New Miss America Knows Her Calling

2012 Miss America

Her own experience as the daughter of an incarcerated adult turned into a calling to help others.

(Las Vegas)—Reports reveal that the newly crowned Miss America, Laura Kaeppeler of Kenosha, Wisconsin, actively supports children of incarcerated adults.

Her passion to help those children is, in large part, due to her personal experience as the daughter Jeff Kaeppeler, a man who served nearly two years in prison for mail fraud.

Laura was just finishing high school when he began his prison term.

According to an AP report, Laura's father supported his daughter's decision to publicly promote her passion to help children feel less alone and have access to mentors, even though it meant his crime would be in the spotlight.

"It taught us that God can turn anything into good if you let Him," said Jeff.

Indeed, after his daughter was crowned Miss America, Jeff said "We've seen a miracle."

Laura, who attends a private Lutheran liberal arts college in Kenosha, was quoted as saying she intends to use her scholarship money to pursue a law degree to help reach her goal to aid children of incarcerated adults.

"I really feel like I've been called to work in this," she said. "Whether I became Miss America or not, this is something that I would pursue in my career no matter what."

2012 Godwoman - Women and the Wounded