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October 8, 2009

Sophomore Kelsi Crain captures Miss ULM title at annual pageant

Monroe native Kelsi Crain, 19, a sophomore kinesiology major at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, was crowned Miss University of Louisiana at Monroe 2010 at the 57th Annual Miss ULM Pageant in Brown Auditorium Thursday evening.

As Miss ULM, she is the recipient of a tuition scholarship, a private, on-campus apartment, a bookstore award, a meal plan for two semesters given by Campus Activities Board, and a $4,500 cash award given by Student Government Association.

Crain competed on the platform "Heart for the Arts" and said she hoped to raise awareness of the positive impact art makes in the lives of young people, as well as its intrinsic value in improving academics.

Crain, who performed a captivating Dance en Point for a packed house, swept two major categories in the competition, Talent and Swimsuit, as well as being named Advertisement Sales Winner. She is the daughter of Tana and Creg Higdon.

Miss Louisiana 2009 Katherine Putnam, who won the Miss ULM crown in 2007 and is a senior music major at the university, emceed the competition.

Other winners include:

First runner-up and Interview winner: Brandi Stout, a 20-year-old senior and psychology major from Zwolle, is the daughter of Glenda and Joseph Etheridge. Her platform is "Childhood Depression Awareness." Stout performed a Native American fancy shawl dance.

Second runner-up: Karmen Rubin, a 21-year-old senior and health studies major from Shreveport, is the daughter of Peter Rubin and Vancell Williams. Her platform is "iVote: The Power of American Democracy." Rubin performed a jazz dance.

Third runner-up and winner of The People's Choice Award and Miss Congeniality: Lindsey Eickman, a 21-year-old senior and construction management major from Garland, Texas, is the daughter of Scott and Mary Eickman. Her platform is "Extra Curricular = Extra Character." Eickman did a vocal performance.

Fourth runner-up: Evan Lane, a 20-year-old junior and vocal music education major from West Monroe, is the daughter of Lisa Jennings and Michael Lane. Her platform is "Overcoming Adversity." She did a Broadway musical vocal performance.

Winner of Non-Finalist Academic Award: Rachel Hornsby, a 19-year-old sophomore and education major from Bossier City, is the daughter of Mark and Suzanne Hornsby. Her platform is "Project Graduation." She performed a flute solo.

These other outstanding women competed for the title Thursday night:

Katlyn Wilson, an 18-year-old freshman and elementary education major from Vidalia, is the daugher of Bobby and Wanda Wilson. Her platform is "Campaign for Real Beauty." Wilson's talent is vocal performance.

Heather Wardlaw, a 19-year-old sophomore and pre-med major from Natchitoches, is the daughter of Sharon and Harry Wardlaw, Sr. Her platform is "Decreasing the Increasing Issue of Domestic Violence." Wardlaw's talent is vocal performance.

Heather Clapp, a 19-year-old freshman and pre-nursing major from Bossier City, is the daughter of Paul and Pam Clapp. Her platform is "Early Childhood and Adolescent Cancers" Clapp's talent is a clarinet solo.

Chris Jeansonne, a 23-year-old senior and pre-pharmacy major from New Orleans, is the daughter of Derryl and Michael Jeansonne. Her platform is "Giving Back Hope to Katrina Victims." Jeansonne's talent is a dance routine.

For more information about the Miss ULM pageant, contact: 318-342-5292.

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