Katie Meadowcroft of Bel Air Named First-Ever “Miss Bel Air Independence Day”

From the Bel Air Independence Day Committee, Inc.:

Bel Air, Maryland: Katie Meadowcroft of Bel Air has been selected by the Bel Air Independence Day Committee, Inc., to be its first-ever “Miss Bel Air Independence Day.” As such, she will serve as hostess for one of the region’s largest 4th of July celebrations, taking place from dawn to night on Monday, July 4, 2011.

Miss Meadowcroft will give out prizes for the various competitions during the day, including the traditional frog and turtle events, appear at the Pancake Breakfast, lead the parade down Main Street Bel Air, and address the crowd from the reviewing stand.

“I’m really excited about doing this,” she said. “The Bel Air Independence Day celebrations, beginning with the Flag Raising and ending with the fabulous parade and then the fireworks, have always been one of my favorite ways to spend the whole day when I was growing up in Bel Air!

She added, “To be named the official hostess for the entire day of celebration is a wonderful way to thank the community and my friends for their support of this traditional patriotic event!”

Miss Meadowcroft will also compete for the title of Miss Maryland in June, a part of the Miss American Pageant process.

A 23-year-old resident of Bel Air, Miss Meadwocroft graduated from The John Carroll School in 2006, received a Bachelor of Science degree from Loyola University, graduating Cum Laude, and is currently finishing her Bachelor of Nursing degree from Johns Hopkins University, where she has maintained a 3.93 GPA. She has been named to several honor societies, and also works at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center.

Miss Meadowcroft began competing in pageants during her teen years, winning several local and state titles. Most recently she was Miss Preakness and Miss Maryland International. She is looking forward to the opportunity of again competing for the title of Miss Maryland.

In addition to her work with the Bel Air Independence Day Committee, Miss Meadowcroft will spend her year supporting and raising funds for the Children’s Miracle Network, the national platform of the Miss America Organization. Her personal platform is “Bridging the Urban Gap – Building Bright Futures.” It is her ultimate goal to develop policies and programs aimed at improving the quality of children’s health care and health outcomes ensuring that all children, no matter what their socioeconomic status, have the opportunity to create and maintain healthy bodies and healthy minds.

Bel Air Independence Day President Donald W. Stewart said, “We are so thrilled to have our first-ever official hostess, and we thank the Miss Maryland Scholarship Fun and Pageant coordinators for approaching us with this idea. Katie is a phenomenally accomplished and promising young member of our community, and we are proud to be able to support her!”

For more information on joining the Bel Air July 4 Parade, please visit belairjuly4.org, call 410-879-4245, or find the Bel Air Independence Day Committee on Facebook or on Twitter @belairjuly4.