Twelve students have registered as contestants in the 62nd annual Miss Arkansas Tech University Scholarship Pageant.
The pageant will be on Friday, Feb. 17, at Witherspoon Auditorium. It will begin at 7 p.m. Admission will be $8 for adults, $5 for minors and free with a current and valid Arkansas Tech identification card.
Miss Arkansas 2016 Savannah Skidmore of Calico Rock and Miss Arkansas Tech 2016 Carly Copeland of Clarksville will provide special entertainment.
The Miss Arkansas Tech University Scholarship Pageant is sponsored by the ladies of Delta Zeta. Dr. Jim Collins, professor of horticulture at Arkansas Tech, serves as pageant executive director and master of ceremonies.
The Miss Tech Pageant is an official preliminary to the Miss America Pageant, and the winner will compete in the 2017 Miss Arkansas Pageant.
Contestants in the Miss Arkansas Tech University Scholarship Pageant must be full-time female Tech students between the ages of 17 and 24.
The new Miss Tech will receive a two-semester tuition scholarship at Arkansas Tech. In all, more than $21,000 in gifts and scholarships will be awarded during the pageant.
The 12 contestants for the 62nd Miss Tech title, listed in the order in which they will compete, are:
Contestant No. 1: Allie Evans
Parents: Angela Marie and James David Evans
Hometown: Dardanelle
Talent: Pop Vocal – “Don’t Forget Me”
Critical Issue: Promoting Positive Self-Esteem in Teen Girls
Sponsor: Building Blocks Pediatric Therapy
Contestant No. 2: Meagan Halcomb
Parents: Ann and Chuck Halcomb
Hometown: Delight
Talent: Vocal
Critical Issue: Let’s Be Real – Suicide Awareness
Sponsor: Alpha Tau Omega
Contestant No. 3: Anna Adams-King
Parents: Bernadette and Chris Adams; Audrey and Bruce King
Hometown: Fort Smith
Talent: Baton Twirling – “You Can’t Stop the Beat”
Critical Issue: Mentoring Makes the Difference
Sponsor: Zeta Tau Alpha
Contestant No. 4: Cierra Martin
Parents: Audra and Rob Thompson; Lavonda and Wayne Martin
Hometown: Lavaca
Talent: Vocal – “Crazy”
Critical Issue: Boys and Girls Clubs of America
Sponsors: Phi Mu and Chi Alpha
Contestant No. 5: Payton Marshall
Parents: Stacy and David Marshall
Hometown: Belleville
Talent: Vocal
Critical Issue: One Foot Forward
Sponsors: Friends and Family
Contestant No. 6: Kelsey Stone
Parents: Kim and Dee Stone
Hometown: Russellville
Talent: Vocal
Critical Issue: Healthy Habits
Sponsor: Leaning Willow
Contestant No. 7: Makayla King
Parents: Cristy and Lynn King
Hometown: Conway
Talent: Lyrical Dance
Critical Issue: Mission of Hope
Sponsor: Zeta Tau Alpha
Contestant No. 8: Lacy Knox
Parents: Libby and Clay Knox
Hometown: Hope
Talent: Jazz Dance
Critical Issue: Think Positive, Be Positive
Sponsor: Zeta Tau Alpha
Contestant No. 9: Raigan Purtle
Parents: Ryna and Brian Purtle
Hometown: Russellville
Talent: Dance
Critical Issue: Mentoring – IOU
Sponsors: Delta Zeta and Formal Affairs
Contestant No. 10: McKinzy McGee
Parents: Sharon and Leslie Edwards
Hometown: Mena
Talent: Monologue
Critical Issue: From the Plant to the Platter
Sponsor: Hull-Hughes Collegiate FFA
Contestant No. 11: Emily Torrealba
Parents: Cindy and Eduardo Torrealba
Hometown: Arlington, Texas
Talent: Dance
Critical Issue: Encouraging Women to Study STEM Fields
Sponsor: ATU Women in STEM
Contestant No. 12: Danielle Duggan
Parents: Donna and Greg Duggan
Hometown: De Queen
Talent: Vocal
Critical Issue: Think Pink, Think Cure
Sponsors: Zeta Tau Alpha and Parents
