Miss Maroon and White 2016 to be named during Thursday program

Contact: Deidre Edwards

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Thirty-seven young women will compete for the title of Miss Maroon and White 2016 at Mississippi State University on Thursday [March 10]. 

The winner will be selected alongside four Maroon and White Beauties at a public program in historic Lee Hall’s Bettersworth Auditorium. The program will begin at 7 p.m., with doors opening at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets are $15 for general public and $10 for MSU students with an ID. Tickets are available now through the Center for Student Activities in the Colvard Student Union, Suite 314 or online at events.msstate.edu.

This year’s contestants include (by hometown):

AMORY—Junior Jilanna N. Simmons, a biological sciences major with a concentration in pre-dental and daughter of Will and Jennifer Lowrey; and sophomore Shelby G. Sweatt, a nutrition major and daughter of Dr. Lloyd and Rita Sweatt.

ATLANTA, Georgia—Junior Jacqueline M. Posley, a psychology major and daughter of Doris Smith.

BILOXI—Freshman Kara B. Krivanec, a biochemistry major and daughter of Joseph III and Christine Krivanec.

BOGUE CHITTO—Junior Caroleah E. Brister, a marketing major and daughter of Terry and Leah Brister.

BRANDON—Junior Hayley M. Henderson, an elementary education major and daughter of David and Angela Henderson.

BUFORD, Georgia—Sophomore Christana K. Landress, a broadcast meteorology major and daughter of Cecelia Landress.

CALEDONIA—Sophomore Clara B. Wallace, a biochemistry major with a pre-med concentration and daughter of Steve Wallace and the late Teena Wallace.

COLUMBUS—Sophomore Mallory M. Byrd, a communication major and daughter of Danny and Verlencer Byrd; and junior Maggie Gardner, a culinology major and daughter of Charlie and Michelle Gardner.

CULLMAN, Alabama—Junior Madison T. Eschan, a fashion design and merchandising major and daughter of Kimberly and Kenny Bartram and Jon Eschan.

FRANKLIN, Tennessee—Freshman Shelby Elizabeth Ferguson, a marketing major and daughter of Clint and Lynn Ferguson.

GRAYSON, Georgia—Sophomore Alexis K. Griggley, a communication/broadcasting major and daughter of Sam and Nikki Griggley.

GREENFIELD, Tennessee—Sophomore Abby L. Huffstetler, an elementary education major and daughter of Randy and Sherri Huffstetler.

GRENADA—Freshman Victoria Lea Crawford, a biochemistry major and daughter of Jerry and Brandy Harlos and Heath Crawford.

HATTIESBURG—Senior Rachel J. Henderson, a biological sciences major and daughter of Dr. Charles and Juliana Henderson.

HOUSTON—Junior Molly K. May, a communication/public relations major and daughter of Debra May and Glen Bingham.

JACKSON—Senior Allissia P. Hill, a biological sciences major and daughter of Jacquelyn Hill and Earnest Russell Jr.; and sophomore Shydia L. Johnson, a computer engineering major and daughter of Shantwana Johnson and Eugene Perkins Jr.

KATY, Texas—Junior Kaitlyn E. May, an educational psychology major and daughter of Craig and Betty May.

LAKE—Sophomore Abby G. Hollingsworth, a biological sciences major and daughter of Dr. Jimmy and Sharon Hollingsworth.

LEXINGTON, Indiana—Junior Ellen Ann Hawk a marketing major and daughter of Phillip and Mary Hawk.

LUCEDALE—Junior Taylor P. Bufkin, a communication/public relations and journalism major and daughter of Charles and Barbara Bufkin.

MEMPHIS, Tennessee—Junior Sarah A. Galbreath, an interior design major and daughter of Joe and Gay Galbreath.

MERIDIAN—Freshman Mayah J. Emerson, an educational psychology major and daughter of Albert Emerson and Katricia Emerson.

MONTICELLO—Senior Anna Kennedy Barker, an international business major and daughter of John and Tracy Catt and Stephen Barker.

MUMBAI, India—Freshman Aishwarya S. Dikshit, a biological sciences major with a pre-medicine concentration and daughter of Subodh and Manisha Dikshit.

NEW HEBRON—Junior Katie E. Bryan, a mechanical engineering major and daughter of Scott and Cindy Bryan.

NORTHPORT, Alabama—Freshman Kristen E. Ward, a political science major and daughter of Ricky and Beth Ward.

OLIVE BRANCH—Sophomore Juliette A. King, a human development and family studies/child life major and daughter of Tina and Gary King; and freshman Sydney E. Slocum, a liberal arts major and daughter of Les and Tina Slocum.

PONTOTOC—Freshman Amber Claire Huddleston, a biological sciences major with a concentration in pre-dentistry and daughter of Mac and Flavia Huddleston.

RIDGELAND—Freshman Mollie K. Keys, a biological sciences major and daughter of Jennifer and the late Richard Keys.

STARKVILLE—Sophomore Mamie Coleman Rybolt, an educational psychology major and daughter of Chess and Carrie Rybolt; and senior Chasity Renee Swoopes, a clinical exercise physiology major and daughter of Patrick and Cheryl Swoopes.

VICKSBURG—Freshman Tae’Lor D. Nelson, a criminology major and daughter of Denly and Tonya Nelson.

WINONA—Sophomore Ana Nicole Blakely, an art major with an emphasis on photography and the daughter of Kris and Tonya Blakely.

For more information about the event, email dedwards@saffairs.msstate.edu or call (662) 325-2930.

MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.

Tuesday, March 8, 2016 - 9:54 am