Twenty-one students have registered as contestants in the 58th annual Miss Arkansas Tech University Scholarship Pageant. The pageant will be on Friday, Feb. 22, at Witherspoon Auditorium. It will begin at 7 p.m. Admission will be $8 for adults, $5 for minors and free with a current and valid Arkansas Tech identification card. Miss Arkansas 2012 Sloane Roberts of Rison and Miss Tech 2012 Claire Hodgson of Russellville will provide entertainment. The event is sponsored by the ladies of Delta Zeta. Dr. Jim Collins, professor of horticulture at Arkansas Tech, serves as pageant executive director and master of ceremonies. The Miss Tech Pageant is an official preliminary to the Miss America Pageant, and the winner will compete in the 2013 Miss Arkansas Pageant. Contestants in the Miss Arkansas Tech University Scholarship Pageant must be full-time female Tech students between the ages of 17 and 24. The new Miss Tech will receive a two-semester tuition scholarship at Arkansas Tech and more than $3,000 in gift certificates from area businesses. In all, more than $19,000 in gifts and scholarships will be awarded during the pageant. Also scheduled to perform at the 2013 Miss Tech Pageant is Q Street Jazz, an ensemble from the Arkansas Tech Department of Music. The 21 contestants for the 58th Miss Tech title, in alphabetical order with their position on the photo collage above in parentheses, are: *Christin Beggs of Chula (top row, left), daughter of Eva and Clint Beggs. Her talent is playing the piano, and her critical issue is homelessness prevention and awareness. Christin is sponsored by her parents. *Haven Brock of Haskell (top row, middle), daughter of Casson Brock and Eric Brock. Haven’s talent is speed painting to the tune of “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue.” Her critical issue is “Drop in the Ocean: Dangers of Water Pollution.” She is sponsored by Brock’s Dog House. *Skylar Cox of West Fork (top row, right), daughter of Sandi and Jay Cox. She will offer an example of performance art as her talent. Skylar’s critical issue is “Stop Animal Cruelty.” Her sponsor is Delta Zeta. *Katelyn Friday of Horatio (second row, left), daughter of Peggy and Ken Friday. Katelyn will sing “Inside Your Heaven” for her talent. “Pep In Your Step: Inform, Encourage, Motivate to Keep Elders Active” is her critical issue. She is sponsored by the Diamond Dolls. *Kristen Hayes of Ozark (second row, middle), daughter of Sheryl and Kevin Shepherd. Her talent is an Irish step dance. Kristen’s critical issue is “Stay Alive: Don’t Text and Drive.” Shepherd’s Lawn Care is her sponsor. *Shelby Holland of Fort Smith (second row, right), daughter of Gayla and Gary Holland. Shelby will sing “Light of a Clear Blue Morning” for her talent. Her critical issue is the March of Dimes. She is sponsored by the Golden Girls dance team. *Danielle Lee of Hector (third row, left), daughter of Janie and Oneil Lee. Her talent will be a vocal performance. Ronald McDonald House Charities is her critical issue. Danielle is sponsored by Bliss Salon. *Breahna McCool of Bauxite (third row, middle), daughter of Carla and Clint McCool. Dance is her talent. “Give Blood, Save Lives” is her critical issue. She is sponsored by the Arkansas Tech Cheerleaders. *Paige Montgomery of Van Buren (third row, right), daughter of Karen and Keith Montgomery. Paige will offer a vocal performance for her talent. “A Fight for Those Without a Voice” is her critical issue. Alma Hair Depot is her sponsor. *Katie Morgan of Clarksville (fourth row, left), daughter of Angela and Damon Pritchard and Audrey and Justin Morgan. She will perform a lyrical dance to the tune of “My Heart Will Go On” for her talent. Katie’s critical issue is scoliosis awareness. She is sponsored by Tech Sweethearts and The Dance Studio. *Jessica Pate of Springdale (fourth row, middle), daughter of Becky and Bob Pate. She will dance to the tune of “Something’s Got a Hold on Me” for her talent. Her critical issue is childhood obesity awareness. Jessica is sponsored by the Arkansas Tech spirit squads and her parents. *Emily Patton of Danville (fourth row, right), daughter of Becky and Tim Patton. A vocal performance of “Coming Home” will be her talent. Emily’s critical issue is “Love the Lonely.” She is sponsored by Mitchell’s Nursing Home. *Trinity Phillips of Hindsville (fifth row, left), daughter of Kristi and Randy Phillips. She will dance to the tune of “Release Me” for her talent. Habitat for Horses is her critical issue. Trinity is sponsored by family and friends. *Samantha Reeves of Dardanelle (fifth row, middle), daughter of Janice Reeves and Jack Reeves. Samantha will play the clarinet for her talent. “Literacy for Life” is her critical issue. She is sponsored by Delta Zeta. *Nikki Roberts of Conway (fifth row, right), daughter of Tammy and Chris Roberts. Her talent is painting. Nikki’s critical issue is “You’re Not Alone: Suicide Prevention.” She is sponsored by the Tech Sweethearts. *Alisha Sears of Clarksville (sixth row, left), daughter of Christy and Frank Sears. She will give a vocal performance of “Don’t Rain On My Parade” for her talent. Alisha’s critical issue is “Let’s Show Students We Care: Raising Learning Disability Awareness.” She is sponsored by her parents. *Tiffany Squires of Sherwood (sixth row, middle), daughter of Kim and Monty Squires. Tiffany will offer a lyrical dance to the tune of “Stupid Boy” for her talent. Her critical issue is “Women and Children First: Stop Domestic Violence.” She is sponsored by Zeta Tau Alpha and Lavish. *Hannah Sturch of Batesville (sixth row, right), daughter of Pauline and Keith Sturch. She will sing “Taylor, the Latte Boy” for her talent. Her critical issue is The Glass Slipper Project. Hannah is sponsored by The Crossing. *Kristina Sykes of Russellville (seventh row, left), daughter of Victoria and John Sykes. Her talent will be a vocal performance. Her critical issue is the Make-a-Wish Foundation. She is sponsored by River Valley Therapy and Sports Medicine. *Tabitha Taylor of Lavaca (seventh row, middle), daughter of Teri A. Barrett and Rudolph Taylor. She will offer a vocal performance for her talent. “End It: Shine a Light on Slavery” is her critical issue. She is sponsored by Steffey’s Pizza. *Chelsea Wilson of Fort Smith (seventh row, right), daughter of Melody and Charles Wilson. Chelsea will play the trumpet for her talent. Her critical issue is “Building Self-Esteem and Leadership in Young Women.” She is sponsored by Phi Mu.
