Contact: Bradley Hill

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Sixteen students from as near as Starkville and as far away as Nebraska are seeking the title of Miss Mississippi State University 2017.

Taking place Friday [Sept. 23], the annual campus pageant gets underway at 7 p.m. in historic Lee Hall’s Bettersworth Auditorium.

General admission is $15; $10 for enrolled MSU students with identification. Tickets may be purchased online at www.events.msstate.edu/tickets or from the Center for Student Activities in 314 Colvard Student Union.

The winner represents the 138-year-old land-grant institution next summer in the Miss Mississippi Pageant in Vicksburg. The state winner then advances to the Miss America Pageant.

In addition to Mississippi and Nebraska, this year’s MSU contestants are residents of Arkansas, Georgia and Alabama. They include (by hometown):

BRANDON—Freshman Christina Hardy-Johnson, a biological sciences major and the daughter of Willis and Angel Garrison. She will be performing a poetry reading titled “If.” Her platform is “Making Leaps to Combat Cancer.”

BUFORD, Georgia—Junior Christana Landress, a broadcast meteorology major and the daughter of Cecelia Kay Landress. She will be performing a color guard routine titled “Humble and Kind.” Her platform is “Perfect Practice Makes Dreams Come True.”

HATTIESBURG—Sophomore Jada Evans, a biomedical engineering major and the daughter of Veronica and Ezekiel Jordan. She will be performing a drama titled “I Believe.” Her platform is “Beauty is Beyond the Eye of the Beholder.”

HOUSTON—Senior Molly May, a communication/public relations major and the daughter of Debra May and Glen Bingham. She will present a vocal performance of “House of the Rising Sun.” Her platform is “Breast Cancer Awareness.”

LEROY, Alabama—Junior Hannah Lynn Daugherty, a communication major and the daughter of Tony and Gina Daugherty. She will present a vocal performance of “This Is My Now.” Her platform is “N.O.W. (No Opportunities Wasted).” 

LUCEDALE—Junior Callie Brown, a biological sciences major and the daughter of Steven and Dorene Brown. She will be performing ballet en pointe to “Fuego.” Her platform is “America’s Tooth Fairy.”

MADISON—Freshman Emily Miller, a communication major and the daughter of Laura and Brad Miller. She will present a vocal performance of “In My Daughters Eyes.” Her platform is “Amigos for Christ.”

McDONOUGH, Georgia—Sophomore Rontier Whitfield, a business management major and the daughter of Crystal Pugh and Anthony Whitfield. She will be performing a dance to “Jacob’s Song.” Her platform is “Beating Bad Body Image.”

PAPILLION, Nebraska—Sophomore Nicole Fustos, a fashion merchandising major and the daughter of Bruce and Sharon Fustos. She will be performing a dance to “River Deep.” Her platform is “Body Image Versus the Media.”

SHANNON—Junior Alivia P. Roberts, a communication/broadcasting major and the daughter of Kenneth and Teresa Fields Roberts. She will be performing ballet en pointe to “Storm.” Her platform is “Healthy Teens for a Better Mississippi: Teenage Pregnancy Prevention.”

SOUTHAVEN—Freshman Onjelica Harris, an interior design major and the daughter of Vickie Harris. She will be performing an instrumental piece “Lassus Trombone.” Her platform is “Care for Senior Citizens.”

STARKVILLE—Freshman Katelyn Jackson, a biology major and the daughter of Embra and Rosia Jackson. She will be performing the instrumental piece “Sorry.” Her platform is “Youth Service America.”

STUTTGART, Arkansas—Freshman Hannah Oliver, a fashion merchandising major and the daughter of Erin and Lane Oliver. She will perform a tap dance to “One More Time.” Her platform is “Multiple Sclerosis: Taking Steps Toward a Cure.”

TRUSSVILLE, Alabama—Junior Jessica Lyster, a kinesiology major and the daughter of Jeff and Wendy Lyster. She will be dancing to “Bang Dem Sticks.” Her platform is “R.I.S.E. (Raising Initiatives for Students in Education).”

VICKSBURG—Junior Anne Elizabeth Buys, a communication major and the daughter of Mark and Judy Buys. She will be performing a dance to “Viva!” Her platform is “Water for Life.” Also, freshman Emily Tingle, a political science major and the daughter of Jeb and Shelley Tingle. She will be performing the instrumental piece “Swan Lake.” Her platform is “37 Books.”

For additional information, telephone MSU’s Center for Student Activities at 662-325-2930.

Photos by Russ Houston