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Ball State's Unity Pageant Wrapped up Unity Week

One Unity Pageant contestant gives a speech.
One Unity Pageant contestant gives a speech.

MUNCIE, Ind.(NewsLink) - This year marked the 40th anniversary of Ball State’s Unity Week, which began Martin Luther King Day, to challenge the perspective on diversity. 

The week included events produced by Spectrum, The Asian American Association, the Lantinx Student Union, and the Black Student Association (BSA). 

To wrap up the week, the BSA put on their annual Unity Scholarship Pageant. 

The pageant began in 1968, with the goal to promote unity through its all inclusive contestants. Not just people of all cultures, but genders as well are welcomed to compete in the pageant. 

Darrian Ballard, the secretary and Unity Pageant chair, said, “we not only created a pageant for minority women, but we made it for all people. So, I think that says a statement in itself, about why unity is so important and it has now been going for over 50 years which is such a blessing." 

This year’s show had eight contestants competing and over 400 people watching.

For any comments or concerns about this story, please contact the author at jrnorton2@bsu.edu.