( CNN ) -- Miss Wisconsin Laura Kaeppeler was crowned Miss America 2012 at the pageant in Las Vegas on Saturday night . The 23-year-old 's platform is mentoring children of incarcerated parents . She performed operatic vocals in the talent competition . Miss Oklahoma Betty Thompson , was first runner-up ; Miss New York Kaitlin Monte , was second runner-up ; Miss Arizona Jennifer Sedler , was third runner-up ; and Miss California Noelle Freeman , was fourth runner-up .
Laura Kaeppeler of Wisconsin is Miss America 2012 . The pageant was founded in 1951 by a group of women from the University of Wisconsin-Madison who wanted to promote their university and its athletic teams.