Several young women with ties to the River Valley & Ozark Edition coverage area will compete in the 77th annual Miss Arkansas Scholarship Pageant on Monday through Saturday at Summit Arena in Hot Springs. Contestants will arrive today.
Preliminary competitions will begin at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, with the final competition and crowning set to begin at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Preliminary awards will be made Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in artistic expression (talent), lifestyle and fitness (swimsuit), and presence and poise (evening gown).
Area contestants include the following:
• Miss Arkansas Tech University — Logan Moore of Van Buren, the 19-year-old daughter of Zane and Laura Moore, will present a selection on the flute for her talent. Her platform issue is Food for All.
A freshman nursing major at Arkansas Tech in Russellville, she will compete in interview on Tuesday, presence and poise on Wednesday, artistic expression on Thursday and lifestyle and fitness on Friday.
• Miss Arkansas Valley — Halle Erwin of Stuttgart, the 18-year-old daughter of Jennifer and Rick Gill and Scott and Janette Erwin, will present a tap dance for her talent, and her platform is Living the Golden Rule.
A junior health science (dental hygiene) major at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, she will compete in interview on Tuesday, presence and poise on Wednesday, artistic expression on Thursday and lifestyle and fitness on Friday.
• Miss Conway — Chelsey Marie Jones of Morrilton, the 22-year-old daughter of Randy and Jennifer Jones, will present a vocal selection for her talent, and her platform is Operation Giveback: America’s Duty.
A senior kinesiology major with an emphasis in exercise science at UCA, she will compete in interview on Tuesday, presence and poise on Wednesday, artistic expression on Thursday and lifestyle and fitness on Friday.
• Miss Diamond Lakes — Lauren Howell of Conway, the 24-year-old daughter of Dr. John and Debra Howell, will present a tap dance for her talent. Her platform is Giving Children Hope Through a Smile.
A 2013 graduate of UCA with a major in family and consumer science, she will compete in interview on Tuesday, presence and poise on Wednesday, artistic expression on Thursday and lifestyle and fitness on Friday.
• Miss Frisco Springs — Samantha Hudon of Hot Springs, the 22-year-old daughter of Jon and Marsha Moses, will present a vocal selection for her talent, and her platform is Get Up! Get Moving.
A senior broadcast journalism major at UCA, she will compete in interview on Tuesday, lifestyle and fitness on Wednesday, presence and poise on Thursday and artistic expression on Friday.
• Miss Johnson County — Lydia McCormick of Clarksville, the 18-year-old daughter of Mark and Cris Walker and Matt McCormick, will present a jazz dance for her talent. Her platform is Understanding, Patience, Love: Foster Care and Adoption Awareness.
A freshman occupational therapy major at UCA, she will compete in interview on Monday, artistic expression on Wednesday, lifestyle and fitness on Thursday and presence and poise on Friday.
• Miss Lake Dardanelle — Caitlyn Cook of Conway, the 21-year-old daughter of Dr. Joe and Mary Cook, will present a vocal presentation for her talent. Her platform is Staying Alive: Be Red Cross Ready.
A junior vocal-performance major at UCA, she will compete in interview on Tuesday, presence and poise on Wednesday, artistic expression on Thursday and lifestyle and fitness on Friday.
• Miss North Central Arkansas — Leah Cleaver of Huntsville, the 22-year-old daughter of Barry and Jeanette Cleaver, will present a vocal selection for her talent, and her platform is BRAVE — Everyone’s a Superhero.
A senior nursing major at Arkansas Tech, she will compete in interview on Tuesday, presence and poise on Wednesday, artistic expression on Thursday and lifestyle and fitness on Friday.
• Miss Northeast Arkansas — Bethany Bell of Blytheville, the 20-year old daughter of William and Judith Bell, will present a piano selection for her talent. Her platform is Better Together: Encouraging a Spirit of Service.
A 2014 graduate of UCA with a degree in international studies, she will compete in interview on Monday, artistic expression on Wednesday, lifestyle and fitness on Thursday and presence and poise on Friday.
• Miss Ozark Highlands — Chelsea Wilson of Fort Smith, the 22-year-old daughter of Charles Wilson and Melody Jennings, will present a trumpet selection for her talent. Her platform is Building Self-Esteem and Leadership in Women.
A 2013 graduate of Arkansas Tech and a graduate student at the University of Arkansas majoring in mechanical engineering, she will compete in interview on Monday, artistic expression on Wednesday, lifestyle and fitness on Thursday and presence and poise on Friday.
• Miss Petit Jean Valley — Claire Hodgson of Russellville, the 20-year-old daughter of Mario Hodgson and Cathy Baker, will present a vocal selection for her talent. Her platform is Leading by Example: The Power of Volunteering.
A graduate of Arkansas Tech with a major in psychology and sociology, she will compete in interview on Monday, artistic expression on Wednesday, lifestyle and fitness on Thursday and presence and poise on Friday.
• Miss University of Central Arkansas — Makenzie Moore of Harrison, the 22-year-old daughter of Brady and Deborah Moore, will present a ballet en pointe for her talent, and her platform is The Power of a Wish.
A 2014 graduate of UCA with a degree in speech communication, she will compete in interview on Tuesday, presence and poise on Wednesday, artistic talent on Thursday and lifestyle and fitness on Friday.
Tickets to the Miss Arkansas Pageant are on sale through Ticket Master at (800) 745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com, or at the Summit Arena box office in Hot Springs. The box office is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and on weekends.
For more information, call (501) 321-2835 or (800) SPA-CITY.