Leanza Altenderfer: Student, University of Central Florida

Julie Aebersold
Leanza Altenderfer
Student, University of Central Florida
Heart racing. Palms sweaty. Ninety percent of Americans feel a degree of nervous apprehension when performing on stage in front of an audience. Leanza Altenderfer is the exception. After years of competing in pageants, Altenderfer feels confident walking across the stage. Her passion for competing in pageants is driven by her education. Altenderfer is currently pursuing a double major in event and hospitality management at the University of Central Florida. With the eventual goal of starting her own social event planning company, Altenderfer competes to win scholarship money to finance her education and support her endeavors. The Miss America Organization is the largest provider of scholarships for young women. So far, Altenderfer has received more than $78,000 in scholarship money. However, this scholarship funding has not only come from pageants. Altenderfer has been awarded several scholarships resulting from her profound contributions to
Julie Aebersold
both the University of Central Florida and the hospitality industry. UCF Homecoming Executive Board King & Queen Royalty Director and National Association for Catering and Events (NACE) secretary are just two of her titles. Her active involvement on campus and in the event industry have both provided her with a wealth of opportunity. In 2013, Altenderfer was selected as the Vince DeFinis scholarship recipient from NACE. With this scholarship, she received $10,000 and a paid trip to the national conference in Chicago where she was asked to speak in front of all of the attendees. It was an absolutely amazing experience that I know will be pivotal in my career and Im so thankful for such giving and supportive professionals in the event and hospitality industry, she said referencing the event. Becca Puntoni, who is also active in NACE and a student in the hospitality program at UCF, said Altenderfer was the perfect candidate for this award. Her work ethic and drive foreshadow a very successful future, said Puntoni. Although Altenderfer has had a very busy undergraduate career, she still found time to compete in the Miss UCF Scholarship Pageant three years consecutively. Participating in this pageant has led to one of her most memorable moments. In February 2014, Altenderfer placed in the top five.This was my third year competing and it was so exciting to represent my school at such a prestigious level, she said. The girls selected to compete in the 2014 Miss UCF pageant had been practicing together for months. For Altenderfer, this meant continuing to perfect her dancing. Altenderfer has practiced a variety of dance for most of her life. She loves being on stage given the opportunity to perform.
Julie Aebersold
For pageants, she prefers tap dancing. For this pageant she chose to tap dance to the song Malaguena, which is a dramatic Spanish piece influenced by Flamenco and Paso Doble. Many practices later, it was finally time to compete. By the time the pageant actually gets here in February all of the contestants have become so close and form such tight knit bond tha t were truly excited for whoever is crowned, she said speaking fondly of the other contestants. Devon Cribbon, a fellow hospitality student and Miss UCF contestant, feels the same way. After getting to know Leanza, I discovered her to be one of the swe etest, most genuine young ladies I have ever met, Cribbon said. Along with her friends, Altenderfers mother has been a huge supporter. Growing up she was Altenderfers Girl Scout leader, tap teacher, school teacher and dance team coach. It almost seems as though Altenderfers mother predicted her future with pageants as well. Interestingly, Altenderfer was named after Leanza Cornett, Miss Florida 1992, who was later crowned Miss America 1993- the year Altenderfer was born. With a name like that, its no surprise that Altenderfer is able to walk across the stage with confidence and a smile.
Julie Aebersold
Sources Leanza Altenderfer: 610-349-9817, [email protected] Becca Puntoni: 987-376-4717 Devon Cribbon: 727-631-5080

Leanza Altenderfer: Student, University of Central Florida

Uploaded by

Leanza Altenderfer: Student, University of Central Florida

Uploaded by

Julie Aebersold

You might also like