Reva Mickey, head of the Jefferson County Democratic executive committee, said her husband, Jim, hopes Lawrence will mention that on stage Monday.
"That will go a long way with Chris Matthews. He's one of the judges," Mickey said. Matthews is host of the MSNBC show "Hardball with Chris Matthews."
Local residents like Lawrence for her intelligence and her academic success, which includes graduating recently with a 4.0 grade-point average and a master's degree in business from Shenandoah University.
"When you look at her in a total package, she really has a lot to offer," said Mickey, who is not going to the pageant.
Jefferson County Magistrate Gail Boober was among the estimated 60 local residents who traveled to Las Vegas to see the pageant.
In a telephone interview Thursday from Las Vegas, Boober said she was having a blast seeing the sights of Las Vegas and getting ready for the pageant.
Things were looking up.
Boober said she had won $50 gambling and had tickets to see Celine Dion.
"It's really a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Boober said.
Boober said she bought a $175 ticket, which gets her into four pageant events, including Monday's finale.
Boober said she had not seen Lawrence, but she had passes to pageant-related parties.
Lawrence's parents, Tony and Cheryl Lawrence of Shepherdstown, arrived in Las Vegas on Thursday. Cheryl Lawrence said Thursday night that she was in a theater at The Aladdin Resort & Casino, where the pageant will be held. Lawrence was competing in the gown and swimsuit events.
"I got a glimpse of Tiffany, that's about it," Cheryl Lawrence said.
Tonight, Lawrence will compete in the entertainment part of the event and she will sing "Black Velvet," Cheryl Lawrence said.
Events like gown and swimsuit and entertainment will be repeated Monday night, but only among the top 10 contestants, Cheryl Lawrence said.
Personal profile
Hometown: Shepherdstown, W.Va.
Age: 24
Education: Jefferson High School
Shepherd University - Dual major in political science and business administration
Shenandoah University - master's of business administration
Platform issue: The Power of Positive Self-Esteem
Scholastic ambition: To obtain a Ph.D. in public administration
Talent: Vocal
Scholastic Honors: Durell Fellow 4.0 grade-point average; Phi Kappa Phi National Honorary; Dean's Award Outstanding Graduate Student
Career Ambition: To become governor of West Virginia/CEO of my own marketing firm
Local Competition Sponsor: Miss Jefferson County
State Competition Sponsor: Miss West Virginia Scholarship Organization
Tiffany on TV
Shepherdstown's Tiffany Lawrence will represent West Virginia at the Miss America Pageant in Las Vegas.
The pageant will air live Monday beginning at 8 p.m. on CMT.
