15 seeking Miss MSU Pageant crown, trip to Vicksburg

Contact: Harriet Laird

STARKVILLE, Miss.--Fourteen Mississippi students and one from Alabama vie next week for the title of Miss Mississippi State University.

The Thursday [Nov. 19] pageant begins at 7 p.m. in Lee Hall's Bettersworth Auditorium, with doors opening an hour earlier. General admission is $10; $5 for MSU students with identification.

The annual event selects a campus representative to the Miss Mississippi Pageant in Vicksburg, from which a winner at the 2010 summer competition advances to the Miss America Pageant later in the year.

Involving six freshmen, five sophomores and four juniors, this year's Miss MSU Pageant contestants include (alphabetically, by hometown):

BILOXI--Junior Haley M. Glenn, an industrial engineering major and the daughter of Johnny and Christa Glenn and Lance and Dana Trochessett.

BRANDON--Freshman Shelby D. Corn, a biological sciences/pre-medicine major and the daughter of Penny Corn; and junior Robyn A. Ford, a communication/public relations major and the daughter of Bob and Joycelyn Ford.

CLEVELAND--Freshman Mary Margaret Roark, a communication major and the daughter of Fred and Mary Jo Roark.

CLINTON--Freshman Brittany O. White, a political science major and the daughter of Bob and Joyce White.

CORINTH--Freshman TaNechi Temple, a music education/vocal major and the daughter of Anita Temple.

HATTIESBURG--Freshman Paromita Mitra, an aerospace engineering major and the daughter of Amal and Ratna Mitra; and junior Anna K. Rush, a political science major and the daughter of Andrew and Deanna Rush.

MADISON--Freshman Katie Ruth Robertson, a poultry science/pre-veterinary medicine major and the daughter of Gene and Cyndie Robertson.

NEW HOPE--Sophomore Crystal R. Buckhalter, a Spanish and communication major and the daughter of Sammie and Glenda Buckhalter.

PEARL--Sophomore Chelsae E. Kelley, a biological sciences/pre-medicine major and the daughter of Rodney and Melissa Kelley. [Editor: Chelsae is the correct spelling.]

PELHAM, Ala.--Sophomore Elizabeth M. "Liz" Grimes, an accounting major and the daughter of Tereasa Rima. [Editor: Tereasa is the correct spelling.]

PHILADELPHIA--Sophomore Elizabeth Bailey, a biological sciences/pre-medicine major and the daughter of Chip and Laura Bailey.

VICKSBURG--Sophomore Fenly Akers, a communication/broadcasting and public relations major and the daughter of Tom and Lynda Akers; and junior Keshia Collins, a general business major and daughter of Bruce and Idonnia Anderson.

Pageant director Heidie Lindsey said each contestant will be judged in the categories of interview, evening wear, talent, and lifestyle and fitness in swimsuit.

Each woman also will have an onstage pageant question to answer as part of the judging, added Lindsey, associate director of the Colvard Student Union.

The Miss America Organization remains the world's largest provider of scholarship assistance for young women. Last year, MAO and its state and local affiliates made available more than $45 million in cash and scholarship assistance.

For additional pageant information, contact Lindsay at 662-325-3063 or hlindsey@saffairs.msstate.edu.

For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.

Wed, 11/11/2009 - 06:00