Deaf Teen America Pageant

March 24, 2007

Austin, Texas – March 24, 2007 Top students from the Texas School for the Deaf (TSD) were crowned Mr. and Miss. Deaf Teen America tonight. Juniors Bejo Goodridge and Toj Mora, both of Austin, were awarded college scholarships, prizes and the coveted 2007 Deaf Teen America title before a crowd of mostly hometown supporters. The Texas School for the Deaf hosted the ninth annual Deaf Teen America Pageant this year at 1102 South Congress Avenue.

Mr. and Miss. TSD were judged against nine other teams from schools across the U.S. in the categories of state spirit, talent and formal wear. Interviews, both private and on-stage, were conducted individually, with the pairs scored as a team. Contestants ranged in ages from 14 – 18. Mr. and Miss. TSD also received the Best Talent award for “Earth: Through Time’s Eyes” their performance to raise awareness and emphasize the importance of action now to prevent the damage global warming is predicted to cause our earth. The title of First Runner-up went to the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf in Pittsburgh. Second Runners-up were from the Maryland School for the Deaf in Columbia, and Third Runner-up was the New Mexico School for the Deaf in Santa Fe.

After receiving the Deaf Teen America (DTA) crown, Miss. Goodridge said she felt “overwhelmed and very fortunate. We’ve been working for months, practicing. All I’ve thought about is the pageant.” Mr. Mora agreed, “I’ve been nervous since the very beginning. But it was one-thousand percent worth it.” TSD Superintendent, Claire Bugen, was beaming and added, “all of the students worked so hard preparing and performed so well under a lot of pressure this evening. I am so proud of all of them, but especially proud of our TSD team. They will hand over their crowns at the tenth anniversary of the pageant next year, which will be very exciting for them. And they will certainly make us all very proud representing the Texas School for the Deaf during the next year as Mr. and Miss. DTA.” Goodridge and Mora both receive over six-thousand dollars in scholarships and prizes and will be traveling to appearances throughout their term.

In 2006, Mr. and Miss TSD, Paige Johnson of North Richland Hills and Chris Kearney of Dallas took First Runners-up in the competition held at the South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind in Spartanburg.

Texas School for the Deaf, located on 67 acres in South Austin, is the oldest continuously operating publicly funded school in Texas. The 150 year old campus serves students ages 0-22 and is also an educational resource center on deafness for deaf students, their families and professionals that work with them throughout the state of Texas. With educational excellence and a strong belief in a culture and community that allows students to form a unique identity based on their individual strengths and talents, rather than their disabilities, TSD is an environment where students learn, grow, and belong. For more information about the 2007 Deaf Teen America Pageant, visit http://clerccenter.gallaudet.edu/DeafTeenAmerica/index.html

We would also like to say huge thank yous to all of our sponsors who helped make this evening a success. At the platinum level, thank you to Friday Night Lights, CSDVRS and the Starkey Hearing Foundation. At the diamond level, thank you to Champion Toyota and Sprint. At the tiara level, thank you to Dr. & Mrs. Victor Galloway, Color of Language, Harris Communication, Brandi Mahon – Kelter Williams Realty, Karen Bubenzer, Stephen & Kris Smith and Robert W. & Debbie Bubenzer. At the congeniality level, thank you to Cindy Hamilton, Joan Boyce Miller and Ovi Velasquez.