University of Mississippi - Ole Miss Yearbook (Oxford, MS)

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ROVING HER TALENT, Lancaster won the preliminary portion during the first night of the competition at the 2004 Miss Mississippi Pageant. Distinctions | 119

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MISS UNIVERSITY SHE ' S A LADY April Lancaster takes the 2004 Miss University crown IN WHAT 15 MORE THAN A BEAUTY PAGEANT written p ii)lii ;mp ial liy JEREMY ROBERTS ebruai )- 1 1 , 2004 marked the 56th Miss U ni ersity Pageant and a day pril Lancaster will never forget. Lancaster, a sen ior vocal music education major from Barlett, Tenn., never competed in beauty pageants before coming to Ole Miss. Little did she know that she would one day be crowned Miss L ' nixersity It would give me a wonderful Qpportunity to share with society an issue of my heart, rather than my appearance alone ' Lancaster said. and have the chance to represent Ole Miss as a positive rf)ie model and to compete in the Miss Mississippi pageant. Every litde girl ' s dream is to be Miss America, said Lancaster. I used to sit in front of the TV every year when it was shown and would promise my parents that I would be up there one day performing for the whole nation to see. The night of the pageant, which took place in the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts, began with the opening production and parade of contestants and a welcome from . llison Kellog, the reigning Miss Mississippi, and Jennifer Jernigan, 2003 ' s Miss University. After the introduction of the judges and the swimsuit competition, entertainment was provided by Ashley Hatfield, beginning the night ' s talent competition. Here, each contestant gave their own rendition of a musical ensemble or themed dance. .After intermission and an enlcrl.iiiinuiu jiortimi h Jciiiiiferjernigan. each contestant was escorted out for an on-stage interview by Bradley Baker, the co-direclor of special events for the Student Prograniniing Board. As part of tradition, before crowning the new Miss University, the reigning C|ueen sang her farewell and sent acknowledgements to various supp(jrters and members of her family. The winners were announced, beginning with the talent competition, which was won by Lancaster. Lanier Wright was the winner of the swimsuit competition. Lancaster was also awarded the title of Miss Congeniality, as voted upon by the other contestants in the pageant. Next, the announcement of each alternate was named - Megan McFarland, 3rd alternate; Lanier Wright, 2nd alternate; and Calley Dunn, 1st alternate. In the culmination of the night ' s events, Lancaster was crowned Miss University, a title which represents much more than beauty. I knew that participating in this e ent would be a goal that I would want to accomplish before I graduated from Ole Miss because it would allow me to be a role model for my school, town and the state of Mississippi, said Lancaster. It would give me a wonderful opportunity to share with society an issue of my heart, rather than ni) ' appearance alone. Once Lancaster won. she began work on her platform ol donating to and investing in children ' s hospitals. She started a program called Children Helping Children to raise donations for the Ronald McDonald House in Jackson. She is also the O.xford spokesperson for Mississippi ' s only children ' s hospital, the Blair E. Batson. Lancaster will rctin-n lor the 2005 Miss University Pageant to sing her larcwell and crown next car s winner WINNERS from the 2004 Miss University Pageant include: (clockwise from top) Megan McFarland, 3rd alternate; Lanier Wright, 2nd alternate; Calley Dunn, 1st alternate; and April Lancaster, Miss University 2004. 118 I The Oi.i; Miss 2005

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PHI BETA KAPPA Jnce 2001, hundreds of studciUs have been indited into the Beta of Mississippi chapter :)iWi Beta Kappa, a national undergraduate honor society. .Vnd although the organization does not track its members, those students often win other prestigious awards such as the Taylor UNIQUE PLEDGING The fourth class of initiates were inducted into the Ole Miss Phi Beta Kappa chapter on April 2, 2004 wnlkii In MARQUITA BROWN lwhoia linl hy ROBIN FREEMAN Medal, said chapter President Donald Dyer, a professor of modern languages. The Beta of Mississippi chapter of Phi Beta Kappa was chartered in April 2001. The Ole Miss chapter and the Alpha of Mississippi chapter at Millsaps College in Jackson are the onK chapters of the organization in the state. The chapter here is something the university has been working toward for many years, Dyer said. It was a major clfori for the university to bring the chapter here. Phi Beta Kappa was originally started at the College of William and Mary in 1776, which makes it the oldest honors undergraduate organization in the stale, according to the Web site. According to the organization ' s national Web site, famous members include six U.S. Supreme Court Justices, former Presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush Sr., Klizabrih Dole. I ' Vancis Pord (Joppola and renowned pod Rita Dove. The oigani ali(in has a long history, Dyei ' said. It ' s the most prestigious honor society in the nation for students who are majoring in a Liberal Arts (discipline). Student selection is based upon the evidence of broad cultural interests, scholarly achievement and good character, according to the organization ' s Web site. Candidates for membership in Phi Beta Kappa must be pursuing a Liberal Arts degree such as philosophy, political science, mathematics - traditionally non-vocational majors. Other fields, such as journalism, nursing or physical education are excluded. Members of Phi Beta Kappa have proven to be an exceptional student, Dyer said. Ihi- membership can be used when appKing to graduate school to boost the likelihood of acceptance, he said. Membership may also be beneficial for someone seeking a job, Dyer said. Many students do not know this, but the Greek letters Phi Beta Kappa are an acronyin for Philosophia Biou Kubernetes, which means, love of wisdom, the guide of life, Dyer said. By pursing a non-vocational liberal arts degree, students learn fiir the sake of learning, not as part of a direct career path, Dyer said. And. he said, in that way, you free your mind. 120 I The Olk Miss 2005