Lelyn Stewart named 70th Miss Georgia Southern
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Miss Georgia Southern 2018, Lelyn Stewart[/caption]
Lelyn Stewart was crowned Miss Georgia Southern University at the 70th annual pageant hosted by the University Programming Board (UPB) on Saturday, Feb. 3.
Stewart took home the title of Miss Georgia Southern after her tap dance performance to The Temptations’ “Can’t Get Next to You”, for which she was also named Best Talent. In addition, she also earned the title of Best Evening Wear. The Alpha Delta Pi representative and Swainsboro, Georgia, native will now go on to represent the University at the Miss Georgia Pageant in June.
Miss Georgia Southern received a $2,000 scholarship, which includes a travel stipend, 25 percent off all purchases at local boutique Frills by Scott, and a host of other gift certificates from local vendors.
"I absolutely loved competing with eight of the most beautiful, talented and amazing girls at Georgia Southern,” said Stewart. “I am still on cloud nine. Winning Miss Georgia Southern is a dream come true, and I can't wait for this year of service, representing the best University ever. Hail Southern and no other place!”
Nine contestants competed for the crown, participating in talent, swimwear, evening wear, on-stage questions and in-person interviews.
In addition to the crown, several other titles were awarded at the pageant. Cindy “CG” Stewart, a senior exercise science major from Eastman, Georgia, was the People’s Choice winner. Jasmyn Cornell, a senior theatre and journalism major from Grovetown, Georgia, garnered the titles of Miss Photogenic and Best Lifestyle and Fitness. Alison Tribble, a junior marketing major from Evans, Georgia, was named Miss Congeniality. Alexandra “Allie” Griffis, a junior biology major from Eastman, Georgia, and Stephanie Reville, a senior early childhood education major from Augusta, Georgia, were named Miss Georgia Southern first and second runners-up, respectively.
“Georgia Southern has the longest standing preliminary pageant in the entire state of Georgia,” said Memory Littles, interim director for the Office of Student Activities. “For this anniversary year, we opted for a more upscale look, which included floor-length chandeliers and four-foot tall hydrangea floral arrangements that were handcrafted by students in UPB.
“Also to commemorate this year's pageant, for the first time ever, the entire panel of judges were what we like to call ‘Forever Miss Georgia Southerns,’ which simply means that they earned the title as Miss Georgia Southern University at some point in their collegiate career and they will always be an important part of the history of this program.”
The judging panel consisted of Carla McMillan Bray, 1978 Miss Georgia Southern College; Cyndi DeLoach Rogers, 1995 Miss Georgia Southern University and first runner-up in the Miss Georgia Pageant (1995); Katie Stephens Ward, 1999 Miss Georgia Southern University; Erika Brayboy Collier, 2003 Miss Georgia Southern University and the first African-American titleholder; Leslie Shor, 2005 Miss Georgia Southern University; and Katie Stephens Ward, 1999 Miss Georgia Southern University.
The 2017 titleholder Victoria “Tori” Murry and the 2017 Mr. Georgia Southern University titleholder, Paris Lawrence, hosted the pageant. Marilyn Greene, 1974 Miss Georgia Southern College, and Megan Johnson, 2015 Miss Georgia Southern University, were also in attendance for the event.
Georgia Southern University, a public Carnegie Doctoral/Research institution founded in 1906, offers 142 degree programs serving more than 27,000 students through nine colleges on three campuses in Savannah, Statesboro, Hinesville and online instruction. A leader in higher education in southeast Georgia, the University provides a diverse student population with expert faculty, world-class scholarship and hands-on learning opportunities. Georgia Southern creates lifelong learners who serve as responsible scholars, leaders and stewards in their communities. Visit GeorgiaSouthern.edu.
Posted in Reward & Recognition, Students