Allison Cook (Miss Oregon)

Allison Elizabeth Cook (born January 30, 1994) is an accomplished healthcare professional, advocate, referee, violinist, and American beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Oregon 2013. In September 2013, she competed for the title of Miss America 2014 and won the National Tiffany Phillips Scholar-Athlete Award.

Allison Cook
Allison Cook in 2019
Born
Allison Elizabeth Cook

(1994-01-30) January 30, 1994
Redwood City, California
EducationBachelor of Science Graduate of Oregon Institute of Technology
Height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)[1]
TitleMiss Rose City USA
International Junior Miss Oregon 2018
Miss Oregon 2013
Miss Southern Gem 2013
Miss City of Sunshine 2012
Beauty pageant titleholder
Hair colorBrown
Eye colorBrown
Major
competition(s)		IJM Internationals 2018
Miss America 2014
WebsiteAllison Cook (www.allisonecook.com)

Early Life & Education

Cook was born in Redwood City, California to father Steve Cook and mother Patti Cook.[2] She was raised in Granite Bay, California, and a 2011 graduate of Granite Bay High School.[2]

Cook attended Oregon Institute of Technology where she studied radiology[2][3] and was a member of the Hustlin' Owls Volleyball team. In 2016, she graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Sciences and Minors in business and medical sociology[4]. Cook was a member of the Oregon Tech Honor's Program, President of the Honor's Organization of Oregon Tech (HOOT) Club, Lamda Nu Honor Society, and Tech Opportunites Program[4]. She was a recipient of the 2016 Radiologic Sciences Faculty Excellence Award and 2012 Cascade All-Conference Academic Award; nominated for the 2016 Most Dedicated Student Award and 2013 Oregon Tech Pride Award[4].

Career

Cook is a Clinical Imaging Specialist III[5] for GE Healthcare where she provides the technical and clinical support for fluoroscopic X-Ray machines; more commonly known as C-Arms. She facilitates customer demonstrations, installations, and system operations at various workshops all over the country. Cook is the West Zone Representative on the Clinical Ambassador Council (CAC) and travels over 80% of the time; primarily supporting the State of Oregon and approximately 13 additional states.

Cook is a former Radiologic Technologist at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland, OR[4]. She is credentialed by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) in Radiography and is a member of both the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) and the Oregon Board of Medical Imaging (OBMI)[5].

Pageant Career

Early Pageants

Cook entered her first pageant in 2012 after learning that the Miss America Organization offers scholarships that could pay for her college education.[2] She was seeking alternative scholarship opportunities after multiple concussions forced her to leave the Oregon Tech volleyball team.[6] On April 28, 2012, Cook won the Miss City of Sunshine 2012 title and more than $6,500 in scholarship prizes.[7][8][9]. She also won the 2012 Miss Klamath County Academic Excellence Award, 2012 Miss Klamath County Scholar-Athlete Award, 2012 Miss Klamath County Miracle Maker Award, and 2012 Miss Klamath County Miss Congeniality Award[10].

Cook then competed as one of 23 qualifiers in the June 2012 Miss Oregon pageant with the platform "Athletic Concussion Awareness" and a fiddle performance in the talent portion of the competition.[7][11] She won both preliminary and overall Lifestyle & Fitness awards, the 2012 Tiffany Phillips Scholar-Athlete Award, and was named fourth runner-up to winner Rachel Berry[10]. Cook won an additional $3,200 in scholarships.[2][12][13]

Miss Oregon 2013

On April 21, 2013, Cook was crowned Miss Southern Gem 2013.[9] She entered the Miss Oregon pageant at the Seaside Convention Center in June 2013 as one of 22 qualifiers for the state title.[14][15] Cook's competition talent was an electro-acoustic fiddle performance of the song "Let's Get It Started" by The Black Eyed Peas.[3] Her platform was "Athletic Concussion Awareness"[9][16] and she won the 2013 Spirit of Katie Harman (Miss America 2002) Award, 2013 Tiffany Phillips Scholar-Athlete Award, and 2013 Miss Oregon Community Service Award.

Cook won the competition on Saturday, June 29, 2013, when she received her crown from outgoing Miss Oregon titleholder Nichole Mead.[2][15][3] She earned more than $10,000 in scholarship money and other prizes from the state pageant.[9] As Miss Oregon, her activities included public appearances across the state of Oregon.[16][17]

Throughout the year, Cook traveled over 25,000 miles and made over 330 appearances as the Official Hostess of the State of Oregon. Some of the organizations that she worked closely with included, but are not limited to: Brainchampions.org, Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, American Red Cross, Southern Oregon Veteran's Benefit, and the SMART Reading Program[10].

Her reign continued until June 28, 2014, when she crowned her successor, Rebecca Anderson, as Miss Oregon 2014.[18]

Vying for Miss America

In September 2013, Cook was Oregon's representative at the Miss America 2014 pageant in Atlantic City, New Jersey.[9][14] She was noted for being both the youngest and the tallest of that year's competitors.[1] During the pageant's "Show Us Your Shoes" parade, Cook wore cow print boots and a dress covered in Tillamook Cheese wrappers to represent Oregon's Dairy Industry.[19] Cook was not a finalist for the national crown; however, she won the National Tiffany Phillips Scholar-Athlete Award.[19]

International Junior Miss

The International Junior Miss Scholarship Program (IJM) is a pageant organization celebrating and encouraging the positive achievements of young ladies ages 4-24. In February 2018, Cook won the title of Miss Oregon 2018 in Portland, OR. In July, 2018, Cook and 58 other young women competed at the IJM International Pageant in San Antonio, TX. The categories included: Casual Wear, Spokesmodel, Talent, Interview, Fun Fashion, and Evening Gown.

Cook made the International Overall Top 15 and won Best Overall Interview, Best Overall Fun Fashion, a Spirit Award, and 4th Runner up in the talent competition with an Electric Violin cover of the popular song "Good Feeling" by Flo Rida[10].

Road to Miss Oregon USA

In January, 2020 Cook competed at the Miss Oregon USA pageant earning First Runner Up to doctoral student, recording artist, and future Clinical Air Force Psychologist Katerina Villegas. Cook plans to compete for the title of Miss Oregon USA 2021 in November, 2020.[20]

Passions

Cook is a Christian who loves sunflowers and anything that sparkles. In her spare time she enjoys Acrylic Painting, a good cup of coffee with friends, and going to the beach[21].

Advocate

Cook is a former National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) collegiate volleyball athlete and 5-time concussion survivor who passionately advocates for Brain Injury Awareness[22]. She a board member and Social Media / Website Manager for the Let 'Em Play Foundation where officials raise money to pay the athletic participation fees for basketball athletes in the Portland Metro Area[23]. Cook is the Model Bootcamp Runway Coach for the Curvy Chic Closet Foundation where she inspires plus-size men and women to be confident in who they are[22]. She strongly believes that everyone can make a difference and be the champion of their life![21]

Referee

Cook is an accomplished National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Referee (Lines Judge) at both the Division I and Division II levels[24]. She is National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) certified high school basketball and volleyball sports official and is a member of the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO)[24]. Cook has refereed at many state tournaments, including the 2018 Oregon School Activities Association 2A State Championship Basketball Tournament in Pendleton, OR[25] where she was the youngest female official to ever be selected.

Violinist

Cook started playing the violin at age 5. Over the years, she has transitioned from a classically trained violinist, to a fiddler and improvisational musician[26]. Cook began her training through the Suzuki Method (Books 1-4) and eventually expanded to orchestral performance, musical theory, fiddle, and improv[26]. Primarily, Allison performs on a 1920's German Stradivarius copy with an electric pick- up. However, her newest endeavor includes playing on a Fretless Electric Viper designed by Mark Wood (violinist)[26]. Some of her most noteworthy performances include a feature on 20/20 (American TV program) playing on the 2014 Miss America Stage, performing the National Anthem at the 2013 Oregon Jamboree, and earning 2nd Place in the Teen Division at the 2009 Annual Fiddletown Fiddle Competition Fiddletown, California[26]. Cook was also a member of the 2015 Spring Klamath County Symphony and 2014 Fall Klamath County Symphony[26].

the Tall Traveling Woman

In 2019, Cook took over 100 flights around the United States! T showcase her life lessons and adventures, she created the alias: the Tall Traveling Woman. Cook intends to share life lessons and travel hacks as she continues to explore the world![27]

Personal Life

Cook is driven by her Christian faith: she loves sunflowers, anything that sparkles, Acrylic Painting, a good cup of coffee with friends, and going to the beach[21]. She has modeled over 100 wedding dresses and work with prestigious magazines such as Oregon Bride. Her dream is to one day combine her passion for healthcare and athletics as a Sportscaster who emphasizes the referee's perspective and advocates for Brain Injury Awareness.

References
  1. Crawczak, JoLene (September 12, 2013). "Miss Oregon is the youngest and tallest at Miss America pageant". The Oregonian. Portland, OR: Advance Publications. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  2. Garcia, Stephanie (September 1, 2013). "Miss America, here she comes; Granite Bay teen off to national pageant". The Press-Tribune. Granite Bay, CA: Gold Country Media. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  3. "Oregon Tech Student Wins Miss Oregon 2013". Klamath Falls, OR: Oregon Institute of Technology. July 3, 2013. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  4. "ALLISON COOK - EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT". ALLISON COOK. Retrieved 2020-08-13.
  5. Cook, Allison (12/19/2018). "LinkedIn Employment Profile". LinkedIn. Retrieved 08/12/2020. Check date values in: |access-date=, |date= (help)
  6. Silton, Steven (April 10, 2013). "Contestants prepare for Miss Klamath County and Miss City of Sunshine competition at the Ragland April 20". Herald and News. Klamath Falls, OR: Pioneer News Group. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  7. "Oregon Tech's Cook Honored at Miss Oregon Pageant". Klamath Falls, OR: Oregon Institute of Technology. July 5, 2012. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  8. "Miss City of Sunshine Through the Years: 1995 - Present". Miss Klamath County - Miss City of Sunshine Scholarship Pageant. Archived from the original on November 13, 2015. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  9. Avery-Page, Nora (July 12, 2013). "New Miss Oregon from Klamath Falls". Herald and News. Klamath Falls, OR: Pioneer News Group. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  10. "ALLISON COOK - PAGEANTRY". ALLISON COOK. Retrieved 2020-08-13.
  11. "State Contestants: Oregon - 2012". Miss America. 2012. Archived from the original on September 7, 2015. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  12. Harbarger, Molly (June 30, 2012). "24-year-old from Willamette Valley wins Miss Oregon". The Oregonian. Portland, OR: Advance Publications. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  13. Sedlak, Rebecca (July 2, 2012). "Miss Willamette Valley Takes The Miss Oregon Crown". Portland, OR: Oregon Public Broadcasting. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  14. "State Contestants: Oregon - 2013". Miss America. 2013. Archived from the original on October 11, 2015. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  15. "Local student named Miss Oregon". Herald and News. Klamath Falls, OR: Pioneer News Group. June 29, 2013. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  16. Muller, Sky (January 29, 2014). "Miss Oregon talks brain injury in Coos County". Coos Bay, OR: KCBY-TV. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  17. Rasmussen, Randy L. (September 28, 2013). "Miss Oregon Allison Cook serves as Grand Marshal of Centennial High School homecoming parade". The Oregonian. Portland, OR: Advance Publications. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  18. Spitaleri, Ellen (June 30, 2014). "Anderson crowned Miss Oregon 2014". Portland Tribune. Portland, OR: Pamplin Media Group. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  19. Avery-Page, Nora (October 12, 2013). "Miss Oregon reflects on the Miss America pageant". Herald and News. Klamath Falls, OR: Pioneer News Group. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  20. "Pageant Show Tickets – Miss Oregon USA". Retrieved 2020-08-13.
  21. "ALLISON COOK - ABOUT ME". ALLISON COOK. Retrieved 2020-08-13.
  22. "ALLISON COOK - ADVOCATE". ALLISON COOK. Retrieved 2020-08-13.
  23. "Our Team". Let 'Em Play. Retrieved 2020-08-13.
  24. "ALLISON COOK - REFEREE". ALLISON COOK. Retrieved 2020-08-13.
  25. "OSAA - Activities". www.osaa.org. Retrieved 2020-08-13.
  26. "ALLISON COOK - VIOLINIST". ALLISON COOK. Retrieved 2020-08-13.
  27. "ALLISON COOK - the Tall Traveling Woman". ALLISON COOK. Retrieved 2020-08-13.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Nichole Mead		 Miss Oregon
2013		 Succeeded by
Rebecca Anderson
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