In addition to Lauren Howell of Conway being named the fourth runner-up in the Miss Arkansas Scholarship Pageant, several other contestants with ties to the River Valley & Ozark Edition coverage area have won awards.
• Miss Arkansas Tech University Kristen Hayes of Ozark, the 23-year-old daughter of Kevin and Sheryl Shephard of Ozark, received a $500 scholarship as the recipient of the Tony Bowls/Mon Cheri People’s Choice Award, and a $100 scholarship as the recipient of an Alpha Award for newcomers for her Irish step dance in the talent category of the pageant.
Hayes is a senior health and physical education major at Arkansas Tech.
• Miss Greater Jacksonville Caitlyn Cook of Conway, the 20-year-old daughter of Dr. Joe Cook and Mary Cook of Conway, won an $800 scholarship as a preliminary winner in talent. For her talent, she sang a vocal solo, “We Shall Behold Him.” Her platform is Staying Alive: Be Red Cross Ready.
Cook is a sophomore studying mass communication at the University of Central Arkansas.
• Miss Pulaski County Daley Johnston of North Little Rock, the 21-year-old daughter of Mike and Cheryl Johnston of North Little Rock, received a $500 scholarship as the
recipient of the Miss Arkansas Executive Directors Association Crowd Favorite Award. She presented a tap dance for her talent, and her platform is Have a Heart-Smart Future: Planning is Key.
Johnston is a senior studying communication sciences and disorders at UCA.
• Miss South Arkansas Claire Hodgson of Russellville, the 19-year-old daughter of Mario Hodgson of Russellville and Cathy Baker of Fayetteville, received a $250 scholarship as the recipient of the Self Before Service Award in recognition of her community service projects.
She presented a vocal selection for her talent, and her platform is Leading by
Example: The Power of Volunteering.
Hodgson is a junior majoring in psychology and sociology at Arkansas Tech University.
• Miss South Central Arkansas Samantha Hudon of Hot Springs, the 21-year-old daughter of daughter of Jon and Christine Hudon of Hot Springs, received a $500 scholarship for placing among the top 15 contestants.
She presented a vocal selection for her talent, and her platform is Get Up! Get Moving! Encouraging Youth Physical Activity.
Hudon is a junior at UCA majoring in broadcast
journalism and interior design.
• Miss White River Makenzie Moore of Harrison, the 21-year-old daughter of Brady and Deborah Moore of Harrison, received a $500 scholarship as the recipient of the Marty Walker Memorial Award; a $1,000 scholarship as the recipient of the Miss America State Scholar Award; and a $1,000 scholarship for placing among the top 15 contestants.
For her talent, Moore presented a ballet en pointe, and her platform is The Power of a Wish.
She is a senior at UCA majoring in speech communication.
For more information on the Miss Arkansas pageant, which concluded July 20 at Summit Arena in Hot Springs, visit www.missarkansas.org.