MISS UNA 2008 TO BE CROWNED FEB. 2 IN NORTON AUDITORIUM
Jan. 26, 2008
By Rebecca Walker
UNA Student Writer
FLORENCE, Ala. — Thirteen young women will compete for the crown of Miss University of North Alabama 2008 and a chance to represent UNA in the Miss Alabama Pageant when the Miss UNA Scholarship Pageant takes place on Feb. 2 in Norton Auditorium.
The theme for this year’s pageant is “Fun-Loving.” The doors will open at 6 p.m., and the pageant will begin at 7 p.m. The contestants are: Addie E. Pickett, of Russellville; Erica Ann Murray, of Russellville; Laura Milligan, of Muscle Shoals; Allison E. Saint, of Falkville; Holly Nicole Johnson, of Florence; Jessica Shelton, of Russellville; Jade Tarpley, of Falkville; Katherine Purcell, of Trinity; Brandi Lewis, of Homewood; Breann Boughton, of Killen; Meggin Major, of Pell City; Elizabeth Culberson, of Montevallo; and Erin Dulaney, of Cullman.
The evening’s mistress of ceremonies will be Sarah Beth Vandiver, of Florence. Vandiver, a Shoals native, was chosen as Miss UNA in 2004, when she represented UNA at the Miss Alabama Pageant. While a student at UNA, she was a member of the Lionette dance squad for the Pride of Dixie Marching Band and a member of the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority. She now works for the Shoals Chamber of Commerce as program coordinator and directs the Keep the Shoals Beautiful program, the Leadership Shoals programs and the NCAA Division II National Championship Game. She also serves as secretary for the National Alumni Association Board of Directors for UNA.
The master of ceremonies for the evening will be Kevin Johnson, of Florence. Johnson is a graduate of UNA, where he received a bachelor’s degree in social work. He then graduated from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Currently, he is the minister to students at First Baptist Church in Florence, and can also be heard on 93.9 FM The SCORE as the sports radio personality.
The Miss UNA Scholarship Pageant is an official preliminary for the Miss Alabama and Miss America pageants. The pageant has been a UNA tradition for 32 years. It provides an opportunity for the university's young women to compete for scholarship funding and prizes. In 2007, more than $12,000 in scholarships and prizes was awarded to the contestants.
Each contestant is encouraged and mentored to develop skills that will enrich her personal and professional life beyond her university experience. Miss UNA spends her year in service to the university and Shoals area community. She promotes the platform of her choice, makes official appearances as a university representative and represents the university at the Miss Alabama Pageant.
Categories in which the contestants will be judged include an interview session, worth 25 percent of an individual’s score; an on-stage question, worth 5 percent; a talent portion, worth 35 percent; evening wear, worth 20 percent; and lifestyle and fitness in swimsuit, worth 15 percent.
Admission to the event is $10 for the general public and free to UNA students with a Mane Card ID. Tickets are now on sale in the UNA Office of Student Life, Guillot University Center room 202. For more information about the Miss UNA Scholarship Pageant, contact Amy Garrison at 256-765-4693.
