The "pageant girl" stereotype that fills the minds of so many people does not apply to Jill Stevens, current Miss Utah, and sergeant of the Utah National Guard.

"She's sincere, she's beautiful, she's good," said Neal Cox, friend and student leadership adviser.

Stevens is a member of the 211th aviation unit in the National Guard. She was deployed to Afghanistan at the age of 20.

Stevens, 25, is intrigued with running. She has run 12 marathons. She was the first female to ever finish the Afghanistan marathon.

She attended Southern Utah University on a four-year leadership scholarship and graduated from Summa Cum Laude from SUU's nursing program.

"Jill is the type that always made you feel like you could do more, she's the motivating type," said Caytee Cox, a high school and college friend.

The first time Jill ever competed in a pageant, she fell flat on her face. Stevens was the type of girl that wore a backwards hat and flip-flops to school.

I think that the pageant may have been the first time that she ever wore high-heels, Caytee Cox said.

Jill went on to win Miss SUU and was later named Miss Davis County. Stevens is now currently serving as Miss Utah.

In the recent January Miss America contest, Stevens was awarded "America's Choice Award," which is America's favorite contestant.

"I could not believe that I got 'America's Choice,"' Stevens said.

Saturday Stevens also taught students how to make it through their own "personal minefields." She taught that mine fields can look like anything. Her message was, we must stay on the center of the path.

"Brothers and sisters, do you know what you stand for?" Stevens said.

Stevens stressed the importance of having a goal and working to achieve it.

"Having a goal or target is important in all aspects of life," Stevens said.

When Stevens was informed that she was to be deployed to Afghanistan, she set three goals for herself. Those goals included the following: be a missionary, keep her standards and bring joy and service to the country.

Stevens taught that the key for her is to know what you stand for. Stevens urged students to always keep their focus on the real target, Jesus Christ.

"I've known Jill for two-and-a-half year's and she's the perfect role model for my kids." Sharlene Hawkes said, former Miss America.

Copyright Brigham Young University 24 Mar 2008