Lansing native Ashley Aull was crowed Miss Kansas USA last weekend during a pageant in Overland Park.

The 20-year-old who was Miss Leavenworth County, is the daughter of Melanie and Alex Aull, Lansing. She attends Johnson County Community College.

The now-former Miss Kansas USA is 22-year-old Rachel Saunders of Tonganoxie. Saunders, who is pursuing a degree in graphic design and photography, is the daughter of Stephen Michael and Edna Saunders of Tonganoxie.

Miss Kansas Teen USA

Also at the pageant, a 17-year-old from Wichita, Gentry Miller, was named Miss Kansas Teen USA 2006.

Aull was chosen from among 31 contestants, while Miller competed in a field of 33 teens for her honor.

Among other contestants in the teen pageant was Paula Prosser, 17, Tonganoxie. Prosser, who attends Tonganoxie High School, progressed to the semifinalist round, and ultimately was named third runner-up in the pageant, which she entered as Tonganoxie Teen USA.

A Basehor 16-year-old, Christina Sutlick, also competed in the pageant as Leavenworth County Teen USA. She earned honorable mention in the state pageant, which is the highest rated non-semifinalist.

In both pageants, entrants were judged on their performance in evening gown, swimsuit and personal interview. The two winners will advance to the Miss USA Pageant in the spring and the Miss Teen USA Pageant in the summer, both televised on NBC.

Also a part of this year’s event, more than $1,200 was raised to help victims of Hurricane Katrina. This initiative will continue at each state pageant this year, with a goal of $25,000 raised. If this goal is met, it will be matched by the Miss Universe organization. Funds were raised in the form of $1 per vote in the “People’s Choice Award,” which was given this year to “Miss South Leawood Teen” Jovana Mirabile, 16, and “Miss Greater Lawrence” Megan Price, 20.