Leaf Foundation offers $353K to scholarship winners | Community Spirit

The following is a press release from Forrest General Hospital:

The 2012 Leaf Foundation games had all the charm and class of The 2012 London Olympic Games.  And while the setting was not the banks of The River Thames in Great Britain, the marathon competition held just off Gordon’s Creek at The Historic Saenger Theater in Downtown Hattiesburg last night was every bit as strong.  Entertainers included newly-crowned Miss Mississippi Marie Wicks and X Factor Finalist Greg Spencer of Collins.

In the “Teen” Division, the heroes were plentiful.

Teen Division Winners:

• Community Service - Daija Green (Hattiesburg, Hattiesburg High School)
• Interview – Brooke Bullock (Petal, Petal High School)
• Talent – Brooke Bullock (Petal, Petal High School)
• Evening Gown – Anne Elizabeth Buys (Vicksburg, Porter’s Chapel Academy)
• 2nd Runner-up – Kristan Brewer (Leakesville, Greene County High School)
• 1st Runner-up (closed local/LRV) – Clarke Allen (Magee, Mendenhall High School)
• 1st Runner-up (open locals) – Reagan Norwood (Biloxi, Biloxi High School)
• Leaf River Valley’s Outstanding Teen – Brooke Bullock (Petal, Petal High School)
• Pearl River Valley’s Outstanding Teen – Kyra Mickens (Hattiesburg, Hattiesburg High School)
• Riverland’s Outstanding Teen – Anne Elizabeth Buys (Vicksburg, Porter’s Chapel Academy)
• Turtle Creek’s Outstanding Teen – Vivian O’Neal (Collins, Lamar Christian School)

Winning the platform award tickled Hattiesburg High School student Daija Green, “I have volunteered with the Domestic Abuse cause all my life.  It felt good to be recognized for those efforts.”

In the “Miss” Division, there were a number of torch bearers:

Miss Division Winners:

• Community Service – Shelby Ryals (Sumrall, William Carey University)
• Interview – Brandy Jarvis (Ocean Springs, Southern Miss)
• Talent – Jordin Johnson (Meridian, Southern Miss)
• Swimsuit – Leigh Anne Pacific (Laurel, Jones County Junior College)
• 2nd Runner-up Julie Falgout (Hattiesburg, William Carey University)
• 1st Runner-up – Shelby Ryals (Sumrall)
• Miss Leaf River Valley - Jordin Johnson (Meridian, Southern Miss)
• Miss Deep South – Brandy Jarvis (Ocean Springs, Southern Miss)
• Miss Riverland – Chloe Paige (Hattiesburg, Hattiesburg High School)

Paige, the newly-crowned Miss Riverland, was elated after her win, “I have worked hard all my life to earn a college education.  I got a full ride in just one night of tough competition.”  For her performance the vocalist received a four-year all expenses paid scholarship worth $45,000 to The University of West Alabama as a result of her local pageant victory.

Preliminary winners received cash scholarships.  Colleges and universities granting in-kind scholarships to the Leaf Foundation winners and runner-ups were: Antonelli College, Delta State University, Jackson State University, Jones County Junior College, Pearl River Community College, University of Southern Mississippi and William Carey University.

At the end of the games, Representative Toby Barker and Hattiesburg Mayor Johnny DuPree presented laurels to the winners during the medals ceremony. The four Teen Division winners and three Miss Division winners all advance to their respective state finals of The Miss Mississippi Pageant to be held in Vicksburg this June.  The Leaf Foundation and its pageants are official preliminary heats to The Miss America and Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Program.

For more on The Leaf Foundation and its mission to help young women achieve their dreams, visit leafrivervalley.com.