The Unity Scholarship Pageant was a contest that Miss Unity said judges a person not just on their looks, but on their inner beauty.
Multicultural Center Director Tiffany Washington said all the contestants worked tirelessly for months to prepare for the contest, being involved with community service and multicultural center events as well as preparing for the pageant.
'It helps them understand the importance of involvement on campus, of congeniality, and having a good attitude,' she said. 'It promoted brotherhood and sisterhood. When the contestants introduced their escorts as 'intelligent, charming and wonderful' young men, they really meant it. It wasn't something they were told to say.'
Miss Unity Jenika Garetson considers herself blessed even to have placed in the pageant.
'It was definitely based on what's beautiful inside,' she said. 'With the interview beforehand and being judged for months, you can't fake to the judges who you really are.'
Mr. Unity Troy McElvaney said he feels blessed that all his hard work paid off. He dedicated his performance Saturday night to his mother, who was too sick to come and watch the pageant, and to his aunt who passed away a couple months ago.
'My auntie is the one that pushed me to do it,' he said. 'She always wanted me to do something with myself. I hope she's looking down on me, and she can see that I can dress nice. I'm actually a young man and I can show that.'
McElvaney said he believes racial tension isn't a problem on campus, but people just need to open up to each other.
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The theme of the contest was Wish Upon a Star. Pageant co-chair Deontae Vaughn said when he talks about a star, he is speaking of 'a person who shines so bright, even an entrance in any dark room couldn't stop their lustrous light.'
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The Black Student Association started the pageant in 1958, but at that time it was called the Miss Black Ball State Pageant. Sometime in the last 20 years, the name was changed to the Miss Unity Pageant, and students of all cultures were invited to participate. Then in 2006, male students were invited to participate, and the contest was renamed the Unity Scholarship Pageant.
First place winners received a $1,200 scholarship; second place winners received a $500 scholarship and third place winners received a $300 scholarship.
Contestants introduced themselves with a quote that was dear to their hearts. Other components of the contest included a Ladies Introduction Dance, Gentlemen Introduction Dance, Ladies Performance and Talent Competition. Rhythm Dance Troupe gave a performance and Mr. and Miss Unity of 2009 took a final walk across the stage before passing on their crowns.
During his closing remarks, 2009 Mr. Unity Terrence Veals said he now considers all the contestants a family. He said for his community service work, he helped coach a football team in the Chicago area where he grew up.
'At my high school, there are real thugs and gang bangers,' he said. 'I wanted to go back and tell them there's more to life than where they are now.'
During her reign as Miss Unity, Garetson said she wants to expand on the ideas discussed by the speaker on Thursday about bridging the gap between the GLBTQ community and the Christian community. She plans to work with Cru and Intervarsity to accomplish this goal.
Sophomore Kelsey Kreger was among the nearly 200 students in the crowd who had come to support their friends in the pageant.
'I think they're all confident, which is a good thing,' she said. 'They all define unity well in their own genuine way.'
Unity Court
Queen- Jenika Garetson
King- Troy McElvaney
Miss Princess- Katrina Lunan-Gordan
Miss Duchess- Briana Fulton
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