Last Saturday, Miss Wisconsin Laura Kaeppeler traded in her sash for a bigger and better title: Miss America 2012. It was a close finale between Kaeppeler and Miss Oklahoma, Betty Thompson, who had the most online votes. However, Kaeppeler wowed the judges with her Irish step dancing, open political views, and beautiful formal gown. EDUinReview will now take a look at this opera-singing beauty’s education background.

Kaeppeler was born in March 1988 in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Her parents are Jeff and Sue Kaeppeler and she has two younger siblings, Rachel and Sarah. When Kaeppeler was 17-years old, her father was sentenced to serve time in prison for one year. Kaeppeler formed a support group for children whose parents are incarcerated, Circles of Support.

“I decided to take that on because I was one of those children and I see how important it is for those children,” she told People Magazine of her role in the support group. “Every parent deserves to have a relationship with their child and every child deserves that relation. My dad and I have never been closer.”

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