Kelsey Stone of Russellville was crowned the 62nd Miss Tech on Friday night during the 2017 Miss Arkansas Tech University Scholarship Pageant at Witherspoon Auditorium.
Daughter of Kim and Dee Stone, the Arkansas Tech sophomore captured the Lindsey Ahrens Vocal Award and the Nona Dirksmeyer Memorial Overall Talent Award on her way to winning the Miss Tech crown. Her talent was a vocal performance of “Rise Up.”
“Absolutely amazing,” said Stone when asked how it felt to wear the Miss Tech crown. “I honestly did not think it was going to be me, but I am so honored to represent Tech. I am so excited. I’ve grown up playing the piano and singing my whole life, so honestly I just kind of threw it together. Maybe it was to my advantage because I wasn’t worried about it or too practiced. It was just from the heart.”
Stone, who was fourth runner-up as a freshman in the 2016 Miss Tech Pageant, is majoring in nursing at Arkansas Tech. Her critical issue is healthy habits.
“I plan on making sure that each and every person on campus and the families in the river valley understand how important it is to take care of your body,” said Stone.
Among the prizes that Stone receives as Miss Tech is a two-semester tuition scholarship at Arkansas Tech. In all, more than $21,000 in gifts and scholarships were awarded during the 2017 Miss Arkansas Tech Pageant.
Stone will represent ATU in the 2017 Miss Arkansas Pageant June 13-17 at Robinson Center Auditorium in Little Rock.
Raigan Purtle of Russellville (first runner-up), Payton Marshall of Belleville (second runner-up), McKinzy McGee of Mena (third runner-up) and Anna Adams-King of Fort Smith (fourth runner-up) rounded out the top five among 12 contestants.
Other contestants in the 62nd Miss Tech Pageant were Danielle Duggan of De Queen, Allie Evans of Dardanelle, Meagan Halcomb of Delight, Makayla King of Conway, Lacy Knox of Hope, Cierra Martin of Lavaca and Emily Torrealba of Arlington, Texas.
Dr. Jim Collins, professor of horticulture at Arkansas Tech, serves as executive director and master of ceremonies for the Miss Tech Pageant. Delta Zeta sponsors the event.
