Betsy’s Best® to Award Scholarship at Miss Indiana 2016 Pageant

Naples, Florida, 2016-Jun-10 — /EPR Network/ — Betsy’s Best, maker of delicious and nutritious gourmet nut and seed butters, is proud to announce the inaugural Betsy’s Best Scholarship to be awarded June 15, 2016 at the Miss Indiana pageant in Zionsville, Indiana.

Betsy’s Best President and CEO Betsy Opyt won the title of Miss Indiana in 2000, giving her the opportunity to compete at Miss America in Atlantic City, New Jersey. She credits the organization with changing the trajectory of her life, leading her to be a businesswoman and entrepreneur.

“Winning Miss Indiana didn’t happen overnight, and it definitely didn’t happen without setting goals and working endlessly to attain them,” says Opyt. “Being crowned Miss Indiana meant more than winning a crown; it taught me that any goal I have in life can be attained through perseverance and determination. Instead of being scared of failure, I am confident in my abilities, and that’s the attitude you need when starting a business from the ground up.”

The $500 scholarship to be awarded on the first night of preliminary competition will be presented to a contestant whose video essay demonstrates the following: individual determination to succeed, entrepreneurial drive, healthy lifestyle, active spirit, and positive energy.

“Pageants have an unfortunate reputation of being old-fashioned and anti-feminist, while that couldn’t be further from the truth” says Opyt. “The young women who compete in the Miss Indiana organization hone their leadership skills, selflessly give back to their communities, and learn how to graciously manage success as well as defeat. Our goal is to recognize one woman who truly embodies these characteristics.”

Aren Straiger, Executive Director of the Miss Indiana Organization, is thrilled with the partnership.

“We are excited to have Betsy’s Best as a first time sponsor, and even happier that the company’s CEO is a ‘forever’ Miss Indiana,” Straiger said. “She understands the goals of our organization, and recognizes the hard work invested by these women. We are proud to award more than $38,000 in scholarship opportunities for the contestants, and that is made possible by sponsors like Betsy’s Best.”

The Miss Indiana pageant is June 15-18, 2016, at the Zionsville Performing Arts Center. Miss Indiana 2016 will compete at Miss America in Atlantic City in September.

Betsy’s Best is available in Indiana at select Marsh Supermarkets.