Tech Student Wins Miss Western Arkansas

 

Savanna Knight was crowned Miss Western Arkansas Saturday, Feb. 26 in Alma and will vie for the Miss Arkansas title this July in Hot Springs.

Knight, a first year graduate student at Arkansas Tech studying college student personnel, was awarded the Interview Award and the River Valley Rotary Community Service Award in addition to the crown.

For her talent, Knight performed a tap dance to “Hot Honey Rag” from Chicago. Her platform issue is “Living History,” a program she created to break down stereotypes people have about nursing homes and advocate volunteerism with elderly citizens.

The total prize package at the pageant consisted of more than $10,000 in scholarships and prizes. Knight also garnered nearly $1,200 at the Miss Tech Pageant on Feb. 25, placing first runner up and winning several awards.

“I am forever grateful to represent the place I call home, and to the sponsors that have allowed most of my education to be free. Scholarship is one reason I started competing, and I have now won more than $30,000 in scholarships and prizes. Words just can’t describe how thankful and lucky I feel,” Knight said.

Knight has competed in Miss Arkansas twice previously, as Miss Ozark Highlands in 2008 and Miss Arkansas River in 2009. The first trip proved to be memorable, as she broke her arm in Hot Springs prior to competition.  Since her talent was dance and ribbon twirling, she had to make a last-minute major adjustment to her talent routine. Knight stayed positive despite the mishap, and won the Shannon Albright Miss Congeniality Award and the Bob Wheeler Producer’s Award.

She says it’s a blessing to make a third trip to Miss Arkansas, and this time she wants to leave with no regrets and project happiness and confidence.

Knight graduated in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree is speech communication and journalism. She plans on graduating with her master’s degree in May 2012.

So far, Knight is the second woman with Tech ties to make the cut to attend Miss Arkansas 2011.  There are a few more preliminary competitions Tech students can compete in, including Miss Frisco Springs, Miss Ozark Highlands, and Miss National Park (for runners up of other preliminaries).

Photos courtesy Jamie Mitchell Photography and Candice Bowen Photography.

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