Twenty-four contestants will take the stage March 1 as they compete for the title of Miss UAFS 2014.

Sherry Card of Fort Smith, director of campus and community events at the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith, said this year’s slew of contestants is “one of the best we’ve had in years.”

“We are very excited to have 24 outstanding young women vying for the crown in this year’s pageant,” she said. “While each contestant hopes to get something different out of the pageant -- some are doing it for the experience, some to build their confidence, and some for the friendships they will make along the way -- they all agree that winning the cash awards and scholarships are at the top of their list.”

Card added that the contestant’s talents range from speed painting to performing karate demonstrations.

The Miss UAFS pageant is a preliminary to the Miss Arkansas and Miss America scholarship programs. Stacey Jones of Fort Smith, associate vice chancellor of campus and community events, directs the Miss UAFS pageant and is a producer for the Miss Arkansas pageant.

Contestants are:

• Adrienne Ackley, 20 of Plainview, daughter of Thomas and Lynn Ackley of Plainview.
• Mikella Arbaugh, 19, of Clarksville, daughter of Mike and Tammy Arbaugh of Clarksville.
• Dalissa Barentine, 20, of Fort Smith, daughter of Angela Callaway of Rogers and Tony Barentine of New Orleans, La.
• Katie Brown, 18, of Alma, daughter of Damon and Leigh Brown of Alma.
• Macey Casher, 21, of Muldrow, Okla., daughter of Jesse and Misty Casher of Muldrow, Okla.
• Cristina Castorena, 23, of Fort Smith, daughter of Ismel and Irma Castorena of Fort Smith.
• Brittany Christian, 23, of Barling, daughter of Stephen and Hongkham Christian of Barling.
• Abby Cloud, 20, of Stillwater, Okla., daughter of Greg and Jayne Cloud of Stillwater, Okla.
• Kristen Cox, 20, of Van Buren, daughter of Danny and Michele Cox of Van Buren.
• Heather Deere, 18, of Muldrow, Okla., daughter of David and Mary Carr of Muldrow, Okla.
• Lauren Durham, 18, of Hackett, daughter of James and Amy Durham of Hackett.
• Kayla Dutton, 21, of Muldrow, Okla., daughter of Chrystal Masterson of Muldrow, Okla., and Scotty Dutton of Tulsa, Okla.
• C.J. Gramlich, 19, of Greenwood, daughter of Ardell Gramlich of Greenwood.
• Alisha Hatley, 19, of Fort Smith, daughter of Rhonda Forte of Fort Smith.
• Yabria Horton, 18, of Cameron, Okla., daughter of Connie Horton of Cameron, Okla.
• Tulsa House, 18, of Fort Smith, daughter of Ray and Tabitha House of Fort Smith.
• Lydia Humphrey, 21, of Ozark, daughter of Chuck and Diane Humphrey of Ozark.
• Makayla Jackson, 20, of Muldrow, Okla., daughter of Chris and Cyndi Jackson of Muldrow, Okla.
• Domanique Johnson, 20, of Spiro, Okla., daughter of Carolyn Johnson of Spiro, Okla., and Michael Mayo of Benbrook, Texas.
• Bekah Karp, 19, of Siloam Springs, daughter of Brian and Sherri Karp of Siloam Springs.
• Emily McCollom, 20, of Fort Smith, daughter of Paul and Pam McCollom of Fort Smith.
• Allyson Peek, 19, of Avery, Texas, daughter of Blaine Peek of Bagwell, Texas, and Missy Gilreath of Avery, Texas.  
• Mary Rosenow, 20, of Barling, daughter of Werner and Shawna Rosenow of Fort Smith.
• Kalyn Tounzen, 20, of Van Buren, daughter of Mike and Jeri Tounzen of Van Buren.

The pageant contestants will be joined on stage by the 18 girls participating in this year’s Princess Program, a non-competitive program that allows girls ages 5-10 to participate in the pageant-related events.

Tickets for the scholarship pageant, which will be held at 7 p.m. at the Arkansas Best Performing Arts Center, are $10 and available online at http://uafs.universitytickets.com/ or by calling the UAFS Box Office at 479-788-7300.

For more information on the pageant, contact Card by telephone at 479-788-7301 or by email at sherry.card@uafs.edu. For more information about the Princess Program, contact Angela Lamon at 479-788-7788.