FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 8, 2006
Contact: Deana Middleton
(662) 329-7119

Miss W and Lowndes County Outstanding Teen pageants Feb. 11

COLUMBUS, Miss – The Miss W Scholarship Pageant, a local preliminary to the Miss Mississippi Pageant, along with the newly created Lowndes County Outstanding Teen pageant will be held at Mississippi University for Women on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 7 p.m.

Eight contestants will compete for the title of Miss W and six in the Lowndes County Outstanding Teen Pageant. Participants will compete in the areas of private interview, casual wear, on-stage question, swimsuit, talent and evening gown.

This year’s Miss W contestants are:

Mari-leen Badenhorst, a culinary arts major with a minor in food arts from Saltillo. Her platform is the elderly--their value to us and our value to them. She will sing in the talent competition.

Tennille Barksdale, a senior accounting major from Greenville. Her platform is empowering the youth to overcome adversity, and her talent will be a vocal performance.

Maegan Eroh, a freshman political science major from Clara. Her platform is women and self-esteem. Eroh’s talent will be a dramatic presentation. 

Hannah Erwin, a sophomore nursing major from Saltillo. Erwin’s platform is a healthy body ideal against eating disorders. She will perform a color guard routine.

Mary Amanda Haskins, a junior paralegal studies major from Vicksburg.  Her platform is G.O.L.D.E.N. (Giving Older Leaders the Dream of Ending Neglect), and her talent will be a dance routine.

Barley Hood, a sophomore interior design major from Amory. Hood’s platform is dance therapy for the disabled. Her talent will be a vocal performance.

Ashley Owen, a sophomore elementary education major from Columbus. Her platform will be opportunities for all. Owen will dance in the talent competition.

Janey Walker, a senior health education masters of science major from Senatobia.  Her platform is sexual assault awareness and education. She will give a dramatic presentation.
   
Contestants in the Lowndes County Outstanding Teen Pageant are:
   
Erica Bush, an eighth grader at New Hope Middle School and the daughter of James and Virginia Bush. Her talent will be a dance routine.
   
Erin Dowdy, a ninth grader at Heritage Academy and the daughter of Grant Dowdy and Monnica Alexander. Dowdy will dance in the competition.
   
Denise Miller, a 10th grader at Columbus High and the daughter of Dennis and Darlene Miller. She will play the xylophone.
   
Akedra Ross, a ninth grader at Columbus High and the daughter of Curtis and Laurae Ross Guyton. Her talent will be a dramatic interpretation.
   
Chelsea Scherman, an eighth grader at Heritage Academy and the daughter of Randy Scherman and Monica Ritchie. Her talent will be a dance routine.
   
Sarah Weatherby, an eighth grader at Immanuel and the daughter of the Rev. Simeon and Arleen Peek Weatherby. She will sing.

The reigning Miss W Tracy Power will crown both winners. Miss W 2006 will represent MUW at the Miss Mississippi Pageant on July 22 in Vicksburg.

Admission will be $7 at the door and $6 in advance. For more information, contact Iika Taylor McCarter at 329-7352 or itaylor@muw.edu.