UCO STUDENTS COMPETE FOR THE ‘MISS BLACK UCO 2013’ CROWN

The University of Central Oklahoma will host its annual Miss Black UCO scholarship pageant at 7 p.m. Feb. 9 in Constitution Hall at Central’s Nigh University Center.

“Guest will witness the ten contestants vying for the title of Miss Black UCO display their talent, intelligence, and beauty while representing and celebrating African American culture,” said MeShawn Conley, director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at Central (ODI).

“The Miss Black UCO pageant is a true celebration of diversity.”

Central’s ODI and the UCO Black Student Association sponsor the pageant, which has a theme of “Black Hollywood” this year.

The pageant will include performances by Race Dance Company, the outgoing Miss Black UCO Tiffany Thompson, and music by local artists Thadeus Lamb and Cookie Turner.

Miss Black UCO 2011 Sarah Smith and Jonathan Naugles, senior at Central, will serve as emcees.

The winner will receive a $1,600 tuition waiver, with a $400 tuition waiver for the 1st runner-up and $200 for the 2nd runner-up. Additional awards include the Jackie Shaw Photogenic Award, the Sherrill Simms Talent Award, the Miss Congeniality Award, and the Lyndall Walls Director Award.

Tickets will be available at the pageant for $5, or $3 with a UCO ID. Doors to the auditorium will open at 6:30 p.m.

This year's contestants, followed by hometown, classification and major are:



Deja Mitchell
Oklahoma City
Junior, Political Science

Andrea Tharpe
Tulsa  
Sophomore, Elementary Education

Dominique Hysten
Topeka, Kan. 
Junior, Broadcast Journalism

Satnam Aildasani
Kenya, Africa
Freshmen, Actuarial Science

Brittany Rawlins
Tulsa
Junior, Kinesiology

Danielle Tucker
Cushing
Freshmen, Accounting

Lukeesha Thompson
French Camp, Calif.
Sophomore, Community Public Health

Jeanee Canada
Lawton
Junior, Broadcast Journalism and Public Relations

Aisha Pickett
Santa Maria, Calif.
Fashion Marketing

Miari Che Douglas
Moore
Biomedical Engineering

For more information about the pageant, contact Central’s ODI at 405-974-3588.