20-year old Emily Deaver will represent Kansas Saturday night in this year's edition of the Miss America Pageant. The annual event capping young women's dreams of winning scholarship money and promoting their platforms comes to its exciting conclusion tonight at 7:00 Topeka time, on the Learning Channel.

Emily hails from the Wichita/ Augusta area, and says there's also been excitement about being from the hometown of President Obama's mother. Deaver, a Wichita State student, will push for substance and alcohol abuse programs as Miss America 2009. Kansans can root for her this weekend on TLC.