Miss NGU pageant’s all American girls shine
Posted by The Skyliner on September 17th, 2008Jennilyn Dempsey
News and Features Editor
Melissa Snyder, senior psychology and Miss North Greenville University 2008, passed her crown on to Autumn McAbee, junior elementary education, at the 54th Miss NGU Pageant on Saturday, Sept. 13 in Turner Chapel.
“I felt so happy when I found out I had won Miss NGU 2009,” McAbee said. Her platform, Coping with Cancer in the Family, is based on her own personal experience. After her mother passed away on Feb 3, 2007, the Lord gave her a burden for families that have lost loved ones to cancer. “The Lord gives such peace in hard times and I want to share His comfort with everyone,” McAbee said.
McAbee won a $1000 scholarship for winning the pageant, and she will receive an In Kind scholarship of $1000 when she participates in the Miss South Carolina Pageant in July 2009. She also received a $100 Lifestyle and Fitness award and a $50 Community Support award. The audience named her Miss Photogenic.
First runner-up Halie Johnson, sophomore early childhood education, won the artistic expression award for her jazz dance routine. She received $850 in scholarships. Her platform is Learning Early As Possible to be Fit, or L.E.A.P. to be Fit. “My passion is to inspire children of all ages to be the best that they can be,” Johnson said.
Gayla Brown, junior elementary education, placed third and won the interview section of the competition.
Andi Evans, sophomore broadcast media, and Sarah Beth Powell, freshman early childhood education, placed fourth and fifth, respectively.
The theme of the pageant, “All American Girl,” was intentionally patriotic due to the War in Iraq and the upcoming election. The contestants wore red, white and blue during the opening number while Melissa Snyder sang Carrie Underwood’s “All-American Girl.” Members of the North Greenville ROTC escorted the contestants during the evening wear competition.
Contestants were judged according to an interview, physical fitness (swimsuit), onstage questions, artistic expression (talent) and presence and poise. The interview (25 percent of the final score) and physical fitness (15 percent) portions of the competition were completed prior to the pageant ceremony.
McAbee will be the fourth Miss NGU to participate in the Miss South Carolina Pageant. Jessie Coram, pageant assistant, hopes that the other NGU contestants will compete in local competitions in order to be in the Miss South Carolina Pageant. “We were really excited with the contestants,” Coram said. “The highlight is to see how talented these students are. I was amazed.”
Tags: Fall 2008, Vol. 108 Fall - Issue 2