Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Ward Earns Berth In Miss Arkansas Pageant

Jessie Ward, 17, daughter of Ned and Karen Ward of Prescott, has been crowned Miss University of Arkansas Community College at Hope.

Ward will now compete for the Miss Arkansas title in Hot Springs on June 17-20. Miss Arkansas will then compete in the Miss America pageant.

"We were pleased with our contestants and the pageant this year," Jamie West, a UACCH English instructor and pageant coordinator, said. "We congratulate Jessie and feel confident that she will represent our area well."

Ward is a senior at Prescott High School, but she has also been taking college credit courses at UACCH. She is studying for an associate of art degree and then plans to transfer to a four-year institution for a degree in political science.

"Her goal is to become an attorney and someday be the first woman governor of Arkansas," West said. "And the issues she will speak on in the coming year will be 'The importance of higher education and mentorship.'"

Ward has practiced tap and ballet dancing for 13 years and displayed those skills in the talent portion of the competition. Contestants were also judged in evening wear and swimsuit competitions and an interview with five judges experienced with the Miss Arkansas and Miss America judging criteria.

Ward was voted Miss Prescott High School and outstanding senior by the high school faculty in addition to serving at Girls State. She was also voted Miss Nevada County Fair Queen and Miss Southwest District Fair Queen in 1997-98.

Ward is an honors graduate at Prescott High and has received an academic scholarship at UACCH.

During the next year, Ward will speaking at area civic clubs in preparation for the Miss Arkansas pageant and possibly the Miss America pageant.

Any club or organization wishing to schedule a speaking engagement should contact West at UACCH at 777-5722.