The title of Miss AV抖阴 2019 will be up for grabs this month when 13 University of Arkansas 鈥� Fort Smith students participate in the university鈥檚 annual scholarship competition, which will take place at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 16, at the ArcBest Performing Arts Center, in the Fort Smith Convention Center, located at 55 S. 7th St.
Special guests include Miss AV抖阴 2018 Elizabeth Spencer, Miss Arkansas 2018 Claudia Raffo, and entertainment by the Miss AV抖阴 Singers, the AV抖阴 Jazz Band, and the AV抖阴 Jazz Catz.
Contestants for Miss AV抖阴 2019 are:
- Brenda Rosales, 22, of Fort Smith, daughter of Alma Delia Carrera and Jose Antonio Rosales, both also of Fort Smith. A biochemistry major, her talent will be playing the cello, and her platform is 鈥淓mbracing a Second Language.鈥�
- Kylee Kain, 21, of Van Buren, daughter of Teresa Lalonde of Fort Smith and Darren Kain of Van Buren. A media communication major, her talent will be a spoken word performance, and her platform is 鈥淐heck Your Selfie: Changing Media Beauty Standards.
- Briana Reding, 18, of Cedarville, daughter of Alicson Reding, also of Cedarville. A social work major, her talent will be playing clarinet, and her platform is 鈥淏ridge the Gap.鈥�
- Caroline Mikel, 19, of North Little Rock, daughter of Katherine Mikel, also of North Little Rock. A dental hygiene major, her talent will be playing the flute, and her platform is 鈥淕irl Scouts of America 鈥� Making a Change for All Ages.鈥�
- Marley Littleton, 19, of Magazine, daughter of Aimee Littleton and Albert Littleton, both also of Magazine. A business marketing major, her talent will be a vocal performance, and her platform is 鈥淩ise Up: Defeating Depression.鈥�
- Lyndsey Bowman, 19, of Fort Smith, daughter of Joanna Barker of Portsmouth, R.I., and Terry Bowman of Ozark. A political science major, her talent will be speed-painting, and her platform is 鈥淲ounded Warrior Project.鈥�
- MacKinzieCopeland, 18, of Van Buren, daughter of Shannon and Leon Copeland, also of Van Buren. A dental hygiene major, her talent will be a dance performance, and her platform is 鈥淏uilding Positive Self-Image.鈥�
- Allison Thompson, 22, of Fort Smith, daughter of Regina Thompson and David Thompson, both also of Fort Smith. A middle childhood education major, her talent will be a jazz dance performance, and her platform is 鈥淲e the People: Increasing Community and Government Involvement.鈥�
- Mary Beth Andrews, 20, of West Fork, daughter of Kristi and Stan Andrews, also of West Fork. A dental hygiene major, her talent will be a sign language dance performance, and her platform is 鈥淗ealthy Smiles: The Importance of Oral Hygiene.鈥�
- Cecilia Flores, 19, of Berryville, daughter of Margarita and Pedro Flores, also of Berryville. A business administration major, her talent will be painting, and her platform is鈥淭he Salvation Army: Providing for People in Need.鈥�
- Ava Earnhart, 18 of Greenwood, daughter of Liz Earnhart and David Earnhart, both also of Greenwood. A vocal music major, her talent will be a vocal performance, and her platform is 鈥淓ncouraging Adoption Through Foster Care.鈥�
- Shandreka McCullough, 20, of Farmington, daughter of Bobbie Walker of Farmington and Lenard McCullough of Brinkley. A media communication major, her talent will be a spoken word performance, and her platform is 鈥淔lint Michigan Water Crisis.鈥�
- Tori Easton, 21, of Fort Smith, daughter of Robyn and Doug Croop of Fort Smith and Dewayne Easton of Pocola, Okla. A criminal justice major, her talent will be an acrobatic jazz performance, and her platform is 鈥淏uilding Strong Girls.鈥�
The Miss AV抖阴 Scholarship Competition 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 competition and is a producer for the Miss Arkansas competition.
The candidates will be joined on stage by 29 princesses and princes participating in this year鈥檚 Princess/Prince Program, a non-competitive program allowing children ages 5-10 to participate in events related to the competition.
Tickets for the scholarship competition are $10 and available online at or by calling the AV抖阴 Box Office at 479-788-7300.
More information on the competition or the Princess/Prince Program may also be obtained by contacting the AV抖阴 Box Office.