University of North Alabama - Diorama Yearbook (Florence, AL)

Page 18 text:

RECEIVING the congratulations of her fellow contes- tants backstage, the newly crowned Miss UNA has a chance to catch her breath before beginning her reign. BELTING OUT a sassy version of Love Will Find a Way, DeLon Smith competes in the talent portion of the pageant. CREOLE DANCE No. 5, Scher- zando and Coda, wins the approval of the judges as Elizabeth Hill plays. Hill won the talent portion of the pageant and was second runner-up. 14 JAZZ BAND members Joe Brannon and Charmaine Key play the overture with the rest of the band to begin the evening ' s fes- tivities. The Jazz Band played all the produc- tion numbers during the pageant, but did not u play during the girls ' talent competition. THE CONTESTANTS join Master of Ceremonies John Blaylock and Miss UNA 1985 Alyssa Ashley in the rousing opening production number An Alabama Star Fell on New York City. The number was written and choreographed by the director of the production, professor Robert Allen Holder.

Page 17 text:

JAYNE MILLER DRAMATIC LIGHTING empha- sizes the serious moment when Paul (Mitch Florer) hurts his leg and probably ends his dance career. Rushing to his aid are Don (Kevin Clark), Cassie (Tonya Russell), Zach (Dan Caine), Diana (Elizabeth), and Greg (Tripp Storm). SASSY VAL ( Jeanna Aycock) extols the vir- tues of plastic surgery in her number T and A. IN HIS FIRST THEATRICAL ROLE, Reger Curry portrays Richie, another hopeful dancer trying to capture a part in the show within the show. Vocal coach for the musi- cal was K.D. Robison, a sophomore music major. Chorus Line 13

Page 19 text:

Miss Alabama Bound The Miss UNA pageant gives women a chance to win scholarships and to compete in the Miss Alabama pageant 3y Christie Shedd She may have been a little nervous efore the pageant, but freshman DeLon Smith ' s reaction as the results were nnounced was total excitement. I don ' t know if there are any words that :an describe how I felt, she said. Smith was crowned Miss UNA 1986 in bruary, and immediately began to train or the Miss Alabama pageant. Joe Wallace, director of university ivents and Miss UNA pageant coordina- tor, said that the pageant system is a hance for young women to excel. The pageant is an opportunity to edu- » young women and to see them excel leir talent. I think the whole process of Miss America system gives young nen an opportunity to receive scholar- hips and recognition as men do in ath- tic events, said Wallace. Alabama, a State of Music, was the erne for the Miss UNA pageant this year, uch songs as My Home ' s in Alabama, Stars Fell on Alabama, and Alabama Bound set the tone for the pageant. The Master of Ceremonies was John Blaylock, a native of Alabama. He sang When a Man Loves a Woman, a hit song written and recorded locally by Percy Sledge and produced by accounting professor Quinn Ivy. The pageant was a chance to pay trib- ute to Alabama ' s songwriters and the music that represents Alabama, said Wallace. Robert Allen Holder choreographed the music for the pageant. Holder also wrote the opening song called An Alabama Star Fell on New York City. This is the third year that the UNA Jazz Band has served as the orchestra for the pageant. We ' re proud of the Jazz Band for their participation in the pageant, said Wallace. Smith ' s prizes, awarded from pageant sponsors, included about $5,000 worth of merchandise and services. She received a $1500 wardrobe for the Miss Alabama pageant from Regency Square Mall, one year free tanning from Caribbean Tanning Salon, one year membership from Court House Racquetball Club, one week vaca- tion in Florida from Tourway Inn, one year hair care from The Mane Place, Color Analysis and cosmetics consultation from A New You, a diamond necklace from Best Jeweler ' s, one year membership to Ron ' s Gym for weight training, custom statione ry from Don Brown Printing, official portraits from photographer Jim Frawley, and one year ' s tuition from the university. The pageant marked Smith ' s debut in performing in front of an audience. She sang Love Will Find a Way. Smith plans a career in television broad- casting, and hopes to eventually work with a major news network. Jane Pauley of the Today Show is my idol, she explained. First alternate was Debra Eastland. East- land has been singing professionally since she was eight years old. ' For the pageant, Eastland sang Ain ' t No Mountain High Enough. I wanted to sing this song because of the up-beat, and I felt the song fit my personality, said Eastland. After the Miss UNA pageant, Eastland won the Miss Dixie pageant in Guin, Alabama. She went on to place third (second runner-up) in the Miss Alabama pageant. She won the preliminary talent award in the Miss Alabama pageant. Elizabeth Hill was second alternate in the Miss UNA pageant. Vickie Pike and Leigh Ellen Sandlin were third and fourth alternates. The pageant was a great success, judg- ing from the reactions of the audience and of those who participated both onstage and backstage. The tremendous amount of work put into the pageant paid off for the t girls and for the university— as the Miss j UNA pageant continues its tradition of producing future Miss Alabamas. s THE TOP TEN FINALISTS line up during the swimsuit competition. The finalists were Leigh Ellen Sandlin, DeLon Smith, Vicki Pike, Dedra Eastland, Elizabeth Hill, Daphne Dean, Elaine Cox, Molly Brown, Mashea Holden, and Samantha Hamilton. FIRST RUNNER- UP Dedra Eastland beams at the obvi- ously thrilled Miss UNA DeLon Smith. Miss UNA 15