performer, a private flute/voice instructor, and a self-defense instructor.
