Miss America returns to her hometown of Kenosha



KENOSHA -- She's been all over the country the past two months, but Miss America came home this weekend. Although Laura Kaeppeler had been in Wisconsin since Thursday, she didn't get to her hometown of Kenosha until Saturday.

Her old high school, St. Joseph Catholic Academy, threw her a homecoming pep rally on Saturday. She graduated from the school back in 2006, four years before becoming Miss Wisconsin. Kaeppeler performed a couple songs, which brought back memories to her mother, Sue. "She has so many memories of being in school, on that stage, in concerts and plays, dance recitals. This was kind of a full-circle opportunity for her," Sue Kaeppeler said.

Kaeppeler's mom, Sue says Laura had great support from her hometown during the Miss America pageant in Las Vegas. "The support out in Vegas was incredible. There was over 100 family and friends there, and when we came back to Kenosha the very first night, friends and family were greeting us at our house. It means everything. You've got your community and your school behind you. There's nothing like your family and extended family, who for us, are the friends we've acquired in Kenosha," Sue Kaeppeler said.

Kaeppeler's whirlwind tour of the state will take her to Oshkosh on Sunday. She will wrap up her visit to the Badger State by stopping up in Green Bay on Monday morning. On Monday night, she will sing the National Anthem at the Bucks game.