She’s beautiful, she’s brilliant and she’s a Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduate competing for the title of Miss America 2005.

Erika Ebbel, who received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry with a minor in music from MIT last June, was crowned Miss Massachusetts only weeks after graduation and is now in Atlantic City, N.J. competing for the Miss America crown.

No woman from Massachusetts has ever been named Miss America in the pageant’s 50-year history, according to pageant officials, but Ebbel is a step closer after winning Monday night’s preliminary talent competition for her performance of Chopin’s “Fantasie Impromptu” on the piano.

The Miss America Organization is a non-profit enterprise that offers scholarships to young women and promotes community involvement, according to the organization’s website.

Miss America should not be confused with Miss USA, a separate organization headed by New York multi-billionaire Donald Trump.

Last year, the Miss America Organization gave out $45 million in scholarship funds to participants who are encouraged to promote AIDS awareness and prevention, the effects of domestic violence on society and ways to motivate young people to public service.

The talent component for the Miss Massachusetts competition determines 40 percent of each contestant’s total score while the Miss America pageant allots only 30 percent of the total score to talent. Therefore, Ebbel will have excel in the swimsuit, evening wear, casual wear and interview components to have a chance as a finalist.

A 23-year-old from Cambridge, Ebbel started WhizKids, a volunteer foundation dedicated to helping students of various age groups with science fair projects.

Ebbel is working toward becoming a physician and medical researcher and has plans to complete a combined medical and doctoral program. Her interest in classical piano has remained constant throughout her life.

Ebbel competes for the title Saturday at 8 p.m. on ABC, WCVB-TV Channel 5.