By Zhenya Townley | Online + Design EditorSix contestants from Augusta University competed in the second annual Miss Augusta Scholarship Pageant in the Maxwell Theatre on Friday, Sept. 29.Friends and family gathered to support the students in the running to be Augusta University’s representative in the Miss Georgia pageant, which will take place in June. A scholarship is awarded to Miss Augusta who will attend future events such as Final's Feast and Homecoming.She will also co-host the upcoming Mister Augusta University Pageant in March. In addition to the top prize, the contestants are also up for Miss Congeniality and People’s Choice.Amanda Mines, a pre-nursing major, won this year's crown and was awarded the scholarship. “This was anybody’s game, and there was no way it was going to be me,” Mines said. “All of the sudden my name was called and it was just a big ‘oh-my-gosh' moment. What just happened?”Each contestant competed in introductions, swimwear, talent, evening wear and an on-stage question. For the swimwear portion of the evening, the ladies were judged on confidence and how they carry themselves. Paul Bradley, event organizer and program coordinator for student involvement, led the efforts in making sure each pageant goes off without a hitch.“We do not encourage the contestants to change anything about their appearance,” Bradley says. “We want them to be confident in who they are.”While most of the contestant chose spoken word and poetry as their talent, some chose to serenade the crowd. Grace Welsh, a political science major, sang Make You Feel My Love by Adele. She was originally not planning to compete this year, but with some convincing from former contestants and the CREW, she decided to have another go. Welsh received the People’s Choice award in addition to being 1st Runner Up.“It is a joy to feel like the people see me as a good representative of the university,” Welsh said. “I have not met a lot of those people yet, but I look forward to the opportunity to possibly meet them and see what their concerns are on the campus.”The Miss Augusta Scholarship Pageant has brought a new tradition to the university. Events like this were created to help boost Augusta University’s involvement in the community.Contact Zhenya Townley at ztownley@augusta.edu.
By Zhenya Townley | Online + Design EditorSix contestants from Augusta University competed in the second annual Miss Augusta Scholarship Pageant in the Maxwell Theatre on Friday, Sept. 29.Friends and family gathered to support the students in the running to be Augusta University’s representative in the Miss Georgia pageant, which will take place in June. A scholarship is awarded to Miss Augusta who will attend future events such as Final's Feast and Homecoming.She will also co-host the upcoming Mister Augusta University Pageant in March. In addition to the top prize, the contestants are also up for Miss Congeniality and People’s Choice.Amanda Mines, a pre-nursing major, won this year's crown and was awarded the scholarship. “This was anybody’s game, and there was no way it was going to be me,” Mines said. “All of the sudden my name was called and it was just a big ‘oh-my-gosh' moment. What just happened?”Each contestant competed in introductions, swimwear, talent, evening wear and an on-stage question. For the swimwear portion of the evening, the ladies were judged on confidence and how they carry themselves. Paul Bradley, event organizer and program coordinator for student involvement, led the efforts in making sure each pageant goes off without a hitch.“We do not encourage the contestants to change anything about their appearance,” Bradley says. “We want them to be confident in who they are.”While most of the contestant chose spoken word and poetry as their talent, some chose to serenade the crowd. Grace Welsh, a political science major, sang Make You Feel My Love by Adele. She was originally not planning to compete this year, but with some convincing from former contestants and the CREW, she decided to have another go. Welsh received the People’s Choice award in addition to being 1st Runner Up.“It is a joy to feel like the people see me as a good representative of the university,” Welsh said. “I have not met a lot of those people yet, but I look forward to the opportunity to possibly meet them and see what their concerns are on the campus.”The Miss Augusta Scholarship Pageant has brought a new tradition to the university. Events like this were created to help boost Augusta University’s involvement in the community.Contact Zhenya Townley at ztownley@augusta.edu.