After graduating with honors from the United States Military Academy, Alma Cooper is pursuing a master’s degree in statistics (data science track) at Stanford while building her leadership skills as a Knight-Hennessy scholar. While at West Point, Alma ensured accountability for 4,400 cadets in emergency and crisis scenarios while beginning her research on diet and food insecurity, which continues today at Stanford. She has also challenged traditional notions of what it means to be a scholar, a soldier, and a pageant winner, having achieved all three when she recently claimed the Miss Michigan crown to represent her home state.

Alma says Stanford is a place where she feels supported to pursue excellence in all forms, reinforcing her belief that the only limitations are the ones we accept. On Aug. 4, Alma was named Miss USA, a role in which she hopes to exemplify service, leadership, and achievement – without limitations.