Jill Stevens is Miss Utah

Miss Utah

The Miss Utah competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Utah in the Miss America pageant. Utah has twice won the Miss America crown.- Winners :- External links :**...

 2007.
She was chosen as Miss Southern Utah University

Southern Utah University

Southern Utah University, or SUU, is located in Cedar City, Utah. It was founded in 1897 as an extension of the Agricultural College of Utah, by the citizens of Cedar City.During its history, the school has been known as:...

 and Miss Davis County

Davis County, Utah

Davis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Utah. As of 2010 the population was 306,479, a 28.2% increase over the 2000 figure of 238,994. It was named for Daniel C. Davis, captain in the Mormon Battalion. The county is part of the Ogden–Clearfield Metropolitan Statistical Area as...

. She is a combat medic

Combat medic

Combat medics are trained military personnel who are responsible for providing first aid and frontline trauma care on the battlefield. They are also responsible for providing continuing medical care in the absence of a readily available physician, including care for disease and battle injury...

 in the Utah Army National Guard

Utah Army National Guard

The Utah National Guard comprises both Army and Air National Guard components. The Constitution of the United States specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal and state missions...

 and served as a medic in Afghanistan

Afghanistan

Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...

 in 2004 – 2005.

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

Mormon Tabernacle Choir

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, sometimes colloquially referred to as MoTab, is a Grammy and Emmy Award winning, 360-member, all-volunteer choir. The choir is part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . However, the choir is completely self-funded, traveling and producing albums to...

.

Since 2002, Jill Stevens has been serving in the US Military as a combat medic in the Utah National Guard, while earning her degree in Nursing

Nursing

Nursing is a healthcare profession focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life from conception to death....

 at Southern Utah University. In November 2003, Jill was deployed to Afghanistan, returning home in April 2005. She has earned 5 medals for her outstanding service, and was the first female finisher of the inaugural Afghanistan Marathon, making a total of 12 marathons she has completed together with earning the highest Fitness award during Army Basic Training

United States Army Basic Training

United States Army Basic Training is the program of physical and mental training required in order for an individual to become a soldier in the United States Army, United States Army Reserve, or Army National Guard. It is carried out at several different Army posts around the United States...

. In representing the Army National Guard, Sergeant Stevens recently addressed Generals from 40 different nations gathered at Hill Air Force Base

Hill Air Force Base

Hill Air Force Base is a major U.S. Air Force Base located in northern Utah, just south of the city of Ogden, and near the towns of Clearfield, Riverdale, Roy, Sunset, and Layton. It is about north of Salt Lake City. The base was named in honor of Major Ployer Peter Hill of the U.S. Army Air...

.

In addition to her U.S. military service, Jill graduated summa cum laude from the Nursing program at Southern Utah University on a four-year leadership scholarship. She placed 3rd in the Cinco De Mayo Sailboat Regatta in Mexico as well as being chosen one of four women for the "Women of Strength" featured in Muscle & Fitness Hers

Muscle & Fitness

Muscle & Fitness is an American bodybuilding magazine founded by Joe Weider, but now published by American Media, Inc.-History:Muscle & Fitness has a more mainstream focus than its companion publication, Flex...

 magazine September/October 2007 issue. Additionally, Jill has been a fitness instructor for Gold's Gym

Gold's Gym

Gold's Gym International, Inc. is an international chain of co-ed fitness centers originally started in California by Joe Gold. Each gym features a wide array of exercise equipment, group exercise classes and personal trainers to assist clients...

 for several years, as well as a bread baker for Great Harvest

Great Harvest Bread Company

Great Harvest Bread Company is a franchise in the United States that sells fresh-baked bread and other items.- History :In the late 1970s, Pete and Laura Wakeman, college students and founders of Great Harvest, set up a road side stand and began baking fresh-ground whole wheat bread in Durham,...

. Possibly one of her most unusual experiences was her unexpected experience in becoming Miss Utah 2007 and subsequent competition in the Miss America Pageant in January 2008. On January 26, 2008, Sgt Stevens was named the "America's Choice" semi-finalist in the Miss America 2008

Miss America 2008

Miss America 2008, the 87th Miss America pageant, was held at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas on January 26, 2008.The pageant was broadcast live on TLC from the Theatre for the Performing Arts at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino, only the third time that the pageant has been...

 pageant. This was the first time a 16th semi-finalist was named in the competition, and the only semi-finalist not to be selected by the judges. Jill was eliminated after the swimsuit competition along with five other semi-finalists. She was the only contestant to wear a one-piece swimsuit. When her name was announced she dropped to the stage and started doing push-ups.

Stevens has now joined the MormonTimes.com

Mormon Times

Mormon Times was a website and newspaper insert containing news and information for and about members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . According to mormontimes.com, it has moved back to Deseret News....

racing team.

Jill married Kerry Shepherd in January 2009.

External links

• ARMY.MIL - G.I. Jill Journal
• It's All Good, by Jill Stevens, ISBN 978-1-932898-93-4