In a night that featured a surprise marriage proposal and appearances by Miss America and Miss Arkansas, it was Logan Moore of Van Buren who stole the show by being crowned Miss UAFS 2017.
Moore was crowned Miss UAFS over 15 other contestants during the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith’s scholarship pageant March 11, which saw the awarding of more than $17,000 in scholarships to contestants.
Moore, 21, of Van Buren, is the daughter of Zane and Laura Moore of Van Buren. Moore’s major is nursing, and she performed a flute solo for her pageant talent. Her platform is “Food for All,” and she will represent UAFS at the Miss Arkansas Pageant this summer in Hot Springs.
Additionally, Moore won the Non-Vocal Artistic Expression Award and the Lifestyle and Fitness Award.
Other winners included:
First runner-up: Niki Waters, 19, of Booneville, daughter of Steve and Kim Waters of Booneville. Waters also won the Vocal Artistic Expression Award.
Second runner-up: Kaylin Cripps, 22, of Gentry, daughter of Eldon and Kaye Cripps of Gentry. Cripps also won the Academic Excellence Award.
Third runner-up: Mary Beth Andrews, 18, of West Fork, daughter of Stan and Kristi Andrews of West Fork. Additionally, Andrews won both the Spirit of Miss UAFS Award and the Miss Congeniality Award.
Fourth runner-up: Madison Clark, 18, of Fort Smith, daughter of Dennis and Sandy Clark of Paris.
Audience Appeal Award: Haven Cox, 20, of Elkins, daughter of Robert and Kim Cox of Elkins.
Audience Appeal Bucket Award: Krysten Fagan, 20, of Mena, daughter of Darrell and Kandy Page and John Fagan, all of Mena.
Judges determined the winner and runners-up based on five areas of criteria: talent, interview, lifestyle and fitness, eveningwear, and the contestant’s response to their on-stage question. The event was held at the ArcBest Performing Arts Center at the Fort Smith Convention Center.
The pageant awarded $17,275 in cash and scholarships - in addition to prizes valued at more than $7,000 - during this year’s pageant. For winning Miss UAFS, Moore received a two-year scholarship to UAFS valuing $7,000, a cash scholarship valuing $2,500 and a necklace from The Jewelry Store worth an estimated $2,500.
The event included appearances by Miss Arkansas Savannah Skidmore - who sang “Can’t Help Falling in Love” - and Miss America Savvy Shields, who spoke to the crowd and recited anecdotes of her time spent as Miss America. But perhaps even more notable were Miss UAFS 2016 Katie Brown’s final moments on stage before this year’s winner was crowned, when she was proposed to by her boyfriend, Seth Burgess, to roars of applause from the crowd.
Other special guests included Daren Bobb and Katelynn Zoellner, both of KFSM-TV, who served as masters of ceremonies.
Entertainment was provided by production dancers under the direction of Rebecca Bean; the UAFS Jazz Band and Jazz Catz under the direction of Don Bailey; and Miss UAFS singers Travis Blakney, Brian Gary, Rosemary Johnson, Ashley Hill and Aspen Knight.
The pageant chair is Stacey Jones of Fort Smith, associate vice chancellor of campus and community events at UAFS. Jones is also producer for the Miss Arkansas Pageant.
About the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith
The University of Arkansas – Fort Smith is the premiere regional institution of Western Arkansas, connecting education with careers and serving as a driver of economic development and quality of place in the greater Fort Smith region. Through a small campus, dedicated professors, and the university’s unique bond with its community, students at UAFS are able to do more in the areas they are passionate about, both on- and off-campus, in a way that prepares them for post-graduate success. To find out how you can do more at UAFS, visit www.uafs.edu.