Ouachita Stories

Emma Pitts of Clarksville, Ark., was crowned the 2018 Miss Ouachita Baptist University on Saturday, March 3. It was the 51^st annual Miss Ouachita Baptist University Scholarship Pageant.

Pitts is a sophomore music education major and the daughter of Jeremy and Misty Rebeca Scroggs Pitts. She represented Tri Chi women’s social club, and her platform is “Inspiring Creativity through Arts Education.” In addition to winning the crown, Pitts received the Mac Sisson Alpha Talent Award and the Kiley Engel Alpha Award.

“Receiving the title of Miss OBU will no doubt be one of the greatest honors of my life. So many strong women that I look up to greatly have been in this position,” Pitts said. “I am so proud to be following in the great example that they’ve set before me.”

“It was such a special moment to hug Emma and say we were going back to Miss Arkansas,” said Miss OBU 2017 Tiffany Lee, who crowned Pitts at the pageant. “I can’t wait to see her year unfold.”

“Emma is thrilled to represent Ouachita. Already excited to get to work, Emma will be promoting her platform in the community and around the state,” said Becky Hartsfield, the pageant’s executive director. “She will be a great ambassador for Ouachita during her reign as Miss OBU.”

The first runner-up was Julie Williams, a senior political science and mass communications major from Arkadelphia, Ark. She is the daughter of Amy and Charlie Williams and represented the Carl Goodson Honors Program. Williams also received the People’s Choice Award, the Kristen Glover Belew Private Interview Award, the Bethany Briscoe Toney Presence and Poise in Evening Wear Award and the Suzie Gresham Alpha Evening Wear Award. She went on to win the title of Miss Southwest Arkansas 2018 on March 4.

Second runner-up was Caroline Sweet, a sophomore secondary education and English major from North Little Rock, Ark. She is the daughter of Robert and Donna Sweet and represented the EEE women’s social club. Sweet received the Tiffany Lee Miss Congeniality Award.

Kara DeLaune was third runner-up. DeLaune is a junior Spanish major from Conway, Ark. She is the daughter of Darren and Marci DeLaune and represented the EEE women’s social club pledge class of 2018. DeLaune received the Photogenic Award, the Bethany Whitfield Marshall Alpha Swimsuit Award and the Overall Academic Award.

Lauren Ford, a senior political science major from Cabot, Ark., represented the Tri Chi women’s social club 2015 pledge class and received the Miracle Maker Award, given to the contestant who raised the most money for the Children’s Miracle Network. Alayna Morphew, a junior elementary education major from Nashville, Ark., represented the Chi Mu women’s social club and received the OBU Student Senate Spirit of Miss Ouachita Baptist University Award. Abigail Sanders, a freshman music industry major from Little Rock, Ark., represented the Tri Chi women’s social club 2018 pledge class.

Additional entertainment during the pageant was presented by Miss Arkansas 2017 Maggie Benton; Miss White River 2018 Gracie Stover; former Miss OBU and emcee of the pageant Bethany Whitfield Marshall; Clay Mobley, a sophomore music industry major from Wylie, Texas; and the Miss OBU Court of Honor. The Court of Honor included: Hannah Hines, a senior musical theatre major from Russellville, Ark.; Zach Myers, a junior musical theatre major from Greenwood, Ark.; Noah Nalley, a sophomore biology and Spanish major from Benton, Ark.; and Libby Villegas, a senior music industry from Wylie, Texas. Ouachita alumnus Stephen Curry served as musical director, and alumna Abby Curry served as choreographer.

Pitts will represent Ouachita at the 2018 Miss Arkansas Pageant in Little Rock, Ark., June 9-16, at the Robinson Performance Hall. It is an official preliminary to the Miss America Pageant. For more information, contact Miss OBU Executive Director Becky Hartsfield at [email protected].

 

By Addy Goodman // Photos by Andy Henderson

March 9, 2018