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

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sack to Montgomery r honda Maxwell represented the university at the Miss Alabama pageant— the first Miss UNA in five years to do so By Tara Whittle One cold February evening, hundreds of students filed out of Norton Auditorium with little else on their minds except Could you believe the dress she wore? or Matthew Ashford is so cute in person! or Let ' s get out of here; I ' m starving! For these people, the significance of the Miss UNA pageant was over. For Rhonda Maxwell, however, it was only the begiiming. As Miss UNA 1991, Maxwell, a radio television film and English major from Somerville, carried out many of the same duties as her predecessors. I ' m asked to appear at various func- tions on campus, Maxwell said. For example, I performed at Honors Night and I spoke to and performed before several hundred high school students at Career Day. However, while Maxwell was having many of the same experiences as former pageant winners, she was the first Miss UNA in five years to go on to compete in the Miss Alabama pageant. Competing in the Miss Alabama pageant was one of the most significant moments of my reign as Miss UNA, Max- well said. It was a wonderful opportunity, as well as a big responsibility, to represent UNA at the state level. Because the state pageant was held in June, Maxwell only had three months to prepare for the competition. I spent a large amount of time on the talent segment because I decided to change from playing the piano to singing. In addition to preparing for the talent portion of the pageant. Maxwell spent a lot of time keeping up with current events and issues for the pageant interview and select- ing items for a new wardrobe for the com- petition. Maxwell is the first to admit that she could not have done everything by herself. It meant a lot to me to have so much support from the university. A lot of organi- zations, faculty members and students came together to support me, Maxwell said. All those preparations and perfor- mances did more for Maxwell than make her better at public speaking or more adept at analyzing world events. I think the way I feel toward the univer- sity has changed. When you serve the university in a certain capacity, your feel- ings for it are bound to intensify, Maxwell explained I think I feel more pride in UNA than ever before. Following the pageant the winners line up with Days of Our Lives star Matthew Ashford. The winners were Amber Hunter, first ninner-up; Malaea Nelms, Miss UNA 1990; Ashford; Rhonda Maxwell, Miss UNA 1991; Maureen Welden, second runner-up; and Sandy Kay Taylor, third runner-up. (Photo by Herb Stolces)

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Just after being crowned as ttie pageant ' s winner, Rhonda Maxwell takes her first walk as Miss UNA 1991. (Photo by Mark Casteel) Singing her favorite Reba Mclntyre song, A Sunday Kind of Love, made sophomore Amber Hunter the winner of ttie talent competition. (Photo by Shannon Wells) Stopping to smile at the judges, Rhonda Maxwell models the suit that helped her win the swimsult category. The retum of the Miss UNA pageant Into the Miss Alabama Miss America circuit brought the return of the swimsuit competition to the school ' s pageant (Photo by Shannon Wells) Secorxl runner-up Maureen Welden sings Xry for the talent competition. (Photo by Mark Casteel) Concentrating on hitting the right notes, Rhonda Maxwell plays Nonwegian Concerto, First Move- ment by Grieg during dress rehearsal for the talent competition. (Photo by Shannon Weils)

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With one foot on yellow and both hands on blue, Whit Whitton tries to maintain his balance between Arthur KIrfcby and Lori Robbins In the Twister competition of Spring Fling. The three made up part of the Publications team in the game. (Photo by Shannon Wells) . . . Eta Rho . . . Sigma Chi . . . We never die! The Sigma Chis huddle to shout their fraternity ' s chant after being named the overall winners In the male division of Spring Fling. (Photo by Shannon Wells) In a money vote that raised more than $480 for the Commuters Organization, Tracey Wimberly won the title of Spring Fling Queen. She was sponsored by Zeta Tau Alpha sorortty. (Photo by Shannon Wells)