Miss South Carolina's Outstanding Teen, Taylor Hanna Fitch
Wins Miss America's Outstanding Teen Competition

Orlando, FL - August 16, 2008 - Miss South Carolina's Outstanding Teen, Taylor Fitch walked the runway as the fourth Miss America's Outstanding Teen on Saturday night in the Linda Chapin Theater at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL. This historic crowning moment marked her first steps on a journey that will take her across the country promoting scholastic achievement, creative accomplishment, community involvement and healthy living for our nation's youth.

She will support the National Platform of the Miss America Organization, the Children's Miracle Network. In addition, she will also continue to work on her own personal platform "Overcoming Challenges: Heart, Mind and Hands."

The Five Finalists are as follows:

Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2009
Miss South Carolina's Outstanding Teen
Taylor Fitch

First Runner Up
Miss Pennsylvania's Outstanding Teen
Julia Rae Schlucter

Second Runner Up
Miss Arkansas' Outstanding Teen
Sloane Roberts

Third Runner Up
Miss Maryland's Outstanding Teen
Joanna Guy

Fourth Runner Up
Miss Missouri's Outstanding Teen
Sydnee Stottlemyre

The Top Ten Contestants are:
Miss California's Outstanding Teen, Crystal Lee
Miss Pennsylvania's Outstanding Teen, Julia Rae Schlucter *
Miss Arkansas' Outstanding Teen, Sloane Roberts *
Miss Missouri's Outstanding Teen, Sydnee Stottlemyre *
Miss South Carolina's Outstanding Teen, Taylor Hanna Fitch *
Miss District of Columbia's Outstanding Teen, Jasmine Alexis
Miss Texas' Outstanding Teen, Sydney Capello
Miss Oklahoma's Outstanding Teen, Alicia Clifton
Miss Maryland's Outstanding Teen, Joanna Guy *
Miss Virginia's Outstanding Teen, Lexie Overholt

* Denotes top 5 finish

Additional Awards:

Non-finalist Talent: Haley Ates, Alabama ($500)

Non-finalist Evening Wear: Ariana Walker, North Dakota ($500)

Non-finalist Interview: Ariana Walker, North Dakota ($500)

Scholastic Excellence: Taylor Fitch, South Carolina ($1,000)

Academic Life: Joanna Guy, Maryland ($1,000)

B Don Magnus Spirit of America Award: Julia Rae Schlucter, Pennsylvania ($1,000)

Community Service: Bethany Lojewski, West Virginia

Ad Sales: Kelsey Hartley, Arizona ($1000 scholarship and $250 cash); Madison Foster, Tennessee ($2000 scholarship and $500); Carrie Wintle ($3000 scholarship and $1000 cash)

Troy University full four-year scholarship: Maine, California, Kentucky, Maryland, Wisconsin

A sister company to the Miss America Organization, Miss America's Outstanding Teen promotes scholastic achievement, creative accomplishment, healthy living and community involvement for America's teens. The competition was held at the Linda Chapin Theater, Orange County Convention Center. For more information, please go to www.MAOTeen.org.

Additional information about Miss America's Outstanding Teen, as well as updated competition news and images, can be found at http://www.MAOTeen.org.