Feb. 12, 2013
For Immediate Release
Tiffani Ellington, center, was named the 2013 Valentine Queen at Campbellsville University. Ellington of Boaz, Ky., represented the Office of Admissions. Anna Stepp, left, of Grayson, Ky., representing Baptist Campus Ministry was first runner-up. Micheala Parker, right, of Oak Grove, Ky., representing University Theater, was second runner-up. (Campbellsville University Photo by Rachel DeCoursey)
By Lucas Pennington, student news writer
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky.—Glamour, glitz and tears are three words that describe the 2013 Campbellsville University Valentine's Day Pageant, which was won by Tiffani Ellington of Boaz, Ky.
Ellington, a sophomore representing the CU Office of Admissions, was crowned the queen among the 12 contestants who put all their hard work and preparation to use Friday night as they competed in this year's pageant and vied for the title of Campbellsville Valentine's Queen.
Ellington, in a white dress in the poise/appearance section of the competition, dedicated the talent portion of the competition to her mother, a fighter of breast cancer. Ellington sang “Healer” by Kari Jobe.
Ellington was surprised by the Student Government Association committee as they had Skyped in her mom so that she could be a part of the pageant.
Ellington was also the individual winner of the interview section of the competition. She was escorted by Brandon Kilcoyne.
Ellington will represent CU in the annual Mountain Laurel Festival Pageant in May in Pineville, Ky.
Anna Stepp, a senior of Grayson, Ky., who was representing Baptist Christian Ministry, won the talent portion of the competition by singing and playing the guitar, “Many the Miles,” by Sara Bareilles. Stepp was also named first runner-up. In the poise/appearance section of the competition, Stepp walked out in a bright yellow dress. She was escorted by Chris Price.
Michaela Parker, a sophomore of Oak Grove, Ky. who was representing the university's theater department, won the poise/appearance section of the competition in a bright purple dress.
Parker was awarded second runner-up. In the talent portion, Parker sang, “I Dreamed a Dream,” from the newly released movie Les Misérables. Her escort was Blake Hanna.
Audrey Wunderlich, 2012 Valentine Queen, gave all the contestants advice before the competition began. She said, “Be yourself, I know it's cliché, but be yourself.”
This was the 73rd annual Valentine's Pageant and is the longest running activity at CU.
The best escort award went to Tommy Vest, grandfather of Katy Doolin, a sophomore of Lancaster, Ky., representing Phi Alpha Theta.
Miss Congeniality went to Rebekah Southwood, a junior of Campbellsville, Ky., representing Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA). Southwood said, “It's good to know that I got an award that the peers voted on and not a panel of judges.”
Cory Tucker was Southwood's escort.
The seven other contestants who competed were: Tiosha Beasley, a senior of Bowling Green, Ky., representing Intramurals and escorted by Bryan Parnes; Aletheia Chestnut, a sophomore of Winchester, Ky., representing the Board Game Club and escorted by R-Lee Vincente;
Kimbra Compton, a senior of Campbellsville, Ky., representing Social Workers in Touch Can Help Club (SWITCH) and escorted by Travis Kennon; Rebecca Cook, a junior of Stanford, Ky., representing International Justice Mission and escorted by Andrew Neal;
Sarah Porter, a junior of Harrodsburg, Ky., representing Village Phase I and escorted by Joshua Percell; Monique Powell, a sophomore of Elizabethtown, Ky., representing the Step Team and escorted by Enock Edouard; and Mariana Sanders, a sophomore of Louisville, Ky representing Village Phase II, and escorted by Gerry James.
Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,600 students offering 63 undergraduate options, 17 master's degrees, five postgraduate areas and eight pre-professional programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.