On Saturday, September 22, 2002, Katie Harman was crowned Miss America 2002. Her response to winning…”woo hoo!”
We also have something to cheer about. Katie, an Oregon native, attended A.C. Green’s Leadership Camp in 1996. While not the best athlete at the camp, and certainly not the tallest (she stands just 5 feet 3 inches tall), Katie stood tall at the camp. In fact, she won the award for most valuable person – not player.
Becoming the most valuable person you can be is something that must be worked at continuously. Katie seems to have grasped this truth with both hands. (That’s more important than learning to grasp a basketball could ever be.) We are thrilled by the success stories of past campers such as Katie, and look forward to hearing more about her achievements in the months and years to come.
Katie, we wish you the best of luck during your reign as Miss America. Continue to pursue your goals and always remember to bend those knees and follow through on your free throws!
Katie’s biography
Name: Katie Harman
Age: 21
Hometown: Gresham, OR
Platform: Providing Support for Terminal Breast Cancer Patients
College: Portland State University
Major: Speech communication, vocal performance
Goals: To obtain a master’s degree in Bioethics and pursue a career in health care management
Here’s an excerpt from Katie’s scrapbook
To improve my skills and provide more playing experience, I attended AC Green’s Leadership Basketball Camp, at Concordia College the summer before my sophomore year. His experience as a professional basketball player for the Phoenix Suns called for intense workouts, practices and games. As one of six girls, outnumbered by 94 boys, I really had to work hard to keep up with many great male athletes. The fact that I was the only girl on my team, five foot three in a lineup of six foot two boys, plus a little too cheerful for my own good, proved very challenging indeed. Despite the obstacles, I absolutely loved the camp and learned so much. I was very proud of myself for participating in the camp, even though I was not a very skilled player. My attitude toward basketball changed from that moment on and I respect the game, as well as the skills it takes to play the game, now more than ever. I look back at my experiences at AC Green Camp with fond memories and remember the many people who went out of their way to help me improve, plus the great friendships I gained with outstanding players from around the Portland area, who like me, just wanted to “hoop it up.”
Thanks for sharing your memories Katie!