Jill Stevens

Jill Stevens
Born (1983-02-28) February 28, 1983 (age 41)
AllegianceUnited States
Service / branchArmy National Guard
Years of service2001–?
RankSergeant
Unit1st Battalion, 211th Aviation Regiment
Battles / warsAfghanistan War
Jill Stevens
Born (1983-02-28) February 28, 1983 (age 41)
EducationSouthern Utah University
SpouseKerry Shepherd (m. 2009)
Beauty pageant titleholder
Title
Hair colorBlonde
Eye colorBlue
Major
competition(s)		Miss America 2008 (Top 16)

Jill Stevens (born February 28, 1983) is a Miss Utah 2007. She was chosen as Miss Southern Utah University and Miss Davis County. She is a combat medic in the Utah Army National Guard and served as a medic during an 18-month tour in Afghanistan from 2004 to 2006 supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.[1]

Biography

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A member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Stevens grew up in Utah's Davis County. Her mother is a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

Stevens joined the Army National Guard six months before 9/11.[2] In November 2003, she was deployed to Afghanistan, returning home in April 2005. She has earned five medals for her outstanding service S was the first female finisher of the inaugural Afghanistan Marathon,[3] making a total of 12 marathons she has completed together with earning the highest Fitness award during Army Basic Training. In representing the Army National Guard, Sergeant Stevens[when?] addressed generals from 40 different nations gathered at Hill Air Force Base.

Stevens graduated summa cum laude from the nursing program at Southern Utah University on a four-year leadership scholarship. She placed third in the Cinco De Mayo Sailboat Regatta in Mexico.[citation needed] She was chosen as one of four "Women of Strength" featured in Muscle & Fitness Hers magazine's September/October 2007 issue. Stevens has been a fitness instructor for Gold's Gym for several years, as well as a bread baker for Great Harvest.

Stevens was Miss Utah 2007, and competed in the Miss America Pageant in January 2008. On January 26, 2008, she was named the "America's Choice" semi-finalist in the Miss America 2008 pageant. This was the first time a 16th semi-finalist was named in the competition, and she was the only semi-finalist not to be selected by the judges. Stevens was eliminated after the swimsuit competition, along with five other semi-finalists. She was the only contestant to wear a one-piece swimsuit.[4] When her name was announced, she dropped to the stage and started doing push-ups.

Stevens is a member of the MormonTimes.com racing team.[5]

Stevens married Kerry Shepherd in January 2009.[6]

References

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  1. ^ "Miss Utah 07".
  2. ^ "US NAVY JEEP: SGT. Jill Stevens, Utah National Guard's 1st Battalion, 211th Aviation Regiment served her country in Afghanistan". 8 January 2011.
  3. ^ Warren, Chelsea (3 July 2009), "'Faith in the Service' through Mormon eyes", MormonTimes, archived from the original on 14 July 2011, retrieved 2009-08-30
  4. ^ Farmer, Molly (9 August 2009), "Jill Stevens Shepherd encourages YSAs to be proud of who they are", MormonTimes, retrieved 2009-08-30
  5. ^ Marshall, Andrew (4 July 2008), "MormonTimes.com racers finish first", MormonTimes, retrieved 2009-08-30[permanent dead link‍]
  6. ^ Wilson, Chanae (8 March 2009), "Brides save money by renting gowns", MormonTimes, archived from the original on 2009-03-13, retrieved 2009-08-30

Sources

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