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Campus News |
| Nov. 23, 2009
Contact: Bud Grimes, University Relations MARTIN, Tenn. – Taren Hatcher, of Greenfield, was crowned Miss University of Tennessee at Martin at the combined Miss UT Martin/Miss Tennessee Soybean Festival Pageant, Saturday night, at the Student Life Center on campus. The UT Martin integrated studies K-6 major won the 2010 title and the opportunity to compete in the Miss Tennessee Scholarship Pageant in June in Jackson. Also headed to the Miss Tennessee Scholarship Pageant is Loren Dean, of Brighton, a Mississippi State University freshman English major, who won the Miss Tennessee Soybean Festival title. The winners led a field of seven contestants. Miss UT Martin 2009, Kaitlin Turner, of Union City, crowned Hatcher. Dean was crowned by Hannah-Wade Powell, of Alamo, 2009 Miss Tennessee Soybean Festival. “I was seriously in shock,” Hatcher, 19, said following her win. As for Miss Tennessee pageant preparations, she said, “I have to eat right, exercise, practice on my talent and have fun while I’m doing it. Hatcher’s platform is “Think Pink – Breast Cancer Awareness.” Dean, 18, said , “I’m very shocked, but very happy,” about winning the Miss Tennessee Soybean Festival crown. To prepare for the Miss Tennessee Pageant Dean added, “I will work a lot – working out, working on my interview and working on my talent. Her platform is “Wear Blue So They Don’t Have To” Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention. Runners-up for the Miss UT Martin crown were: Mikai Banks, Millington, a junior biology major, first; Shannon Trout, of Union City, a 19-year-old exercise science major, second; and Adrian Wilson, of Henning, an 18-year-old marketing major, third. All members of the Miss UT Martin court must be UT Martin students. For Miss Tennessee Soybean Festival, Kendall Schultz, of Knoxville, a Walters State Community College freshman radiation therapy major was first runner-up, and Devin Hartdige, of Denver, Colo., a UT Martin history major, was second runner-up. Turner and Powell were hostesses for the evening. Mary Williamson, Tennessee Soybean Festival Idol Contest finalist entertained the audience with vocal selections. Hollie Holt, of Martin, directed the pageant. “I am excited about working with our two new titleholders.” said Holt. “We had a great group of girls compete tonight,” Holt added. “Each year, the Miss Tennessee system gives young women the opportunity to learn and grow as they develop platforms and give back to their communities. Our two titleholders are prime examples of what the system is all about.” |