Archived News | Return to News Center

October 7, 2011

Jessica Gilbert crowned Miss ULM 2012

Jessica Gilbert, a senior psychology major from West Monroe, was crowned the new Miss University of Louisiana at Monroe at the Miss ULM Pageant, Oct. 6 in Brown Auditorium.

Her platform is “Mental Health Awareness,” through which she hopes to raise the resources and medical attention needed for those less fortunate. 

Other winners include: 

More about the participants:

Candice Johnson is a junior kinesiology major from Keller, Texas. Johnson is the current captain of the ULM Hawkline. Her platform is “Fit for a Queen.” Through fitness and maintenance of a healthy lifestyle, Johnson believes children can reach their full potential. 

Kemper Block is a sophomore biology major from West Monroe. She is a member of the nationally acclaimed ULM Cheer Squad, Kappa Delta Sorority and the Campus Activity Board. Her platform is “Prevent Child Abuse America.” Through her sorority, Block has been able to work closely with this organization.

Kristen Meier is a sophomore pre-pharmacy major from Longview, Texas. She has been dancing since the age of two and is a member of the ULM Hawkline. Meier uses her personal story of bullying affecting her life to teach children the necessary steps to counteract it.

Lauren Ford is a freshmen biology major from Monroe. She is a classically trained violinist and the 2011 Louisiana Fiddle Grand Champion. Ford has volunteered for over 700 hours of community services dealing with her platform “Character Counts.” 

Courtnee Crews is a freshman science major from Monroe and won the Miss Congeniality Award. She is the youngest of three girls in her family, plays the guitar and has been singing since the age of four. Her career goal is to start an organization to promote a healthy body image to young girls. 

Jameshia Below is a sophomore pre-pharmacy major from Natchitoches. She is a recipient of the Huey P. Woodson Memorial Scholarship and the St. Matthew Foundation Scholarship. Her scholastic achievements include membership in the National Honor Society while in high school. Her platform is “Cancer, Chemotherapy and Companionship,” through which she hopes to share her story to inspire others. 

Cynthia Shirley is a freshmen kinesiology major from West Monroe. Her career goal is to practice in the field of physical therapy in sports medicine. Her platform is “Epilepsy Awareness,” through which she hopes to encourage others with this disorder.

Alexis Smith is a junior biology major from Lyons, New York.  As a sophomore, she placed in the top 10 at the Sunbelt track meet last year. Her platform is “The Importance of Sports in Schools,” through which she hopes to encourage more students to participate in sports. 

Jaymee McFarland is a freshmen pre-pharmacy major from Bentley. She is an only child with an interest in riding horses and showing cows. Her career goal is to inspire a passion for education so high school students will continue their education.

Coriane Al-Shaikhly is a sophomore pre-pharmacy major from New Orleans. Her scholastic ambition is to obtain a doctorate in pharmacy and own her own business. Her platform is “Watch for Motorcycles.” She and her family ride motorcycles, but she wants to educate concerning the necessary safety precautions involved in the hobby. 

Andrena Haynes is a sophomore mass communications major from Shreveport. Her platform is “Beauty in the Breakdown,” through which she hopes to garner attention to the drug abuse faced by youth today. 

Ashly Harrison is a freshman Spanish major from Benton. She hopes to partner with the Shriners Hospitals for Children to raise money for scoliosis research. 

Alyssa Tamburo is a junior criminal justice major from Delhi. She is a member of the ULM Hawkline. She recently did a fundraiser at her local high school concerning stem cell research and hopes to raise awareness for the topic.

Britney Duke is a freshmen biology major from Ponchatoula. She served as the 2011 Southern Exposure senior representative while in high school. Her platform is “A Stop at the High School Drops,” through which she hopes to encourage high school retention. 

Victoria Orr is a junior biology major from Mer Rouge. She serves as the youth leader at her church. Her platform is “Teenage Influences and Struggles,” through which she hopes to partner with school counselors in order to reach young adults.

Leanne Nash is a freshmen kinesiology major from Shreveport. Her platform is “Juvenile Diabetes Awareness,” through which she hopes to educate others concerning the symptoms, diagnoses, and treatment of juvenile diabetes. 

Miss ULM serves as the official hostess of ULM and represents the school at the Miss Louisiana Pageant.

For more information about the Miss ULM pageant, contact 318-342-5292 or studentlife@ulm.edu or visit
www.ulm.edu/studentlife/missulm.html.

PLEASE NOTE: Some links and e-mail addresses in these archived news stories may no longer work, and some content may include events which are no longer relevent, or reference individuals and/or organizations no longer associated with ULM.