In a night that featured a surprise marriage proposal and appearances by Miss America and Miss Arkansas, it was Logan Moore of Van Buren who stole the show by being crowned Miss AV抖阴 2017.
Moore was crowned Miss AV抖阴 over 15 other contestants during the University of Arkansas 鈥� Fort Smith鈥檚 scholarship pageant March 11, which saw the awarding of more than $17,000 in scholarships to contestants.
Moore, 21, of Van Buren, is the daughter of Zane and Laura Moore of Van Buren. Moore鈥檚 major is nursing, and she performed a flute solo for her pageant talent. Her platform is 鈥淔ood for All,鈥� and she will represent AV抖阴 at the Miss Arkansas Pageant this summer in Hot Springs.
Additionally, Moore won the Non-Vocal Artistic Expression Award and the Lifestyle and Fitness Award.
Other winners included:
First runner-up: Niki Waters, 19, of Booneville, daughter of Steve and Kim Waters of Booneville. Waters also won the Vocal Artistic Expression Award.
Second runner-up: Kaylin Cripps, 22, of Gentry, daughter of Eldon and Kaye Cripps of Gentry. Cripps also won the Academic Excellence Award.
Third runner-up: Mary Beth Andrews, 18, of West Fork, daughter of Stan and Kristi Andrews of West Fork. Additionally, Andrews won both the Spirit of Miss AV抖阴 Award and the Miss Congeniality Award.
Fourth runner-up: Madison Clark, 18, of Fort Smith, daughter of Dennis and Sandy Clark of Paris.
Audience Appeal Award: Haven Cox, 20, of Elkins, daughter of Robert and Kim Cox of Elkins.
Audience Appeal Bucket Award: Krysten Fagan, 20, of Mena, daughter of Darrell and Kandy Page and John Fagan, all of Mena.
Judges determined the winner and runners-up based on five areas of criteria: talent, interview, lifestyle and fitness, eveningwear, and the contestant鈥檚 response to their on-stage question. The event was held at the ArcBest Performing Arts Center at the Fort Smith Convention Center.
The pageant awarded $17,275 in cash and scholarships - in addition to prizes valued at more than $7,000 - during this year鈥檚 pageant. For winning Miss AV抖阴, Moore received a two-year scholarship to AV抖阴 valuing $7,000, a cash scholarship valuing $2,500 and a necklace from The Jewelry Store worth an estimated $2,500.
The event included appearances by Miss Arkansas Savannah Skidmore - who sang 鈥淐an鈥檛 Help Falling in Love鈥� - and Miss America Savvy Shields, who spoke to the crowd and recited anecdotes of her time spent as Miss America. But perhaps even more notable were Miss AV抖阴 2016 Katie Brown鈥檚 final moments on stage before this year鈥檚 winner was crowned, when she was proposed to by her boyfriend, Seth Burgess, to roars of applause from the crowd.
Other special guests included Daren Bobb and Katelynn Zoellner, both of KFSM-TV, who served as masters of ceremonies.
Entertainment was provided by production dancers under the direction of Rebecca Bean; the AV抖阴 Jazz Band and Jazz Catz under the direction of Don Bailey; and Miss AV抖阴 singers Travis Blakney, Brian Gary, Rosemary Johnson, Ashley Hill and Aspen Knight.
The pageant chair is Stacey Jones of Fort Smith, associate vice chancellor of campus and community events at AV抖阴. Jones is also producer for the Miss Arkansas Pageant.
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 .