On Saturday, June 15th, April Thibeault was crowned Miss Massachusetts 1999. In addition to the $9,000 scholarship money she received as the state’s new titleholder, April also walked away with a Preliminary Talent Scholarship Award. April’s journey to the title of Miss Massachusetts began two years ago. April began competing in the Miss America Organization at the age of 19; this was her second attempt vying for the crown. In 1998, she was a Top Ten Finalist. These scholarships have helped finance her education at Emerson College.

April represented the Commonwealth in the live telecast of the Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City in September 1999. Her talent was recognized at the national level where she received the Bert Parks Talent Scholarship Award for her lyrical ballet performance danced to the music of Yanni. In honor of Miss America 2000, Heather Renee French, April has helped advocate Heather’s platform "Homeless Veterans Outreach" throughout the Bay State.

As Miss Massachusetts, April is an advocate of child abuse prevention. From the State House to day care centers she is constantly promoting her three-pronged child abuse prevention campaign. She feels it is essential we educate parents, treat abused children, and proliferate public awareness through the symbolic Blue Ribbon in order to successfully prevent child abuse.

As a spokesperson and board member of the Massachusetts Citizens for Children, the Massachusetts chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America, April has educated thousands of citizens across the Bay State about the "State of the Child." In October April hosted a live auction to help benefit Shaken Baby Syndrome as well as hold a press conference at the State House unveiling the arrival of the Shaken Baby Syndrome Quilts. As a member of Prevent Child Abuse Massachusetts, April actively supported a bill passed by the Massachusetts Senate that increased funding for a Newborn Home Visiting Program. In November April served as the "celebrity guest" at the annual fundraiser gala sponsored by the Children’s Trust Fund. In December she helped raise millions of dollars for the Children’s Hospital at WBZ's Children’s Telethon.

For the past four years April has dedicated her life to stopping the cycle of child maltreatment. She has served as a lobbyist for certain legislation pending on Beacon Hill; always improving the welfare of the Commonwealth’s children. She has served as a child-care provider. public relations assistant, and fundraising committee member for the Massachusetts chapter of Parents Anonymous, a national non-profit organization designed to prevent child abuse through parent education. April has created and is currently developing an intervention program designed to prevent child abuse by educating at-risk parents called Cry For Help. It serves as a coordinating agency between families in crisis and trained volunteer students called "lending ears." In order to successfully treat abused children April has interned with Kids In Distress Inc., a housing development designed to properly treat and care for abused children.

In addition to preventing child abuse April is has helped raise money and awareness for the following causes:

Homeless Veterans: On February 14th April celebrated National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans Day at the Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital with the Department of Veterans Affairs. On May 19th she will help raise money for the hospital at its Annual Golf Tournament in Bedford.

Cerebal Palsy: April was a celebrity guest at the Cerebal Palsy of Massachusetts Gala Celebration.

Mental Health: She helped raise money for mental health research at the North Suffolk Mental Health Association Dinner and Raffle.

Higher Education: She has served as a spokesperson and special guest speaker for the Citizens Scholarships Foundation. April did a public service announcement, spoke at various events, and joined the founder of "Dollars for Scholars", Dr. Alan Frankin, inspiring today’s youth and interviewing on local radio stations.