Phi Beta Sigma Pageant

On March 29, former Phi Beta Sigma queen, Tanisha Williams, crowned Shakira Summerville, senior education major, the 2018 Miss Phi Beta Sigma.

The lights were turned down low in the lecture hall of the Garrison Center, when the contestants came in, not through the stage, but through the entrance. Than ran onto the stage and performed a dance together and were met with roars of approval.

Summerville won a slew of awards including: people’s choice, social media, miss congeniality and most talented, along with a $1,000 scholarship. “I’m so happy and honored to be miss Phi Beta Sigma 2018,” Summerville said.

The young women put on an exciting five-part show including: an introduction, business attire, swimsuit competition, talent and formal wear.

For the talent section, Summerville performed spoken word poetry, a poem called “Scars,” with a sassy, black-girl attitude that worked the adoring audience into a cheering frenzy. First runner up, Emily Wetzlar, senior elementary education major, sang a heart-warming rendition of the song “All I Ask of You” a cappella. Second runner up, Ayanna Willis, senior psychology major, performed the spoken-word poem “A Colored Girl Like Me.”

Between the acts, host, Brandon Randle, told jokes to the crowd while the contestants changed clothes and singer, Phillip Robertson, sang the Kenny Rogers song “Unlove You.”

There was a six-judge panel comprised of professors, advisors and Phi Beta Sigma alumni. They were: Keith Beason, Mary Bell, Patrick Shepard Jr., Tonya Macon, Amber Burton and Sarron Hearn.

Savannah Moore, senior human services major, was in attendance at the pageant. “The girls are really beautiful,” Moore said. “They really worked hard and put on a great show.”