Rachel Marie Brooks, from Broomall, winner of 2007 Miss Pennsylvania Scholarship Pageant, is congratulated Sunday by other contestants, from left, Jessica Megliss, Rachel Henry and Katelyn Koval, during an awards celebration and breakfast in Fogelsville.

UPPER NAZARETH — A University of Pennsylvania graduate student from Delaware County won the 2007 Miss Pennsylvania pageant on Saturday night.

Rachel Marie Brooks, 24, from Broomall, Pa., will represent the Keystone State in the Miss America competition.

Also competing were Ashley Duespohl, Miss Butler County, and Sarah Timm, Miss Moraine State.

"I'm so overwhelmed," Brooks said minutes after being crowned. "I have the chance to make a difference. I'm overwhelmed and excited."

Brooks has competed in the Miss Pennsylvania pageant four times.

"It's been a long time coming," she said. "I'm just so thankful to see my personal growth over the past four years. The group of women in Pennsylvania is phenomenal. To come out of this group is really an honor.

"I'm so excited to compete in Miss America. Seeing it come to fruition is unbelievable."

Brooks, who entered the contest as Miss River City, has as her platform "Autism Awareness, Unlocking the Mystery." She succeeds last year's winner, Emily Wills.

The only Miss Pennsylvania to have won the national contest was Evelyn Ay, Miss America 1954.