Scarsdale's Miss NY Falls Short of Miss America Crown

With a heart the size of New York, an infectious smile and the determination to win, Miss New York Alyse Zwick, 24, competed, but fell short of the final circle in the Miss America pageant that aired tonight on The Learning Channel.*

The Scarsdale native already won the preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness category competition on Wednesday night - which was also her birthday - receiving a $1,000 scholarship. But while Zwick was poised and ready to win the ultimate prize, Miss America 2009 Katie Stam's crown, she was not selected for the final round.

The loss may feel heartbreaking, given the pressure and attention the Miss America pageant receives, but pageant life is nothing new to Alyse Zwick.

Her mother, Jean Kulhan, competed in the 1969 Miss New York Pageant as Miss Rockland County. Zwick's mother was first runner-up. Zwick has also competed in the 2008 National Sweetheart Pageant, 2008 Miss Long Island Pageant (won), and the first-ever Miss Westchester County local pageant in 2009. Winning the latter title earned her a sponsorship to participate in the Miss New York Scholarship Pageant.

And Alyse Zwick is more than the beauty and glamour associated with pageants.

She is committed to her community and American veterans, and she comes from a background of strong family and cultural values. Her mother, aunt and grandparents fled the Communist regime in Slovakia in 1948. She is a first-generation Slovak American. In honor of her heritage, Zwick submitted a traditional Slovakian dish, Slovak Pancakes to TLC's Miss America recipe collection.

It is Zwick's grandfather who inspires many of her charitable endeavors. Her grandfather is a decorated World War II veteran. His war experiences opened Zwick's eyes to her grandfather's heroism and service to his country. This revelation formed the foundation for her Miss America platform Honoring War Heroes. She became concerned for other soldiers and veterans, including their families.

On her Miss Westchester County 2009 Facebook Fan Page, Zwick states "To support this cause [Honoring War Heroes], I speak to schools and encourage our youth to write to our troops overseas thanking them for their service."

"These letters accompany care packages that are sent to our troops overseas…Many service men and women have expressed to me how important and honored they feel when they receive a warm touch of home!!!"

Zwick's philanthropy reaches beyond the school assembly programs and letter writing. She also volunteers at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the National Military Families Association, the USO, and the Coalition to Salute America's Heroes. She is the official spokesperson for the United War Veterans Council in NYC and the host of their Thank You for Serving project.

In the past, she was a featured speaker at West Point. She toured Playland with County Executive Andrew Spano on Veterans Appreciation Day. And, alongside Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, she successfully helped increase real property tax exemptions for Cold War Veterans in NY.

"Daily, I promote community service and goodwill throughout the Westchester and the New York State Community," Zwick's Miss Westchester County 2009 Facebook Fan Page reads. "My heart in community service stems from my love of helping others and working with youth."

When Alyse Zwick is not volunteering, she is balancing her time between being a full-time professional actress/model/dancer and part-time student at CUNY School of Professional Studies pursuing a Master's Degree in Fine Arts. Nevertheless, Zwick is currently focused on proudly representing Scarsdale and New York at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas at the 2010 Miss America Pageant. She isreceiving support all across the country.

And her high school friends - who have shown their support for her on Facebook and her blog - were vocal in their support.

"Alyse was a senior my freshman year at Pebblebrook High School. She was so poised and sweet," wrote Cara Myler, a 2007 Pebblebrook High School graduate, when asked by Patch to offer words of encouragement to Zwick. "She was someone we all looked up to, even if she didn't know it. I have seen her in Cosmo and on the Bump It' box and will definitely be cheering her on tonight! So excited!" 

"I will absolutely be watching and rooting for Alyse!" wrote Ryan Koss, a 2006 Pebblebrook High School classmate, to Patch via Facebook.  "She was a great friend in High School and we shared so many laughs. She is a wonderful person and deserves this. I really hope she gets it!! GO GIRL!!!"

The Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity asked all the sisters to tune in to the pageant to support their sisters Alyse Zwick (Eta Pi alum from Wright State University) and Miss Georgia Emily Cook (Gamma Alpha alum from University of Miami).

Alison Williams Pinsley (Scarsdale Senior High School '77) wishes Zwick "Good Luck, you can do it." Cody Williams (Pebblebrook High School '06) told her,"If I could say anything to Alyse, I would just say to have fun! I'm pumped to watch her tomorrow."

And, Zwick's boyfriend Justin Finn (SGU Grad Student '13, Muhlenberg Alum '08) stated, "Alyse has a tremendous amount of support here in Vegas including both her family and a lot of my family. She also has extended support from her extensive network of friends and the entire Island of Grenada where I go to school.

And she shone like a diamond on Saturday night.

More beautiful than ever, she faced some stiff competition and still stood out in every way. She was captivating in the and we all wish her the very best of luck and hope she's enjoying this once in a lifetime experience.

The 2010 Miss America Pageant airs live on TLC tonight at 8 p.m.; Verizon Fios channel 139, DirectTV 280, Cablevision channel 28.

For more information on Alyse Zwick, click here to visit her website. To read about her journey to Miss America 2010, read her personal blog here.