Miss Unity contestants spent several hours Wednesday night rehearsing dance routines and practicing their stage entrances for the upcoming Miss Unity pageant.
The next Miss Unity will be crowned Saturday in Pruis Hall. The pageant, which will begin at 5 p.m., is free to Ball State students and is $5 for non-students.
Six contestants will compete for the title of Miss Unity in addition to a $1,000 scholarship. The first and second runners-up will receive $500 and $250, respectively.
Sponsored by the Black Student Association, the pageant has been a growing tradition during Unity Week, Miss Unity chairperson Kisha Keeney said. The Black Student Association has been preparing for this year's pageant since summer 2003.
The pageant is also sponsored by the Student Government Association, which has donated money to make the pageant free to Ball State students within the past two years, she said.
Keeney said the Miss Unity pageant was originally titled Miss Black Ball State but was renamed to promote diversity within the pageant. She said while the pageant has some racial diversity this year, she hopes more students of all races will take the time to compete in the future.
"The whole purpose is to promote multiculturalism on campus and to get everyone to learn about (other people's) cultures," Keeney said.
Sophomore Meghan Newlund said she is glad to be competing in the Miss Unity pageant for the first time.
Preparing for this year's pageant has been enjoyable, she said.
"It's so much fun," Newlund said. "I grew up in an all-white background, and the pageant has made me very comfortable in a different kind of environment. It gave me the opportunity to meet people I never would have had the chance to meet."
Junior Ivy McConnell said while she has competed in numerous pageants in the past, this year will also be her first time participating in the Miss Unity pageant.
She said the pageant has allowed her to grow over the past few months.
"It's a good experience," McConnell said. "It has helped me to become more confident with myself."
Keeney said this year's Miss Unity contestants were selected in 2003 based on their academic achievement, community service and involvement in extracurricular activities.
Contestants in Saturday's pageant will display a variety of talents including singing, choreographed dancing, piano-playing and poetry readings, Keeney said. McConnell even plans to put on a fashion show in which she will display some of the clothing she has designed.
Keeney said six judges will judge the contestants on several events including the talent competition, an impromptu on-stage question and private interviews that were conducted in October 2003. As the contestants wear their evening gowns, they will also participate in ballroom dancing and creative skits.
Reigning Miss Unity TaNesha Moore will speak on stage about her experiences as the 2003 Miss Unity queen. At the end of the pageant she will hand her crown to the winning contestant.
In addition to receiving her scholarship, the winner will select a service project of her choice, which she will participate in throughout the year.
This will continue to promote diversity within the Ball State and Muncie communities, Keeney said.882'9-+'6U+â-¦c+â-û?b>~5+â-ª--+g#-ú;5jL+â-¦$q'+âc'+â-¦3Z++-í-«+â-Ö+â-î+â-¦#+â-à'+â-£+â-¦+â-ƒA+â-Ü'"--?v-¦u&tF+â-¼+â-ì}*^+â-ä+â-¬[+â-¿y8++â-¼5>+â-ê-¿"+â-Ü+â-¢+â-+V2+â-¦?N:+â-ó+â-¬?+â-¡zSN+â-¬[h$+â-£?P(R+â-è7+â-»6:_+â-«+â+â-+ ~-¬XU#+â-îNkh...+â"-¦-¦iq+âc?dj'2+â-«^!Q-$C]
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