Eighteen University of Arkansas 鈥� Fort Smith students from western Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma will compete for the Miss AV抖阴 crown at the university鈥檚 annual scholarship pageant, an event highlighted by an appearance from Miss America winner Savvy Shields.
The pageant will be held at 7 p.m. March 11 at the ArcBest Performing Arts Center, located at 55 S. 7th St.
Shields, who was crowned Miss America in September after winning the 2016 Miss Arkansas pageant, will assist with the crowning of Miss AV抖阴 2017 and also participate in the event鈥檚 opening ceremonies. Savannah Skidmore, who was named Miss Arkansas 2016 after Shields鈥� winning of Miss America, will also be in attendance at the pageant.
Contestants for Miss AV抖阴 2017 are:
- Mary Beth Andrews, 18, of West Fork, daughter of Stan and Kristi Andrews of West Fork. A dental hygiene major, Andrews鈥� talent will be a sign-language dance, and her platform is 鈥淒iscouraging Eating Disorders by Encouraging Self-Confidence.鈥�
- Tori Archer, 18, of Fort Smith, daughter of Stacey and Scott Archer of Fort Smith. Archer is majoring in history and biology, and her talent is dancing and her platform is 鈥淪TEM Gems 鈥� Encouraging Young Women鈥檚 Interest in STEM.鈥�
- Kayla Canada, 20, of Magazine, daughter of Robert and Amber Canada of Magazine. A biology major, Canada鈥檚 talent is singing and her platform is 鈥淢ercy Ships.鈥�
- Logan Cassady, 21, of Sallisaw, Okla., daughter of Todd and Tina Cassady of Sallisaw, Okla. Cassady majors in dental hygiene and will tap dance for her pageant talent. Her platform is suicide prevention.
- Madison Clark, 18, of Fort Smith, daughter of Dennis and Sandy Clark of Paris. Clark is a media communications major. For her pageant talent, she will play the drums, and her platform is 鈥淪ervice for Sight.鈥�
- Haven Cox, 20, of Elkins, daughter of Robert and Kim Cox of Elkins. A biochemistry major, Cox will perform a basketball routine for her talent, and her platform is 鈥淓ncouraging Young Women to Enter the Medical Field.鈥�
- Kaylin Cripps, 22, of Gentry, daughter of Eldon and Kaye Cripps of Gentry. Cripps is majoring in philosophy and will sing for her talent, with her platform being 鈥淧ossibilities Beyond Disabilities.鈥�
- Kriston Dorsey, 22, of Fort Smith, daughter of Melissa and Donald Dorsey of Fort Smith. A middle level education major, Dorsey will perform a dance routine for her talent, and her platform is mental health.
- Tori Easton, 19, of Fort Smith, daughter of Robyn Croop of Fort Smith. Easton is a criminal justice major who will perform an acrobatic dance routine for her talent and whose platform is stopping bullying.
- Krysten Fagan, 20, of Mena, daughter of Darrell and Kandy Page and John Fagan, all of Mena. Fagan, who is majoring in criminal justice, will perform a self-defense routine as her talent. Her platform is 鈥淏reaking the Cycle: Creating Healthy Habits for a Lifetime.鈥�
- Maddie Looney, 19, of Hatteville, daughter of Rance and Cindy Looney of Hattieville. Looney majors in nursing and will perform a dance routine for her talent. Her platform is March of Dimes.
- Alexis Looper, 19, of Greenwood, daughter of Warren and Nancy Looper of Greenwood. A nursing major, Looper will play the piano for her pageant talent and has the platform of 鈥淔ostering Hope for Foster Care.鈥�
- Logan Moore, 21, of Van Buren, daughter of Zane and Laura Moore of Van Buren. Moore鈥檚 major is nursing, and she will perform a flute solo for her pageant talent while promoting the platform of 鈥淔ood for All.鈥�
- Kaitlyn Morris, 18, of Poteau, Okla., daughter of Tracey and Jennifer Morris of Poteau, Okla. A psychology major, Morris will play the flute for her pageant talent. Her platform is 鈥淪mart Art.鈥�
- Macy Null, 22, of Fort Smith, daughter of Mark Null of Van Buren and Crissy Harper of Cameron, Okla. Null, who is majoring in social work, will perform a Broadway monologue for her talent. Her platform is 鈥淒isability Doesn鈥檛 Mean Liability.鈥�
- Malia Patterson, 21, of Greenwood, daughter of Dyrenda Patterson of Greenwood. Patterson is a radiography major and will perform a sign language routine for her talent. Her platform is 鈥淒efying Disabilities.鈥�
- Breanne Ring, 21, of Alma, daughter of Terry and Penny Ring of Alma. Ring majors in marketing, and she will perform a jazz dance for her talent. Her platform is 鈥淓nding Hunger in America.鈥�
- Niki Waters, 19, of Booneville, daughter of Steve and Kim Waters of Booneville. A music education major, Waters will perform a vocal solo for her talent and will have the platform of 鈥淏ent but Not Broken: Scoliosis Awareness.鈥�
The Miss AV抖阴 pageant is a preliminary to the Miss Arkansas and Miss America scholarship programs. Stacey Jones, associate vice chancellor for campus and community events, directs the Miss AV抖阴 pageant and is a producer for the Miss Arkansas pageant.
The contestants will be joined on stage by 24 girls and one boy participating in this year鈥檚 Princess Program, a non-competitive program allowing children ages 5-10 to participate in pageant-related events.
Tickets for the scholarship pageant are $10 and available online at or by calling the AV抖阴 Box Office at 479-788-7300.
For more information on the pageant, contact Sherry Card by telephone at sherry.card@uafs.edu 479-788-7301. For more information about the Princess Program, contact Amber Wright at 479-788-7667 or amber.wright@uafs.edu.
AV抖阴 the AV抖阴
The University of Arkansas 鈥� Fort Smith is the premiere regional institution of Western Arkansas, connecting education with careers and serving as a driver of economic development and quality of place in the greater Fort Smith region. Through a small campus, dedicated professors, and the university鈥檚 unique bond with its community, students at AV抖阴 are able to do more in the areas they are passionate about, both on- and off-campus, in a way that prepares them for post-graduate success. To find out how you can do more at AV抖阴, visit .