Three Ouachita women place in Top Five at Miss Arkansas Pageant
June 18, 2019
- Rachel GaddisThree Ouachita Baptist University women were named Top Five finalists in the 2019
Miss Arkansas Scholarship Pageant, which was held at the Robinson Center in Little
Rock June 11-15. Of the 44 contestants from around the state, nine were from Ouachita,
and four placed in the Top 10 overall.
Among the Top Five finalists were Miss Ouachita Baptist University Julie Williams,
who was named second runner-up; Miss Ouachita River Tiffany Lee of Benton, who was
named third runner-up; and Miss Greater Hot Springs Gracie Stover of Little Rock,
who was named fourth runner-up.
Miss Metro Taryn Bewley was named a Top 10 semifinalist, and Miss South Central Arkansas
Emma Pitts and Miss White River Mady Rottinghaus were named Top 15 semifinalists.
“Of the 44 contestants in the week, nine of them were OBU girls,” said Williams, a
2019 political science and mass communications graduate from Arkadelphia, Ark. “Ouachita
truly is the queen of the college world! It was an honor just to be named among them.
Our shared faith and passion for the job before us was truly a bonding experience.”
Julie Williams
Williams, who received an $8,000 scholarship for her second runner-up finish as well
as the $2,500 Overall Social Impact in Evening Wear Award and $1,500 preliminary Evening
Gown Award, is the current reigning Miss OBU and the daughter of Rev. Charlie and
Amy Williams.
“I’ve never felt so loved by Ouachita and by Arkadelphia,” she said. “We could all
feel the coverage of prayer! I was even more proud that three of the top five were
Ouachita students, and communications majors at that!
“This experience makes you realize that, even without a title, you belong to the people
who raised you,” Williams continued, “and the only thing I can do with my life and
my time is to serve them back. There is no greater honor than that, and at the end
of the week, I still have some of the greatest words in the world across my sash:
Miss Ouachita Baptist University.”
Tiffany Lee
Lee, a 2019 communications and media graduate from Benton, Ark., received a $6,000
scholarship for her third runner-up finish as well as the $650 Ashlen Batson Espirit
De Corp Award and $500 Healthy Lifestyle Platform Award. She previously held the title
of Miss OBU in 2017 and is the daughter of Tony and Kelly Lee.
“I was shocked when they announced my name for top five,” Lee said. “I remember looking
at the girls around me and I couldn’t believe one of us was about to be Miss Arkansas!
Being up there with Gracie and Julie was probably one of the best parts. Backstage,
before the awards, we all grabbed hands and told each other how proud we were and
how much we loved each other. It was a really special moment.”
Gracie Stover
Stover, a senior communications & media/multimedia journalism major, from Little Rock,
Ark., received a $5,000 scholarship for her fourth runner-up finish as well as the
$2,000 preliminary Artistic Expression in Talent Award, $1,000 Legacy Overall Dance
Award, $1,000 Miss America Community Service Award and $500 Children's Miracle Network
Miracle Maker Award. She is the daughter of Mike and Laura Stover.
“I have been involved in the Miss Arkansas and Miss America Organization since I was
4 years old,” Stover said. “It has molded me into the woman I am today.
“I am so proud and honored to be part of an organization and university that raises
women to be passionate, servant-hearted and powerful,” she added.
Taryn Bewley, Emma Pitts and Mady Rottinghaus
Bewley, a junior chemistry major from Conway, Ark., received a $3,000 scholarship
for her Top 10 semifinalist finish. She is the daughter of Terry and Allyson Bewley.
Pitts, a senior choral music education major from Clarksville, Ark., received a $1,500
scholarship for her Top 15 semifinalist finish. She also received the $2,000 preliminary
Artistic Expression in Talent Award, $1,000 Frances Wilson Non-Finalist Overall Talent
Award and $500 Non-Finalist Vocal Award. Pitts previously held the title of Miss OBU
in 2018 and is the daughter of Jeremy and Misty Rebeca Scroggs Pitts.
Rottinghaus, a junior biology and Spanish double major from Hot Springs, Ark., received
a $1,500 scholarship for her Top 15 semifinalist finish. She also received the $750
Overall Arrival Award, $500 Overall Instrumentalist Award and $500 Children's Miracle
Network Miracle Maker Award. Rottinghaus is the daughter of Mike and Amber Rottinghaus.
Kyla Soden, Avery Jackson and Elizabeth Steely
Miss Central Arkansas Kyla Soden, a senior biology major from Cabot, received the
$3,000 Alpha Overall Service Above Self Award.
Miss Southwest Arkansas Avery Jackson, a sophomore pre-nursing major from Little Rock,
received the $1,000 Overall Alpha On Stage Interview Award.
Miss Conway Elizabeth Steely, a senior communications & media/multimedia journalism
major from Conway, also competed in Miss Arkansas 2019.
Additionally, Miss Spirit of Arkansas Laura Leigh Turner, who received first runner-up
in the pageant, also has Ouachita ties; she is the daughter of alumni Tab Turner (’81)
and Jenny (Gosser ’82) Turner. Laura Leigh also won a preliminary Social Impact in
Evening Wear Award.
By Rachel Gaddis // (From left) Ouachita's Tiffany Lee, Julie Williams and Gracie
Stover were named Top Five finalists in the 2019 Miss Arkansas Scholarship Pageant,
which was held at the Robinson Center in Little Rock June 11-15.
June 18, 2019
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