I’m with ERIE
October 5, 2009
Updated: February 11, 2010
Miss America 2010: Caressa Cameron
Customer and former Employee of
ERIE Agent Ron Steele in Montpelier, Va.
Caressa Cameron,
Miss America 2010
Hometown: Fredericksburg, Virginia
Where you’ve seen her: In the January Miss America Pageant, where competed as Miss Virginia and won the 2010 crown.
Reaching out: As Miss Virginia last year, Caressa served as Virginia's state ambassador for the Children's Miracle Network and the "Right Decisions, Right Now" program while helping to spread awareness for her cause, HIV/AIDS education.
Why she does it: Caressa competed in the Miss Virginia pageant for four years before moving on to become Miss America. She was motivated by the opportunity to earn scholarships and serve local communities. She’s earned more than $50,000 in scholarship dollars through her participation with the Miss America Organization.
A bright future: After serving as Miss America for 2010, a full-time job for the year, the 22-year old communications major at Virginia Commonwealth University has her sights set high. “My focus is in broadcasting. I'd like to become a news anchor and then eventually branch off into public relations.”
Outside of the pageants: She’s spoken to over 10,000 students about her message, “Real Talk: AIDS in America,” in more than 40 middle and high schools across Virginia.
Her talent: Singing. Before becoming Miss America, she earned an additional scholarship award for her performance of the song "Listen" from the movie Dreamgirls in the Miss Virginia Pageant.
Why ERIE? Caressa’s not only an ERIE Customer; she's a previous agency employee at Ron Steele's agency in Montpelier, Va. When she first began there, Steele gave her a copy of Erie Insurance Founder H.O. Hirt's In His Own Words. “I was really inspired by the aspect of service in the book and his emphasis of The Golden Rule,” she said. “That's something that is so rare these days, and it showed that ERIE really is focused on service for their Customers .”
The personal touch: Nowadays, Steele is Caressa's agent, and that relationship is a big reason why she remains a loyal Customer. “Ron is a great guy to work for and a wonderful agent,” Cameron said, adding that she's convinced many friends and family members to switch over to Steele's agency. “I would recommend him in a heartbeat to anyone.”
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