Senior Kelley Strong Named Miss Newberry College 2015
Senior Kelley Strong Named Miss Newberry College 2015
January 29, 2015
Kelley Strong of Union, S.C., was crowned Miss Newberry College 2015 on Sunday, Jan. 25, at the annual pageant held at Newberry High School.
A senior majoring in Art and Graphic Design with a minor in Biology, Strong will represent Newberry College at the 2015 Miss South Carolina Pageant held June 23-27 at Township Auditorium in Columbia.
Six contestants vied for the title of Miss Newberry College this year. Dell Mattox, a Newberry College alumna, served as Mistress of Ceremonies. The pageant was coordinated by Newberry Colleges Associate Dean of Students Sandra Rouse, Director of Student Engagement and Leadership Angelo Geter and former Miss Newberry College Missy Franklin.
This years pageant included several components, including the parade of contestants, swimwear, talent, formal wear and an on-stage interview. Contestants also participated in individual panel interviews with the judges prior to the pageant.
The Miss Newberry College pageant is a preliminary pageant for the Miss South Carolina pageant. Competing in events like talent and swimwear helps familiarize contestants with the events that are part of a large-scale pageant such as Miss South Carolina.
This is the third year that Newberry College has served as a preliminary for Miss South Carolina. Alexandrea Cromer was last year's Miss Newberry College at the state-level pageant.
Rebecca Beathard, a freshman nursing major with a minor in Biology, from Summerville, S.C., was named First Runner-Up and also took home the Peoples Choice Award. Second Runner-Up honors went to Kristy Brecht, a senior Business Administration and Graphic Design major from Lancaster, S.C. Nareka Mentor, a sophomore Early Childhood Education major, was this named Miss Congeniality.
For details about Strongs philanthropy, American Heart Association, and her journey to Miss South Carolina, follow her on Facebook at Miss Newberry College 2015.