Rogers-native walks away with the Miss UAFS title, cash and jewelry

 

story and photos by Linda Kaufenberg

The 2010 Miss University of Arkansas at Fort Smith is Rebecca Wheeley from Rogers, who will receive a two-year UAFS scholarship, $1,600 cash scholarship and $2,500 necklace. Wheeley also won the talent award for $300, interview award for $250, swimsuit award for $150 and Spirit of Miss UAFS for $100. Her talent was pointe dance.

The Miss UAFS Scholarship Pageant was held Saturday evening (Mar. 13) at the Arkansas Best Corporation Performing Arts Center in the Fort Smith Convention Center. Master of Ceremonies was Daren Bobb, News anchor for KFSM 5 News.

The pageant was named the Arkansas Pageant of the Year in 2009, and is an official preliminary to the Miss Arkansas Scholarship Pageant and the Miss America Pageant. UAFS students competed in swimsuit (lifestyle, and fitness), evening wear and talent. At stake were $10,000 in scholarships, $3,100 in cash scholarships and a $2,500 necklace.

Contestants were Elizabeth Burns, Katie Garcia, Summer Lang, Emily Elkins, Lauren Zimmerman, Brittany Wagner, Sarah Davis, Halley Mortenson, Bennisha McKinney, Megan Organ, Rebecca Wheeley, Brittany Hunt, Lisa Magallanes, Emilee Higdon and Shamber Uzuh.

First Runner Up is Emilee Higdon from Mulberry who performed a tap dance. She won a one-year scholarship at UAFS and a $600 cash scholarship. Second Runner Up is Emily Elkins from Van Buren who performed a dance. She receives a one-year scholarship and $500 cash scholarship.

Other awards included: Third Runner Up, Lauren Zimmerman; Fourth Runner Up, Megan Organ; Highest Grade Pint, Summer Lang and Miss Congeniality (a three-way tie), Emily Elkins, Lauren Zimmerman and Rebecca Wheeley. The Audience Appeal Award winner was Brittany Hunt. This was determined by amount of money that the audience gave during intermission to the contestant of their choice.

Lindsey Loughmiller, Miss UAFS 2009 and Sarah Slocum, Miss Arkansas 2009 made special appearances and entertained the audience on several occasions.

The pageant also included the Miss Princess Program. The non-competitive program allows girls ages 5-12 to meet Miss UAFS 2009 and be a part of the program naming Miss UAFS 2010. Each of the 38 participants received a tiara, t-shirt and goodie bag, as well as the chance to participate in a Miss UAFS tea, luncheon, fundraisers and the pageant itself. They first appeared with the contestants when they were introduced and again in the evening gown competition.