As a student at OU, you are not only learning how to get your degree, you are also learning how to serve others with your degree, Miss Oklahoma winner, Taylor Treat, told the 2009-2010 President’s Community Scholars Thursday in Davenport’s.

Treat, a human relations senior who is taking the year off from school while serving as Miss Oklahoma, shared the story of how her service learning experience, which began in high school, lead her to winning the title of Miss Oklahoma.

As Miss Oklahoma, she is promoting service learning to public schools across the state, and going all the way to Capitol Hill to support the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act.

The bill aims to triple the size of the AmeriCorps program over the next eight years and expand ways for students to earn money for college.

“With service learning, there are two parts to it: the service and the learning,” Treat said. “When I was going to school ... I was learning those different things so I could help someone else in the community.”

Treat traced her passion for community service back to her sophomore year at Ada High School, which requires students to participate in service projects as part of their requirements for graduation.

“I began to completely transform as a student,” Treat said.

She said her grades began to improve and she began to get involved in many school programs as a result of her service learning activities.

During her senior year she took part in a safe driving program called Project Ignition, which has grown into a national program for schools.

“[Service learning] really has changed my life,” Treat said. “I believe it is the only way to make a difference in education in America.”

Treat said her service learning initiatives in high school got her a scholarship to OU, where she got involved on campus, joining the OU Pom squad, and eventually competing for the title of Miss OU.

“She showed us that even though you think that you’re just a freshman on this huge campus, and that nothing you do is going to count, it really is,” said Cristine Segui, University College freshman.

President’s Community Scholars is a group of about 100 students chosen for their service to the community, leadership ability and achievements, according to an OU Web site.

Treat was crowned Miss Oklahoma June 6 in Tulsa. Since winning, Treat has been touring schools across the state to promote her platform of service learning. Treat said she has over 150 school visits booked for this year.

She said she claimed over $17,000 in scholarships for her victories in the talent and swimsuit competitions in addition to the crown. She said she would use the money to pay for college expenses when she returns to OU.

Treat said she is also training for the Miss America pageant, which will take place Jan. 30 in Las Vegas. She said she has to work out six days a week for 10 weeks, and is being trained by OU’s mascot coach, Erik Gransberg.

If she wins the title of Miss America, Treat said she would not be able to go back to school for another two years.

Despite the big competition ahead, Treat is focused on sharing the importance of service learning to Oklahoma schools.

“As Miss Oklahoma, I just want to be able to reach people on a personal level, and not be put on a pedestal,” Treat said. “I just want to be able to talk to everybody and let them know what’s going on in the state, and let them know how great Oklahoma is.”