Lindsay HIivka - Cover of Woman's World Magazine, January 2009
Lindsay Hlivka was given an opportunity of a lifetime, when she was featured on the cover of Woman's World Magazine. This opportunity rose when the magazine editors heard about the tremdous success of Lindsay's family business, their Diet and Nutritional Counseling Centers. Once the editors discovered this business owners were a mother-daughter partnership they became interested in Lindsay's lifestyle, especially her stressful combination of family, work and college.

Since the magazine has hit shelves Lindsay has graduated from George Mason University in May 2009 with a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing. Lindsay continues to be a big part in her family's business while helping to grow and expand their offices, in fact she recently opened two new Nutritional Counseling Centers in the DC Metro Area.

Ashley Dixon - Ms. Virginia International 2009
What did it feel like to win Miss Virginia International? 
To be honest, when I heard my name it was a complete surprise.  The other girls were all equally qualified for the title so it was a close competition.  After I got over the surprise though, I felt very honored to have been chosen to represent the image and values of the International system.

How has AOII helped you with pageant work? 
Without AOII I probably would never have been in a pageant in the first place.  Through our philanthropy and involvement with other organizations' causes, I've learned to think beyond myself and my needs and be aware of those in my community.  What drew me to the Miss International pageant system (as opposed to Miss USA or Miss America for example) was the emphasis on community service and platform.  Through AOII I had been given the opportunity to volunteer with so many organizations (Arthritis Foundation, The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Habitat for Humanity, Take Back the Night) and I loved that being Miss Virginia International would give me even more chances to volunteer. AOII has COMPLETELY given me the confidence to do this!  Before AOII I was way too shy to even think about getting on a stage in front of a bunch of strangers, but now I'm ok with it, most of the time. The women of AOII are such accomplished and amazing women, and when you surround yourself with that it rubs off. Also, pageants aren't just about looking hot on a stage.  With International, 40% of your score is based on one-on-one interviews with the judges.  From day 1 with AOII, you're forced into situations where you have to hold a conversation with someone you don't know (yay recruitment!!) and it's become something that I'm now comfortable with.

What are you most grateful for, as far as pageant work goes? 
I am most grateful for the opportunities that I have already had and will have in the future to become a positive influence on my community.  As a local Titleholder (Miss Fairfax), I was able to volunteer with the American Heart Association.  I also visited with wounded soldiers at Walter Reed in partnership with the Yellow Ribbon Fund.  As Miss Virginia International, not only will I have a lot more chances to volunteer, but I'll also be able to promote my platform on a state-wide level.

What do you plan to do with your title of Miss Virginia International? 
I can't stress enough how important platform is to the International system.  Platform is a cause or organization that you support and promote.  So, with my title of Miss Virginia International, I plan to promote my platform, environmental awareness.  Regardless of whether you believe in global warming or not, it doesn't hurt to take care of our planet.  During my reign, I'd like to teach students in elementary schools through colleges and universities how they can reduce their negative impact on the environment.  I'd also like to become involved with organization like The Earth Day Network to help promote their message of environmental awareness.

What was it like to pass have the crown passed on from another AOII?
It was a great feeling.  Tina has been such an inspiration for me since I've met her through AOII and it was so cool that she was so proud of me. I actually think Tina was more excited than I was since it took a while for it to sink in that I had won!

Maegan Phillips - Ms. Virginia USA 2009
 What did it feel like to win Ms. Virginia 2009?
It was amazing to finally win. I was 1st runner up the previous two years in a row, so to put so much work into it for three years and for it to finally pay off was wonderful! It was a mix of relief and excitement. I said I wouldn't do it, but I couldn't help it: I did start to cry after crowning!!

How has being a part of AOII helped you with pageant work?
AOII got me into leadership positions in college and helped me to get involved with the GMU community. I learned how to work well with people, empathize, and speak publicly as the Vice President of Chapter Relations for AOII. This helped me immensely for pageants, particularly in interview! Also, the great support I had from my sisters in AOII is priceless to any pageant contestant! Working within the community with my sorority was something that seemed to really impress judges, and I felt a sense of pride to speak about our work at GMU and for the Arthritis Foundation.

 What are you most grateful for, as far as pageant work goes?
I am especially grateful for the experience that the Miss Virginia USA organization provides. As a preliminary to the Miss USA pageant, the winner of which competes at Miss Universe, it is awesome to be part of something so huge. In the few weeks since my crowning, I've met many different types of people and have had the chance experience many different things just because of the crown! I am particularly happy that my reign has provided me with opportunities to further one of my passions-community service. While I got to do a lot of community service with AOII, I wanted to go even further and am now able to speak to children and adults about Cystic Fibrosis Awareness, a cause I have always been extremely devoted to. Miss Virginia Teen USA and I attended the Best Buddies event and had a wonderful time spending time with the amazing children that participate in the program. These experiences are what makes being Miss Virginia USA absolutely unforgettable.

 What do you plan to do with your title of Miss VA?
I refuse to take any moment for granted during my short year as Miss Virginia USA. I want to use the crown and sash as a way to promote the causes closest to my heart, particularly Cystic Fibrosis awareness. I also want to seize this once in a lifetime opportunity of competing in the Miss USA pageant, and am preparing as much as possible to be the first Miss Virginia USA to be crowned Miss USA since 1970!

Tina Montgomery - Ms. Virginia International 2008
Tina Montgomery was crowned Miss Virginia International 2008! In keeping with AOII's strong tradition of community service, Tina has partnered with the New Voters' Project, Kids Voting USA and Democracy Matters to register new voters, teach the civic process to K-12 students and to engage college students in the political process.  Through voting, volunteering and continual engagement in the political process, she is encouraging children, teens and young adults to embrace the power of their vote as their voice.  Learn more about her partners at www.newvotersproject.org, www.democracymatters.org, and www.kidsvotingusa.org.

Nikki Mendicino
Gamma Alpha Works to Help Veterans of War – Past and Present
Nikki Mendicino, a member of the Gamma Alpha Chapter of Alpha Omicron Pi (fall 2006), has been fighting for a cause since the age of 10. At a Veteran’s Day program at her elementary school, Nikki met World War II veteran John Kridlo. He shared his story with Nikki and explained to her that many veterans are unemployed, homeless, and fighting for medical care. Feeling as though these veterans could not go unheard, Nikki took matters into her own hands. In an interview with Seventeen magazine, Nikki says,

“When I met Mr. Kridlo he was in a wheelchair carrying all of the WWII medals he had received – including the Purple Heart. I could tell how proud he was to have served our country, and I realized that even though he was 80, he would have done it all over again in a heartbeat. From then on, I had my mom take me to visit him regularly. Mr. Kridlo taught me more about war than any textbook could, and he told me that as veterans get older, things become difficult for them in terms of healthcare. It made me so sad. They risked their lives for us – they shouldn’t have to fight for disability benefits! I’ve made it my duty to build awareness by organizing rallies, petitioning lawmakers, and speaking out on the vets’ behalf. It isn’t just about vets who fought a long time ago either; I have friends who are joining the military now. I want to know that they’ll be taken care of when they come home”.

Since meeting Mr. Kridlo, Nikki has given speeches in Washington D.C. on Memorial Day, and all over the country. She gave her first speech at the age of 11 at the American Legion Convention where President Bush was also a guest speaker. She has started a website, www.nikkiusa.com, where people can find information about veterans of war and ask Nikki to speak at troop support rallies, on Memorial Day, on Veteran’s Day, or at anything patriotic. In 2004 and 2007, she was invited to the Oval Office to speak on current affairs in Iraq. She also attended President Bush’s Christmas Party in December of 2007.

As a member of Alpha Omicron Pi, Nikki has served as Vice President of Education. She is also currently a part of the Mason Ambassadors. She is studying Government and International Politics and will graduate in 2010.

Marissa Hermann
Marissa Hermann, a member of the Gamma Alpha chapter of Alpha Omicron Pi (pledge class of Fall 2004), was recently selected to give the commencement speech at the graduation ceremony of George Masson University’s Class of 2008. She competed against ten others who had qualifying speeches in front of various members of GMU, including the Vice President of University Life and the Director of University Relations.

Marissa is originally from Richmond, Virginia. While at Mason, she served as an Orientation Leader and Orientation Assistant for the Office of Orientation and Family Programs and Services and sat on the Council of Student Organization Umbrellas (COSU) as the 2005-2006 Special Interest Umbrella Leader. She also dedicated many hours to Gamma Alpha, serving as the Vice President of Education and Historian, as well as contributing to philanthropic activities, intramural sports, and Greek Life events. In the spring of 2007, she spent an exciting semester abroad at the University of Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory, Australia through the Center for Global Education’s Direct Exchange Program. She spent much of the past year as a grassroots marketing intern for the LUNAbar division of Clif Bar.

Marissa said that while standing on the stage at the ceremony, she was nervous, thinking, "Oh my God, what did I get myself into!?", but the speech was perfectly delivered:

"As we sit here today on the edge of what looks like the rest of our lives-our Patriot experience is the bulk of our yesterday. The learning from it has been immense. Here, at a place where the options are as diverse as the people, we have had the rare opportunity to tap into those parts of ourselves that make us truly unique. . . Class of 2008, we leave behind a legacy so distinct; it shall never escape us nor our University. Collectively, we are trailblazers of the Mason tradition. In our willingness to embrace the traditions that were, we have unknowingly transformed the traditions that are. . . So, today as we depart, as George Mason University’s distinguished class of 20080, know that our legacy is profound. Be certain that it shall linger, as we continue in its path."

Marissa graduated with a B.A. in Communications with a concentration in Public Relations. She is currently serving as a 2008 Teach for America Corps member in Southern Louisiana teaching secondary special education. She writes of her alumna experience, "I truly attribute so much of my success to my collegiate AOII experience, and am still feeling connected to the organization in my move here to Baton Rouge where I will be attending my very first Baton Rouge Alumnae Chapter dinner next Thursday! Moving down here to Louisiana where I have no family or friend connections, it is so wonderful to know I have an Alumnae Chapter ready to open their arms to me!"

Angie Goff
After working at ET and for CBS and NBC stations in Iowa and South Carolina Angie Goff comes back home to join the morning team at WUSA-TV 9NEWS NOW.You can catch her weekdays on Channel 9 from 5-7 am and 9-10 am.

When she's not giving the traffic or delivering the daily buzz you'll find her on her daily blog OH MY GOFF! Don't be surprised to see some familiar faces. Angie often includes pics and stories from sisters.

Angie served as Gamma Alpha's Chapter President in 2000 and was the 2001 recipient of the Jody Santiago Award.