BIOGRAPHY

I was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska and come from a family of four brothers and one sister. In September 2005, I graduated magna cum laude with Honors in Economics from New York University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Journalism/Mass Communications.

While attending NYU, I had several exciting and even some life-changing experiences. After being in the city for two weeks, the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center occurred. I stood on Fifth Avenue in front of my dorm and watched as the second tower crumbled to the ground. I remember feeling stunned, helpless, and angry. Hundreds of students left the University after the attacks. The terrorists’ goal was to take away our freedom by making us live in fear, but this experience gave me an even stronger desire to do my best to never let fear keep me from accomplishing my goals.

Despite this awful tragedy, New York City was still an amazing place to live and New York University was still an amazing school to attend. I was faced with challenges and opportunities that I could have never imagined. I was one of four new people to make the dance team the fall of my freshman year, and we went on to be National Champions the following spring. I also started a cleaning business—Molly Maid Cleaning Service—that same year to help make ends meet which ultimately led to many great contacts and opportunities at NYU.

Throughout my four years as an undergraduate student, I worked and volunteered as a tutor and mentor for youth in Harlem, the Bronx, Brooklyn and the Lower East Side, and I interned at WNBC-TV, The East Harlem School, and Trilogy Global Advisors. I even danced on stage at the Radio City Music Hall!

My senior year was very busy. I was nominated for the Rhodes Scholarship by NYU and became a State Finalist, and I also started a Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) team, of which I served as President. We went on to become Regional Champions in the spring of 2005. As I prepared to move back home, I was honored to be featured in two NYU admissions publications and the NYU website, and be one of the four students out of 1500 asked to sit on stage at my graduation held at the Madison Square Garden Arena.

Through these experiences I learned to set high goals and constantly step out of my comfort zone to achieve them. I have continued to set high goals as I served as Miss Sarpy County and now as I serve as Miss Nebraska. This past year, I have dedicated over 550 hours to community service—volunteering as a workshop facilitator for Junior Achievement, a tutor at the Open Door Mission, a dance instructor and musical producer at the Youth Empowerment Program, and a dancer and singer for Desert Ministries. I also hosted a youth conference in April, started a Students In Free Enterprise—SIFE team at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (the only SIFE team in Omaha), helped the Partnership for Career Education Act pass in the Nebraska legislature, facilitated dozens of workshops, made dozens of appearances, and so much more.

As Miss Nebraska, I now have the opportunity to promote my platform as well as share my gifts with Nebraskans across the state. I am presently living in Omaha, Nebraska studying for my Master of Arts in Economics at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and I will take the year off as I serve as Miss Nebraska.

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HONORS & AWARDS

College:

• Miss Nebraska 2006: Overall Interview and Title Winner; $10,500 2006
• Miss America State Scholar; $1,000 2006
• UNO Schleiger Scholarship; $4,000 2005
• UNO Economics Graduate Assistantship; $13,000/yr. 2005-2006
• NYU Trustee Scholarship; $12, 500/yr. 2001-2005
• NYU Chancellor’s Grant; $5,000/yr. 2003-2005
• George Safiol Meritocracy Award; $5,000 2004
• George and Vivien B. Head Scholarship; $1,500 2004
• Rhodes Scholar State Finalist 2004
• Dean’s Undergraduate Research Fund Grant; $650 2004
• University Honors Scholar 2005
• Faculty Memorial Award 2005
• Harry S. Truman Scholar Nominee 2004
• Otis Spunk Meyer DECA Scholarship; $1,000 2001
• Nebraska DECA Target Scholarship; $500 2001
• Kathryn Collins Memorial Scholarship; $500 2001
• Pepsi Service Scholarship; $1,000 2001
• Dean’s List for eight consecutive semesters 2001-2005
• Omicron Delta Epsilon-International Economics Honor Society 2006
• NYU Economics Honor Society 2003-2005
• SIFE Regional Champions, 1st Place in two sub-categories, awarded $2500 2005
• National Dance Alliance National Champions 2002

High School:

• Nebraska’s Junior Miss 2001: Scholastic, Essay, Fitness, Poise, Interview, & Title Winner; $2,500 2001
• Commissioner’s Excellence in Career and Technical Education Award 2001
• Omaha World Herald Academic All-State Team Honorable Mention 2001
• President’s Education Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence 2001
• Big Brothers/Big Sisters Outstanding Youth Volunteer Award 2001
• Nebraska DECA—1st Place in State Competition 2001
• Miss Omaha 2000 Community Service Award; $200 2001
• National Merit Commended Scholar 2000
• Who’s Who Among American High School Students 2000
• National Honor Society 1999-2001
• Academic Decathlon 1999-2000
• Math & Science Academy 1997-1999
• Knowledge Masters—1st Place in State Competition 1998
• Honor Roll—eight consecutive semesters 1997-2001

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EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

College:

Employment:

• Graduate Assistant, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Nebraska 8/05-5/06
• Business Analyst, Trilogy Advisors, New York 2/05-5/05
• Graduate Student Assistant, New York State Banking Department, New York 3/05-5/05
• Research Assistant, Professor William Baumol, New York University 2/05-5/05
• Political Unit Intern, WNBC TV, Senior Correspondent Gabe Pressman, New York 9/04-12/04
• Fundraising and Development Intern, The East Harlem School, New York 6/04-8/04
• Founder, McGrath Maids & Co., New York 9/01-5/05
• Tutor, Harlem Children’s Choir Academy, New York 1/03-5/04

Leadership Activities:

• President, Students In Free Enterprise, University of Nebraska at Omaha 1/06-5/06
• Graduate Representative, Economics Advisory Board, University of Nebraska at Omaha 11/05-5/06
• Planning Committee, Economics Club, University of Nebraska at Omaha 8/05-5/06
• President, Students In Free Enterprise, New York University 7/04-5/05
• Peer Educator, New York University 5/03-5/04
• Varsity Dance Team Captain, New York University 9/01-5/04
• GOLD Leadership Foundation Track, New York University 9/03-5/04
• Emerging Leader Mentorship Program, New York University 9/02-5/03
• Peer Health Awareness Team, New York University 9/02-5/04

Scholarship Pageants:

• Miss Nebraska 2006: Overall Interview and Title Winner; $10,500 2006
• Miss Sarpy County 2006: Title Winner; $800 2005
• Miss Omaha 2006: 1st Runner-Up; $400 2005
• Miss Nebraska 2003: Top 8; $2,000 2003
• Miss Tri-Cities 2003: Talent, Interview, and Title Winner; $500 2003
• Miss New York City 2003: Poise Award 2003
• Miss Manhattan 2002: Finalist 2002

Theatrical & Television Performance:

• 2003 MTV Video Music Awards, Good Charlotte Dancer, Radio City Music Hall, 2003
• Dave Matthews Live-MTV, Extra, TRL Studio, Times Square, 2003
• MTV Total Request Live Dance Contest, Dancer, TRL Studio, Times Square, 2002
• America ’s Junior Miss-TNN, Nebraska’s Junior Miss, Mobile Civic Center, 2001
• Mama Drama, Merri, West 72nd Street Studios, 2004
• Women of Manhattan, Rhonda Louise, West 72nd Street Studios, 2004

High School:

Leadership Activities:

• Vice President , Nebraska DECA—An Association of Marketing Students 2000-2001
• Director of Publications, Burke DECA 1999-2000
• Vice President, Burke Key Club 1999-2000
• Master of Ceremonies, Omaha Public Schools Internship Banquet 2001
• Franklin Covey “What Matters Most” Training 2000
• Nebraska State Officer Leadership Academy 2000
• Gallup “Students in Education and Leadership” Training 2000
• Co-Captain, Burke High School Dance Team 2000-2001

Scholarship Pageants:

• Nebraska’s Junior Miss 2001
• Miss Kansas-City Teen All-American: Semi-Finalist 2000
• Miss Nebraska Teen All-American 1999

Performance:

• Annie, Dance Captain, Burke High School , 2001
• Bye-Bye Birdie, Dance Chorus, Burke High School , 2000
• Omaha Concerts of Praise, Dance Soloist, Music Hall, 2000 & 2001
• I Get on My Knees, Dance Soloist, Faith Evangelical Free Church, 2001
• Various Programs, Choreographer/Dancer, Trinity Church, 1997-2001

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COMMUNITY SERVICE

College:

• Junior Achievement, Workshop Facilitator 2006
• Desert Ministries, Dancer, Singer and Pianist 2005-2006
• Open Door Mission, Tutor 2006
• Youth Empowerment Program, Musical Producer 2006
• Youth Empowerment Program, Dance Instructor 2005-2006
• Bronx High School for Humanities & Technologies, Mentor 2004
• DeWitt Nursing Home, Singer 2004
• AIDS Walk, Fundraiser 2004
• YMCA Early Age After-School Program, Mentor/Tutor 2003-2004
• Grand Street Settlement Mentoring Program, Mentor 2003-2004
• Grand Street Young Men and Women’s Initiative, Tutor 2003
• Relay for Life, Fundraiser/Walker 2004
• Washington Square Halloween Parade, Walker/Dancer 2001-2003
• Toys for Tots, Dancer 2001-2003
• Faith Haven Community Center, Volunteer 2003
• University of Nebraska at Omaha MavKids, Dancer/Speaker 2003
• Women and Youth Supporting Each Other, Mentor 2001-2002
• Nebraska ’s Junior Miss 2002, Dance/Vocal Soloist, Choreographer 2002

High School:

• Younkers Nebraska Children’s Home Fashion, Show Model/Vocal Soloist 2001
• Younkers Methodist Hospital Fashion Show, Model/Vocal Soloist 2001
• Dillards Uta Halee Fashion Show, Model 2001
• MDA Labor Day Telethon, Volunteer 2000
• Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Big Sister 2000-2001
• Omaha Hope Center, Mentor/Tutor 2000-2001
• Project Serve, Trash Lady:) 2000
• Millard North Kids’ Night, Volunteer 2000
• Flurry of Hope, Volunteer 2000
• Edison Elementary School, Tutor 2000
• Belvedere Nursing Home, Volunteer 1999
• Homework Helpline, Tutor 1999
• Ollie Web Foundation, Volunteer 1999
• Sunny Slope Carnival, Volunteer 1999
• Crestridge Elementary School, Tutor 1999
• Burke High School, Tutor 1997-2001
• Open Door Mission, Volunteer 1995-1997
• Omaha Nursing Home, Volunteer 1995-1997

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NYU GRADUATION

Receiving George Safiol Meritocracy Award (left) Shaking hands with the dean (right)

In front of Madison Square Garden where graduation was held (left) With my parents: Ruth and Mike (right)

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NYU SIFE

With SIFE team at Regional Competition (left) Having a blast with SIFE team (right)

Teaching personal finance (left) Teaching students about credit cards (right)

SIFE team at Grand Street Settlement (left) SIFE team with Americorps volunteers (right)

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NYU EHS

NYU EHS with Jeffrey Sachs, Head of the UN Millennium Development Goals

NYU EHS with Nobel Laureate, Daniel Kahneman

NYU EHS with Joe Moglia, CEO of Ameritrade

NYU EHS with Anne Kreuger, Acting Director of the International Monetary Fund, 2004

NYU EHS with Sean Bratches, ESPN VP of Marketing

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NYU DANCE TEAM

With friends and trophy (left) NYU—National Champions!! (right)

Yes, I used to have very blonde hair, but I couldn’t afford it in NYC so I had to go back to my “natural” color. :-)

Team performed at Toys for Tots celebration every year

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HIGH SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

I was a Vice President for Nebraska DECA (left) Speaking at DECA State Conference (right)

I won 1st Place in a DECA State Competition (left) I emceed the Omaha Public School Internship Banquet (right)

I was Nebraska’s Junior Miss in 2001 (left) With roommate (South Carolina) at America’s Junior Miss (right)

As Nebraska’s Junior Miss, I modeled and sang in several fashion shows

I was a Big Sister (top), a tutor and mentor at the Omaha Hope Center (bottom left) and taught piano lessons (bottom right)

I choreographed and danced for several shows in the Omaha community

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In the NYU Admissions Booklet

The interview for this was done 1½ years before my thesis was due, so my topic did change quite a bit. I ended up working with Professor Ennio Stachetti (New York University) and writing my paper on The Power of Press Freedom and Telecommunications/Media Penetration in Predicting Violent Civil Conflicts in Africa. Click here to read the Abstract.

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In the NYU Academic Expectations Booklet

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In the NDA U.S. Championship Big Apple Ad

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In Dance Spirit Magazine

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In the Washington Square News

The following is the portion of the article missing from the bottom of the article:

END OF FIRST COLUMN: "...extra five dollars. McGrath commented that she has even received twice her regular fee from stu-..."

END OF SECOND COLUMN: "...George said. That would be the Mr. Clean wipes."

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