Lana Moak of Ruth, right, is crowned 2019 Miss William Carey University by 2018 winner Jakolbia Shipmon.
Thomas Fine Arts Center at William Carey University’s Hattiesburg campus was crowded with family and friends Jan. 25 as Lana Moak of Ruth won the title of 2019 Miss WCU.
An elementary education major, Moak is also pursuing a minor in math. She enjoys playing on the WCU softball team, cooking, photography, dancing, intramural sports and spending time with her family. She is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Moak’s career ambition is to become a teacher.
“Miss William Carey University is an important part of campus life. As a role model, she has to be well-spoken and concerned with the issues facing our university and our country,” said WCU President Dr. Tommy King.
“I am very proud of Lana Moak and know she will represent William Carey University well throughout the year as she makes appearances at games, events, parades, council meetings and community events.”
Here’s a look at the other contestants:
- First runner-up Natalie Magee of Covington, La., is an intercultural studies and English double major. She enjoys singing, playing the cello, drawing and painting. Magee wants to become an international missionary and use her God-given gifts to make a difference in the world.
- Second runner-up Mollie Brockway of Hattiesburg is a double major in elementary education and dance. She also won the Amy E. Allen Award for highest grade point average. Brockway teaches dance to children and performs in the WCU Worship Choir. Her career goal is to become a dance teacher for schools and for children with special needs.
- Marissa Bledsoe of Millington, Tenn., is a psychology and gerontology double major. She lived overseas and is fluent in Portuguese. Bledsoe’s career goal is to be a certified activity planner for a nursing home so she can improve the quality of life for senior adults.
- Madison Alford of Philadelphia is a nursing major. She won the Virginia Scott Award for exemplifying the spirit of the pageant. Alford enjoys horseback riding, color guard and reading. After graduation, she wants to become a neonatal intensive care or emergency room nurse.
The pageant co-hosts were WCU students David Sizemore and Anna McDaniel, 2017 Miss WCU. They sang a duet of “Rewrite the Stars” for the crowd at Thomas Fine Arts Center.
The judges were: Dr. Mark Hugh Malone, a former WCU professor of music now teaching at the University of Southern Mississippi; Michelle Howells, who taught music in public schools for 14 years and recently re-opened her music studio, teaching piano students who compete at the state and local level; Dr. Titus Hines, a veteran of the U.S. Navy and WCU alumnus currently employed as a high school administrator; Lori Edney, a WCU alumna and member of the WCU Board of Trustees; and David Pylate, a member of the Petal Arts Council who performs extensively with the Meistersingers of Hattiesburg and the newly formed Petal Community Choir.
Jakolbia Shipmon, 2018 Miss WCU, took her final walk across stage during the pageant and performed a sign language interpretation of the song, “Never Enough.”