Miss Pennsylvania to Hold Talk at ESU

East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania’s sign language club will host Miss Pennsylvania USA November 1 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Niedbala Auditorium in the Warren E. ’55 and Sandra Hoeffner Science and Technology Center.

Elena LaQuatra, who took the title of Miss Pennsylvania in 2016, will hold a talk titled “Overcoming Deafness to Compete for the Crown.” LaQuatra will discuss the struggles she faced growing up deaf and how she overcame them to pursue her goals.

At age four, bacterial meningitis took 100 percent of Elena LaQuatra’s hearing and balance. She underwent cochlear implant surgeries and intensive rehabilitative measures. LaQuatra spent the majority of her time as a teen competing in pageants. Her awards include Miss Pennsylvania’s Outstanding Teen 2007, placing second runner up at the Miss American Scholarship Organization national competition, Miss Pennsylvania Teen USA 2010 under the Miss Universe Competition before being crowned Miss Pennsylvania. LaQuatra also represented Pennsylvania at the Miss USA pageant in Las Vegas televised live on Fox.

LaQuatra recently landed a job as a digital video reporter for WTAE in Pittsburgh and one day hopes to become the first deaf anchor on a national network. LaQuatra will talk about living with deafness and cochlear implants and working to overcome adversity.

This event is free and open to the public. The event will be captioned for the hard of hearing.  For more information, please contact Susan Dillmuth-Miller, assistant professor of communication sciences and disorders, at 570-422-3684 or email sdmiller@esu.edu.

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