By Michelle Steinhebel, Lebanon Express writer | Posted: Tuesday, November 13, 2007 12:00 am
Former Lebanon resident Laura Rogers captured the title of Ms. Nevada United States Woman this summer. Rogers, the daughter of Ron and Penny Edwards, shared her pageant experience with friends and family this week during a visit to her hometown.
Rogers is a 1991 graduate of Lebanon High School, where she was known as Laura Edwards.
Being involved in a pageant is a stretch for some to imagine of Rogers, who was a three-sport varsity athlete in high school, lettering all four years.
She set the triple-jump record for LHS.
"When I was there I was a tomboy. A pony tail was dressed up," she said.
"I'd like to run into my [track] coaches now to show them, 'see I can be an athlete and a lady,'" she joked.
As a high school student she also played the flute and was the drum major for a year.
Rogers worked with image consultants and etiquette instructors to prepare herself for the pageant.
"I'm still kind of shocked that I have done this. I'm really enjoying doing something new and different," she said.
After high school Rogers attended Oregon Institute of Technology in Klamath Falls, where she studied medical imaging. She is a full-time MRI technologist at a private out-patient clinic in Summerlin, Nev.
Rogers lives in Las Vegas where she has horses and dogs. She barrel races and travels to the Caribbean for fun.
She is using her "Ms. Nevada" title to further charity work, specifically the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NAHRA). The non-profit organization promotes therapeutic equine activities for people with and without disabilities, and has a branch in Bend. Rogers also plans to work with Camp Attitude next spring. Her mother is handicapped and the charity blends her love of horses with an issue that comes close to her heart.
"We're proud of her. She does well and likes a challenge in life," Ron Edwards said of his daughter.
Her brother, Ryon Edwards, is a 1996 LHS grad and works as a biologist for the city of Salem.