RIVER VALLEY and OZARK AREA — Several contestants from the River Valley and Ozark coverage area won awards in the Miss Arkansas Pageant, which ended Saturday night at Summit Arena in Hot Springs with Miss South Central Arkansas Alyse Eady of Fort Smith being crowned Miss Arkansas 2010.
◊Miss Petit Jean Valley Morgan Holt of Conway was named a semifinalist and won $1,000.
Holt, the 19-year-old daughter of Terry and DonHolt, also won the Delta Dental Beautiful Smile Award of $500 and two preliminary awards of$800 each in the swimsuit category on July 14 and the evening gown category on July 15.
A student at the University of Central Arkansas, Holt performed a lyrical dance to “Footprints in the Sand” for her talent. Her platform issue is “Promoting Youth Fitness.”
◊Miss North Pulaski Jessica Herring of North Little Rock was named a semifinalist and won $1,000.
Herring, the 21-year-old daughter of Chris and SoniaHerring, also won the Kay Allen Rosenblum Charisma Aw a r d of $1,000 and the MissAmerica State Scholar Award of $1,000, which is given in all 50 states; Washington, D.C.; the U.S. Virgin Islands; and Puerto Rico.
A student at UCA, Herring performed a lyrical dance to “Imagine.” Her platform issue is “Eliminating Hunger in America.”
◊Miss Arkansas Tech University Lindsey Ahrens of Russ el lville was named tothe Top 15 contestants. She won a Dr. Rhys Branman Newcomer Award of $500 and a $100 Alpha Award in the evening gown category in a two-way tie on July 14 for first-time contestants.
Ahrens, the 19-year-old daughter of Dwane and Anita Ahrens, sang “Bridge Over Troubled Water” for her talent. Her platform issue is “Taking a Stand for Abstinence.”
◊Miss Ouachita River Melissa Davis of Hot Springs was named to the Top 15 contestants. The 22-year-old daughterof Dale Davis of Homer, La., and Pamela Davis of Waldo and a student at UCA, she performed an a cappella tap dance to “Queen of the Beats,” and her platform issue is “Heart toHeart.”
◊Miss South Arkansas Lindsey Lee of Russ el lville was named to the Top 15 contestants. She won the Carolyn Parks Memorial Non-Finalist Interview Award of $500.
Lee, the 23-year-old daughter of Charles and Peggy Lee and a student at the University of Arkansas, performed a tap dance to “Think About It” for her talent. Her platform issue is “Breast Cancer Awareness and Education.”
◊Miss University of Central Arkansas Kerry Hawkins of Conway won an Alpha Award in the swimsuit category in a five-way tie on July 15.
Hawkins, the 20-year-old daughter of Steve and Christine Hawkins, sang “Alone” for hertalent. Her platform issue is “Healthy Skin, Beautiful You.”
For more information onthe Miss Arkansas pageant, visit www.missarkansas.org.
River Valley Ozark, Pages 62 on 07/22/2010