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MC Hosts Miss MC Scholarship Pageant


Big band sounds from the 1940s, modern dance, vocal selections and comedy routines are all part of the show Jan. 22 when Mississippi College hosts its annual Miss MC Scholarship Pageant.

There are six MC students competing for the crown that Tuesday evening and the right to succeed 2007 Miss MC Kayla Fisher, 19, a sophomore from Brookhaven. The pageant theme is "A Swinging Sensation."

Once the judges select a winner at Swor Auditorium, Fisher will crown the 2008 Miss MC to cap the two-hour production. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Fisher isn't finished competing when her reign is over. She plans to earn a doctorate in psychology and embark on a career helping people.

"I've learned a lot and hopefully one day I will be Miss Mississippi and go onto the Miss America Pageant," said MC contestant Morgan Byrd, 19, a freshman from Flowood. A 2007 Northwest Rankin High graduate, Byrd was a Miss Rankin County runner-up in 2007. The nursing major is being sponsored by the Kissimmee Social Tribe.

Others with high hopes include: 2004 Clinton High graduate Arian Thompson, 21, an MC senior who's a public relations and French major. In recent days she's joined contestants getting ready with a slew of rehearsals at the 800-seat auditorium in Nelson Hall. At the pageant, she will sing"One Moment in Time," the tune made famous by Whitney Houston.

Thompson is the daughter of Roger and Janice Thompson and Tom and Nikki Labeaud. A member of the MC student chapter of the Public Relations Association of Mississippi, Thompson is sponsored by the Kissimmee Social Tribe. She wants to go into the advertising field after her MC graduation.

Others competing for Miss MC honors are Kristina Barton, a 20-year-old sophomore from Pascagoula. A Pascagoula High graduate. Barton is a political science and Spanish major at the Christian university in Clinton. A dancer in the pageant, she is the daughter of Harvey and Renee Barton.

Rounding out the Miss MC contestants:

-- Tasha Jones, a 19-year-old biology major from Flowood. The daughter of Juan and Robin Jones, she is a graduate of Northwest Rankin High. The piano player is being sponsored by the Swannanoa Social Tribe. "It's been a good experience getting to meet some nice girls," she said of her bid for Miss MC. Jones competed in the Junior Miss pageant as a high school student.

--Amy Simpson, a 21-year-old MC senior from Kosciusko. The daughter of William and Miriam Simpson attended Kosciusko High. She's a modern languages major on the Clinton campus. At the pageant, she plans to do a comedic monologue. The Swannanoa Social Tribe is her sponsor.

--Jessica Daves, 20, an MC junior from the Delta town of Black Hawk. She is a 2005 Carroll Academy graduate. The communications major and daughter of Kim and Mary Lou Daves is being sponsored by the Nenamoosha Social Tribe.

The night will feature special performances by Mississippi Swingin!, an eight-person swing band directed by David Shommer. The judges will evaluate the contestants on evening gown competition, on-stage interviews, and their talent.

The winner, who can win at least $500 in scholarships at MC, will advance to the Miss Mississippi pageant in Vicksburg later this year.

Tickets for MC students, faculty and staff are $3 and go on sale Monday Jan. 14 at the MC cafeteria starting at 11 a.m. General admission tickets cost $8 and can be purchased at the door. For more information, contact Cam Armstrong, coordinator of student activities, at 601-925-3830.


PHOTO: Kristina Barton (Pascagoula), Arian Thompson (Clinton), Tasha Jones (Flowood), Miss MC 2007 Kayla Fisher (Brookhaven), Jessica Daves (Black Hawk), Morgan Byrd (Flowood), and Amy Simpson (Kosciusko).