Miss Oregon, a member of the Class of 2022, says online program allowed her to chase her dreams

Liberty University graduate Abigail Hayes has had a packed schedule of meetings and appearances as she carries out the duties of the Miss Oregon crown in her home state and beyond. But she said the school’s online format has allowed her to balance her classwork throughout her journey in the Miss America Organization and to pursue a career in helping underserved youth.

Hayes is earning a B.A. in Strategic Communications and is one of over 23,000 graduates in the Class of 2022 to be recognized this week during Commencement. Hayes will be participating from her home in Damascus, Ore., watching the ceremonies streaming live from campus. (Liberty is holding degree ceremonies Thursday through Saturday, with a main ceremony planned for Friday evening.)

“When I was competing for Miss Oregon, one of the things I was able to talk about in my interview with the judges was that my school was flexible enough for me to travel all around Oregon or the rest of the country and carry my classes with me. It’s been nice to do it at my own pace and when I have time in my strict schedule,” she said, adding that her final exams in December fell on the same night as Miss America but her professors allowed her to work ahead. “Even though it’s online, my professors have been so easy to get ahold of and have been so helpful.”

A year before receiving her crown, Hayes knew she wanted to earn an online undergraduate degree as the first step in pursuing a law career. She heard from a friend about Liberty University Online Programs and the school’s Christian worldview on education and soon enrolled.

“I knew I wanted to do an online program because it would be more affordable for me, and I planned on staying in Oregon, and I had a friend who had already joined Liberty University Online who was telling me about how the professors are amazing,” Hayes said. “From a young age, I competed in a national policy debate league and loved that … and I knew that studying strategic communication would help me enhance my speaking skills so that one day I can then pursue a career in family law.”

Hayes’ aspirations to enter the Miss America competition run in the family, with her mother, Jill (Boberg) Hayes, holding the crown of Miss Portland in 1980. Growing up on a hobby farm, Hayes and her three sisters would watch the Miss America broadcasts every year.

“My mom’s main advice was to always be true to my core values, and that includes what Liberty values too, of being a Champion for Christ,” Hayes said. “I think God has been instrumental in me becoming Miss Oregon, and my parents taught me to always first give glory and thanks to Him and never waiver from what I stand for.”

Every Miss America contestant has a main social impact initiative. Hayes’ platform is to build opportunities for and encourage underserved youth. Speaking at high schools and middle schools, meeting with legislators, and acting as an ambassador for the National Center for Children of Poverty, she has valued the chance to make a difference in children’s lives.

“Being able to use this platform for such an important issue has been my favorite part of this whole experience,” she said. “Making a difference in my community is the cherry on top of all of this. Those have been my most impactful experiences as Miss Oregon.”

Hayes wasn’t the only Miss America contestant with Liberty ties at the December competition. She met Miss Virginia Tatum Shepherd, a 2021 Liberty graduate who attended residentially, and the two bonded over their common interests and values.

“I actually heard about her through her vocal coach originally,” Hayes said. “When we met at Miss America, we both talked about how we’re from Liberty, and for that whole time together it was nice to have someone there who had so many of my same values and beliefs.”

For the talent portion of the competition, Hayes sang a rendition of Alicia Keys’ “If I Ain’t Got You,” and she found herself standing on stage on the final night (Dec. 16) as the fourth runner-up. Katie Harman, the 2001 Miss Oregon who went on to become Miss America, was a mentor to Hayes in the time leading up to the competition and offered her some Christ-centered advice.

“She told me that at every stage of competition what she did to calm her nerves was to thank God for everything she had in that moment, and that’s what I did,” Hayes said. “When I was called into the top 10 and then top 5, I was head over heels but wasn’t even nervous. I was just so excited to be selected out of the 51 incredible women. The only word I have is just gratitude, every one of those candidates could have been Miss America. It was a dream come true.”

Hayes will crown her successor on June 18. She plans to take the LSAT in September and apply for early admission at multiple law schools for Fall 2023.

“I’ve always had a passion for youth, and family law is the field that pertains to youth the most,” she said. “My desire is to help the next generation of leaders rise up and find hope, especially with today’s youth who don’t seem to have much hope for our future. I want to be an ambassador for hope, change, and light.”