NEWS

800×600

Normal
0

false
false
false

EN-US
X-NONE
X-NONE

MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:””;
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:”Times New Roman”,”serif”;}

Six contestants from Louisiana Tech University will help make up the field next week as the Miss Louisiana competition will be held June 26, 27 and 29 in the W.L. “Jack” Howard Theatre at the Monroe Civic Center.

Julianne Tippen of West Monroe (Miss Louisiana Tech University), Mallory Cox of Ruston (Miss Dixie Gem Peach), Angela Cassels of Ruston (Miss Union Parish), Amy Dousay of Calhoun (Miss Holiday in Dixie), Elisa Aviles of Trenton, N.J. (Miss Tate of the Twin Cities) and Serena Mendoza of Lafayette (Miss Heart of the Pines) will all help represent Tech in the field of 36 contestants.

Those contestants will be vying to take over the crown from former Miss Louisiana Tech and outgoing Miss Louisiana Lauren Vizza.  As the current Miss Louisiana Tech, Tippen knows the eyes of Tech Nation will be upon her.

Miss Louisiana Tech 2013 Julianne Tippen (center) and Mallory Cox (right) will be among the 36 competing for the Miss Louisiana crown, June 26-29 in Monroe.

“It has been an incredible experience to have the opportunity to represent my university this year as Miss Louisiana Tech, but it could not be more fitting that I get to do so at the 50th Anniversary Miss Louisiana Pageant,” said Tippen, a junior biology major. “Not only am I able to represent myself and my family, but I am also able to represent each and every student and faculty member.  I am so proud of my school, and I hope to make all of my fellow Bulldogs proud!”

Cox, a new Louisiana Tech mathematics graduate, said much preparation goes into getting ready for the Miss Louisiana Pageant.

“I’ve been preparing for this for years,” Cox said. “The swimsuit competition since last year, and then I’ve really worked on the interview parts over the last half of the school year – things like really staying up on current events. It’s just real exciting that the pageant is almost here. I can’t wait and wish it was already time.”

This will be the third straight Miss Louisiana Pageant for Cassels, a senior nursing major, and she hopes experience will be the charm the third time around.

“I definitely feel that the past two years of experience that I have had competing at Miss Louisiana will be very beneficial,” Cassels said. “I feel more confident and better prepared each time I step on to the Miss Louisiana stage. Plus, having an understanding of the routine for the week takes away a lot of the stress and mystery and allows me to just relax and have a great time with the amazing and talented women that are competing with me!”

Dousay, a sophomore animal science major, said nerves are always a part of a pageant and she’s learned to use that to her advantage.

“I’ve been doing pageants since I was a little girl so I’ve gotten pretty used to the nerves,” Dousay said. “Not to say they aren’t there, I’ve just learned to turn my nervousness into excitement. I just like to go into each pageant I do with the mindset that as long as I have fun and learn something from it then I’ve won even if I don’t go home with the crown.”

Aviles, a senior history/political science major, trekked across the country to attend Tech and compete for the Miss Louisiana crown.

“It was the opportunity to receive an out of state scholarship brought me to Louisiana Tech,” Aviles said. “The out-of-state Bull Dog Scholarship made it cheaper for me to be an out-of-state student in Louisiana rather than an in-state student in New Jersey.  Competing for the Miss Louisiana title is an amazing journey.  I’m excited to be able to be a part of a service organization that gives back so much.”

Mendoza, a senior political science major, said the friendly competition between the six contestants from Tech is an advantage.

“I have met and become friends with all of the reigning queens from Tech and I must say it has its perks,” Mendoza said. “Each one of them has helped me on my journey to Miss Louisiana from interview preparations to wardrobe malfunctions. I mostly enjoy the humor that we share because it keeps us calm and having fun.  I look forward to the Miss Louisiana week and will proudly represent not only my title, but my alma mater as well. Go Bulldogs!”

Preliminary competition will be held on June 26 and 27 and the final competition, which will be televised live statewide, will be held on June 29. The pageant will also hold a Miss Louisiana Variety Show on June 28 featuring former Miss Louisiana winners of the past 50 years showcasing their talents.
Written by T. Scott Boatright – boat@latech.edu