Rebecca Wheeley Named Miss UA Fort Smith

Rebecca Wheeley of Rogers was crowned Miss UA Fort Smith on March 13 in the annual event that is a preliminary in the Miss Arkansas and Miss America scholarship programs.

The 21- year-old is the daughter of Pat and Brenda Wheeley and is a 2007 graduate of Rogers High School. Wheeley also received awards in the talent, interview, and lifestyle and fitness categories. She also won the Spirit of Miss UA Fort Smith award. For her talent, she performed a pointe dance to “Man of La Mancha.”

Wheeley is a math major at the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith, plans to obtain a master’s degree and wants to teach math in a high school or university.

First runner-up: First runner-up was Emilee Higdon, 20, of Mulberry, daughter of Trace and Dana Higdon.

Second runner-up: Second runner-up was Emily Elkins, 20, of Van Buren, daughter of Mark and Dianna Elkins. She also won the evening wear award and was one of three who tied for Miss Congeniality.

Third runner-up: Third runner-up was Lauren Zimmerman, 19, of Harrison, daughter of Elaine Zimmerman. She was also a Miss Congeniality winner.

Fourth runner-up: Fourth runner-up was Megan Organ, 20, of Greenwood, daughter of Mark and Jan Organ.

Other awards: Three additional contestants took home awards. The third contestant to tie for Miss Congeniality was Shamber Uzuh, 21, of Little Rock, daughter of Norma Earnest and Bobbye Williams.

Summer Lang, 19, of Mansfield, daughter of Douglas and Julie Efurd, won the GPA Award, given to the contestant with the highest grade-point average. She has a 3.81.

Brittany Hunt, 21, of San Antonio, Texas, won the Audience Appeal Award. She is the daughter of William and Stacey Hunt.

Judges rated contestants in five categories — talent, interview with judges, lifestyle and fitness in swimsuit, evening wear and on-stage interview. The event was held at the Arkansas Best Corp. Performing Arts Center at the Fort Smith Convention Center.

Cash and scholarship awards through the Miss UA Fort Smith Pageant total $15,000, according to Stacey Jones, associate vice chancellor for campus and community events. Jones directs the Miss UA Fort Smith Pageant and is active on a state basis with the Miss Arkansas Pageant.

Copyright © 2010, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc.
All rights reserved.
This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc.

Material from the Associated Press is Copyright © 2010, Associated Press and may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. The AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing. All rights reserved.