By Kris Leonhardt

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – Wisconsin Rapids native Tianna Vanderhei is off to a great start at the Miss America scholarship program. On Sept. 5, Miss Wisconsin snagged one of two preliminary competitions – the on-stage interview.

In the new Miss America competition format, the 20-second, on-stage interview replaced the swimsuit competition. The interview, as well as the talent competition, was held in Atlantic City this week.

Vanderhei’s question involved making higher education more accessible and affordable. She was the first recipient of the $1,000 scholarship for the newly-created preliminary competition.