Eight contestants will be competing to become the next Miss UNCP on February 28.
The university’s 66th pageant will be held at 7 p.m. at Givens Performing Arts Center. The cost for the general public is $5. There is no charge for UNCP students, faculty and staff.
The pageant is hosted by the Division of Student Affairs and draws large crowds.
The winner of the 2019 Miss UNC Pembroke will receive a $2,000 scholarship and free student housing. First runner-up receives a $750 scholarship, second runner-up, $500 scholarship and third runner-up, $250 scholarship. Non-finalists will receive $100 scholarships.
The contestants are:
- KaylaVera McBride, a freshman from Burlington majoring in biology, will be singing. Her platform is Dating Violence: Stand Up!
- Destiney Chavis, a sophomore from Maxton majoring in criminal justice, will be performing a monologue. Her platform is (S.O.S.) Saving Our Service members.
- Amanda Smith is a sophomore in the nursing program. The Leland native will be playing the marimba and her platform is Body Diversity: No Body Shaming.
- Omega Cogdell, a freshman from Ayden, is a psychology major. She will be performing a contemporary dance and her platform is Mentoring Foster Youth.
- Lyasia Hazzard is a freshman from Knightdale. She has yet to declare a major. She will he will be performing spoken word and her platform is Skinny Shaming.
- LaRuth Anderson, a junior elementary education major from Maury, will be dancing. Her platform is Suicide: Not the Solution.
- Anna Campbell, a freshman from Fayetteville, is majoring in biology with a biomedical emphasis. She will be singing and her platform is Turn Up for Downs Syndrome.
- Alaina Malcolm is a senior from Pembroke majoring in sociology. She will be tap dancing. Her platform is Tapping for Kids.
Cynthia Oxendine, assistant vice chancellor of Student Affairs, serves as the pageant's executive director.
“The Division of Student Affairs is excited to present the 66th Miss UNCP Scholarship Pageant," she said. "It is not only a rewarding and enjoyable experience for the young women who participate, it’s truly a personal development program. The contestants have an opportunity to learn about themselves, the world they live in and get to meet other contestants who become friends.
"Reigning Miss UNCP Taley Strickland has been a tremendous ambassador for UNCP, and I commend her for the excellent job she has done in representing the university locally and throughout the state.”
This year the audience has an opportunity to select a Community Choice winner. Support for a favored contestant can be shown at the UNCP CARE Resource Center through donations of non-perishable items such as canned meats, peanut butter, cereal, breakfast bars, and hygiene items, such as toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, and soap.
Donation collection bins for each contestant will be set up in the GPAC lobby. The contestant with the most votes — one vote per item — will receive a $250 book scholarship. This award is hosted by the Office for Community and Civic Engagement.
The emcees for the evening are Angela Revels and Adrian Hammonds. Special entertainment will be provided by Robert Williams and Joshua Oxendine.
The pageant’s executive director is Cynthia Oxendine. Teresa Bryant is the co-executive director and business manager. Zavery McDougald serves as the pageant director and choreographer and Frederick Stephens is the assistant director.
For information, call 910.521.6175 or email teresa.bryant@uncp.edu.
