July 14, 2022
Vol. 23, No. 9
In This Issue FOUR SEASONS
Miss Oklahoma from Edmond
Four Seasons, by Kevin Box, in real life is located in front of the Center for Transformative Learning on the UCO campus, but this week is hidden somewhere in our paper. Email contest@edmondpaper.com with the correct location to be entered in the weekly drawing. For more information, see page 4.
Heard on Hurd returns this weekend
Megan Gold
See page 9
FRIDAY, July 15
Sunny High 100° Low 73°
SATURDAY, July 16 Mostly Sunny High 102° Low 76°
SUNDAY, July 17
Partly Cloudy High 101° Low 76°
Megan Gold, OU Meteorology graduate, crowned Miss Oklahoma 2022 TULSA, OK - Thirty-six candidates from across the state of Oklahoma competed for the title of Miss Oklahoma. Megan Gold, Miss Bricktown, was crowned the winner on earlier this summer at the River Spirit Casino Resort in Tulsa. She is also from Edmond, attending high school at Oklahoma Christian Schools. Gold receives a $25,000 cash scholarship to further her education and will represent Oklahoma in the Miss America competition. Gold performed a flute solo, “Dueling Banjos” for the talent phase of the competition. Her Social Impact Initiative is, “America, Let’s Do Lunch - Ending Senior Hunger.” Gold volunteers with Meals on Wheels. She says, “Although my current efforts are geared toward seniors, as Miss Oklahoma, I will work to fight hunger for all Oklahomans.” Gold is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma with a degree in Meteorology. Gold won Social Impact Initiative, Evening Gown, and Talent Awards during the preliminary competition. Gold is from Edmond. Her parents are Kathy and Mike Gold, and
she has a twin brother Michael. Her grandparents, Janice and Clint Gold reside in Sand Springs, Oklahoma. She works as a weekend meteorologist for News on 6 in Tulsa. The remaining top five finalists included first runner-up, Emily Faith, Miss Tulsa; second runner-up, Miss Oklahoma City, Mackenzie McIntyre; third runner-up, Miss Oklahoma State Fair, Claire Grace; and fourth runner-up, Miss Edmond, Evelyn Smith. All 36 candidates received a minimum of a $1,000 scholarship. For her social impact initiative, Gold decided to “start with grandpa and grandma” by advocating for seniors who face food insecurity through Meals on Wheels. One in 10 Oklahoma seniors struggles with hunger, according to the Oklahoma Food Bank, and Gold said her grandpa, Wilson, was once one of those seniors. “(Wilson) was my hero, and I loved my afternoon visits to see him. But on a particular visit, my family noticed he was eating Vienna sausages and M&Ms for dinner, and that wasn’t the nutrition that he needed to stay healthy,” Gold said. “So, I knew it was time to get
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involved not only for Grandpa, but for other seniors in similar situations. It’s my mission to advocate for the silent, forgotten group, because they took care of us, and now it’s time that we take care of them.” Gold said she knows Oklahoma seniors have been through a lot, and pride can make it difficult to come forward with this challenge. She said it is the job of younger generations to check on their grandparents and neighbors who might not feel comfortable asking for help. As Miss Oklahoma, Gold said she will work to uphold the traditions of the Miss America organization and take what she has learned from past titleholders to heart. “My goal is not to change the title, but to add to it,” Gold said. “There have been so many incredible ladies standing here that I’ve been able to go have coffee with to learn about their years of service, and (I) have things I could do differently but also (can) build on the things that they did.” Gold will represent Oklahoma in the Miss America competition, which will be held in Uncasville, Connecticut later this year.