By Sara Howell
Fifteen Murray State University students will compete in the Ms. MSU scholarship pageant at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, April 13 in Lovett Auditorium.
Tickets are available until Friday, April 12, in the Curris Center for $5 and will be $7 at the door.
Campus organizations nominated women to compete for a spot in the pageant. After a round of panel interviews in late November, 15 women were chosen as finalists. Contestants have been preparing since being chosen in November.
The contestants are:
Melissa Bergmann
Beth Birkner
Amber Derr
Grace Fredrickson
Abagail Lanier
Zoie Markman
Abbye Beth Melton
Maggie Moore
Alexandria Morgan
Morgan Newell
Emily Perry
Emma Piepenbrok
Amanda Swift
Ashley Wild
Emily Whitaker
The winner will become the face for the University for the next year, which could include participating in parades, working with potential future Racers and serving as a positive light in the community.
Sarah Stellhorn, senior from Union, Missouri, won the title of Ms. Murray State University 2018 and Most Photogenic.
“My Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority sisters surprised me by nominating me,” Stellhorn said. “Their confidence in my ability to do well in the pageant and represent them well as a woman of poise and purpose gave me the confidence to be in it.”
Stellhorn was surprised and humbled to win both of these titles.
“The night of the pageant, I was thrilled just to be in the top five and to be able to then share my speech with the audience,” Stellhorn said. “I was so honored to be chosen as Ms. Murray State, and I was thrilled to be able to undertake my journey that year.”
She said the women participating in the pageant have worked hard to get where they are today and each and every one of them is deserving of this role.
“I am so excited for these 15 young women as they now compete for Ms. Murray State 2019,” Stellhorn said.
Grace Frederickson, senior from Louisville, Kentucky, was nominated by her Alpha Delta Pi sisters and jumped at the opportunity to represent them to the campus and community.
“It has been an eye-opening experience to see how much effort and practice goes into the pageant,” Frederickson said. “It has given me the opportunity to meet wonderful, involved women and gives me something to work towards, as well.”
She began writing her speech in December and has been preparing for a couple of months to be less nervous the day of the pageant.
“We have had periodic informative meetings about once a month,” Frederickson said. “We also have practices the week leading up to Saturday night to teach us the layout of the show, walking and posture tips, and to practice our introductions and walks.”
This is her first time participating in a pageant so she is looking forward to walking out on stage for the first time with the 14 other women.
“The first ‘number’ that we do is upbeat and fun,” Frederickson said. “It is very encouraging to all be up on stage at the same time with one another.”
She said participating in the pageant has given her experience for a formal interview.
“All of this experience helps in gaining confidence and learning how to conduct and compose yourself in front of judges or even future employers,” Frederickson said.
Related: Senior Lauren Campbell details how pageants have helped her develop poise and confidence to take on any situation. Campbell is the executive director of this year’s Ms. MSU pageant. Read her column here.