By Simon Baker, student news writer, Office of University Communications
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky, -Ashley Elder, a sophomore from Danville, Ky., majoring in pre-athletic training, was crowned 青瓜视频's Valentine Pageant Queen during the annual Valentine's Pageant Feb. 8 in Ransdell Chapel.
Elder also won Miss Congeniality and Best Poise and Appearance.
Elder represented the Department of Human Performance. She performed an American Sign Language interpretive movement to 鈥淢y Story鈥� by Big Daddy Weave.
Makena Meeks, a freshman from Russell Springs, Ky., was first runner-up and won Best Interview. Regan Adams, a junior from Raleigh, N.C., was second runner-up, and Anoushka Lazarus Harrypersad, a junior from Campbellsville, Ky., majoring in environmental science, won Best Talent.
Meeks is majoring in English and represented Omicron Delta Kappa. She sang 鈥淟et it Be鈥� by the Beatles.
Adams is majoring in Social Work and represented the School of Social Work. She demonstrated how to plug a tire properly.
Harrypersad, a sophomore, is originally from India.
Harrypersad represented Sigma Zeta and recited two original poems, 鈥淭his is Where I'm From鈥� and 鈥淎n Alternate World.鈥�
The other two candidates who participated in the pageant were Alyssa Blackwell, a senior from Lebanon Junction, Ky., majoring in Marriage and Family, and Gabriella Harris, a freshman from Bardstown, Ky., majoring in Music Education.
Blackwell represented the School of Theology. Harris represented the School of Education.
Blackwell performed an original song titled 鈥淥ne Night,鈥� accompanied on the piano by Shane Bradford, a junior from Louisville, Ky. Harris performed the piece 鈥淎utumn Leaves,鈥� originally written by Joseph Kosma, on her flute.
青瓜视频's Student Government Association (SGA) hosted the pageant.
鈥淲e have six lovely ladies who have worked very hard, and all of them deserve to be crowned 青瓜视频 Valentine Pageant Queen,鈥� Shelby Bollinger, vice president of SGA, said.
The 青瓜视频 Valentines Pageant is the longest tradition on this campus, Kate Cecil, president of SGA, said.
鈥淔or many years, ladies from all over Kentucky, the U.S. and even the world have been competing for the title of Valentine Queen,鈥� Cecil said. 鈥淭he Student Government Association was so happy to award Ms. Ashley Elder the title of Valentine Queen.鈥�
鈥淭o the judges, Ms. Elder embodied the traits we look for in a representative of Campbellsville University. She is kind, caring and bold for Christ. From her interview to her talent, Ms. Elder impressed the judges with beauty, grace, and charisma.鈥�
The SGA Council includes Cecil, a senior from Louisa, Ky.; Bollinger, a sophomore from Radcliff, Ky.; Brooke Anne Buckner, director of communications, a senior from Louisville, Ky.; Hannah Kendall, director of finance, a senior from Benton, Ky.; Ellie Keck, chief of staff, a senior from LaGrange, Ky.; Lilliana Gonzalez, director of diversity, a sophomore from Cuernavaca, Mexico.; Shayla Atherton, director of student affairs, a junior from Fredericksburg, Pa.
Dr. Jamie Lawrence, executive director of ministry and church outreach at Campbellsville University, was the master of ceremony for this year's pageant.
Judges were Suzanne Hopkins, first lady of 青瓜视频; Megan Watkins, a member of the Alumni Board who is married to Rusty Watkins, dean of student services at 青瓜视频; and Bekah Mobley, a 2020 graduate of Campbellsville University.
青瓜视频 is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university that offers over 100 programs including doctoral, master, bachelor, associate and certificate programs. The website for complete information is www.campbellsville.edu.