Editing Elizabeth Gracen (section)

== Early life and education ==
Elizabeth Grace Ward was born on April 3, 1961, in [[Ozark, Arkansas|Ozark]], [[Arkansas]], the daughter of Patricia Hampe, a nurse, and Jimmy Young Ward, a poultry worker. She was raised in [[Booneville, Arkansas]]. The family later moved to [[Russellville, Arkansas]], where Ward dated University of Arkansas trainer Mike Walker and graduated from [[Russellville High School (Arkansas)|Russellville High School]] in 1979.<ref name= career>{{cite encyclopedia | title = Elizabeth Ward Gracen (1961–) | url = http://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=2747 | encyclopedia = Encyclopedia of Arkansas | access-date = January 11, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120314045228/http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=2747 | archive-date = March 14, 2012 | url-status = dead }}</ref> She was a junior accounting major at [[Arkansas Tech University]] at the time she entered the Miss America contest.<ref>Thomas DeBlack.  "A Century Forward: The Centennial History of Arkansas Tech University." Walsworth Publishing Company. 2016.</ref>  Instead of returning to Arkansas Tech, she used her Miss America scholarship money to study acting at HB Studios in New York City.