LAS VEGAS — Miss Washington Kristen Eddings may not have won the Miss America crown, but she did place in the Top 10, taking with her memories that will last a lifetime — and a $7,000 scholarship.

The anticipation was intense for Eddings’ family and friends Monday evening as host Mario Lopez began to call out the 10 contestants who would make the first semifinalist round. With her name the second to last called out, it was a cliffhanger as the first eight women took to the front of the stage.

“That was an emotional rollercoaster,” exclaimed Mandy (Levenseller) Watland, who graduated with Eddings from Klahowya Secondary School in 2002. “I had tears and I was shaking. I remember in 2002 when she won Miss Poulsbo. This was nothing compared to that.”

Eddings, 22, stood with a smile on her face waiting to hear the four words that would send her into the semifinalist round: “Miss Washington Kristen Eddings.”

Her jaw dropped when she heard her name, excitedly taking her place at the front of the stage. She went on to compete in Lifestyle and Fitness and in Swimsuit and Evening Wear before it was limited to only five contestants.

As a Top 10 semifinalist, Eddings joined nine other contestants, Miss Georgia, Miss Pennsylvania, Miss Mississippi, Miss Oklahoma, Miss Texas, Miss Alabama, Miss Utah, Miss Hawaii and Miss California. It was a Southern sweep as the competition was narrowed down to the Top 5 from Georgia, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas and Alabama. It was then whittled down to Miss Oklahoma, Miss Texas and Miss Georgia. However, it was Miss Oklahoma Lauren Nelson, a 20-year-old student from the city of Lawton, who took the crown.

For placing in the Top 10, Eddings, who graduated from Seattle Pacific University in 2006, will receive a $7,000 scholarship which will go toward her continuing education. She has said she plans to obtain her master’s degree.

Eddings’ parents Gary and Anita were beaming with pride after Monday night’s event at the Aladdin/Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino.

“Top 10 is wonderful, we couldn’t be more proud,” Anita said.

“She has worked hard and she went a long way and she’ll continue to go far,” Gary added.

Eddings will return to Washington to continue her reign as the state titleholder until July when Miss Washington 2007 is crowned. She will continue to spread awareness on the importance of international education — her platform issue. Anita says her daughter then plans to enter the Peace Corps (Miss America contestants were prohibited from interviews following the crowning).

“She wants to go to Jordan,” Anita said with a smile.

Throughout the competition, Eddings not only had support from the more than 150 local fans who traveled to cheer for the Silverdale native (including many family members and friends from college), but from various people who attended the event and its three preliminary nights of competition.

“We heard so much support from people from all over the nation,” Anita said.

“We’re all so proud of her,” Watland added. “She’s one amazing girl.”