Member News

Hershey & Myerstown, PA:  Leitzel’s Jewelry will host Miss Pennsylvania 2017, Katie Schreckengast, Friday, December 1st at both Leitzel’s Jewlery locations. Katie will appear at Leitzel’s Jewelry of Myerstown from 10am to 12pm and Leitzel’s Jewelry on Chocolate in Hershey from 3pm to 5pm. Katie, of Palmyra, PA, is a great role model and inspiration to young girls and our community. The press and community are welcome to visit both Leitzel’s Jewelry locations to meet Katie, take photographs and receive autographs. Katie placed in the top 10 of the 2018 Miss America pageant.

Katie Schreckengast is a rising senior studying broadcast journalism at the Pennsylvania State University.  Katie is also an alto saxophone in the Penn State Blue Band and she serves as the Public Relations Officer for the organization.  In less than a year, Katie has grown the Blue Band’s social media presence by more than doubling the amount of followers on the band’s social media pages.  During Penn State football home games, Katie leads the band out before pregame as one of the tunnel leads.

Katie began competing in the Miss America program when she was 13 years old and in 2013 she was named Miss Pennsylvania's Outstanding Teen.  In January she won her first Miss title when she was crowned Miss Central Pennsylvania 2017.

Now, she travels the state speaking about her adoption story through her personal platform ‘Building Families Through Adoption’ while also raising money for Miss America’s national platform, the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.  Over the past seven years, Katie has raised more than $15,000 for the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. ?

One of the most exciting things about Katie’s appearance at Leitzel’s Jewelry is that Leitzel’s will feature the authentic Miss Pennsylvania crown, made by The Pennsylvania Jewelers Association. The crown is handmade from 14kt yellow gold, encrusted with 92 carats of Brazilian amethyst and 214 diamonds, totaling 12.70 carats. It took over 200 hours and more than two years to hand craft the crown. Each individual diamond and gemstone was hand carved into the crown, a tedious practice rarely performed today. The focal point of the crown is a 37 carat Brazilian amethyst, custom cut into the shape of a Keystone to signify the state of Pennsylvania. To our knowledge, the Pennsylvania Jewelers Association Miss Pennsylvania crown is the only golden and gemstone crown of any of the Miss America contestants.

Leitzel’s Jewelry is a full service, family owned jeweler with two locations - Leitzel’s Jewelry of Myerstown and Leitzel’s Jewelry on Chocolate in Hershey. Follow Leitzel’s Jewelry on www.Facebook.com/LeitzelsJewelry to view extended holiday hours and special event details.


For more information about Katie Schreckengast, visit or contact Lori Schreckengast loridows@gmail.com