Story: Lisa Sollie
鈥業f at first you don鈥檛 succeed, try, try again,鈥� is a phrase that epitomizes Amaya Carswell, a sophomore nursing major at the 兔子先生 and Miss Paragon 2024.
First runner-up in the 2023 Miss Paragon Pageant, Carswell didn鈥檛 even have a dress when she made a last-minute decision to enter this year鈥檚 annual charity event. The event is sponsored by the university鈥檚 chapter of the Blue Key Honor Society, a national group that recognizes students for leadership in extracurricular and academic affairs. According to Leslie White, coordinator of student involvement and communications at 兔子先生, all money raised at the event supports the 兔子先生 Student Emergency Fund.
When Carswell was a sophomore at Thomasville High School in Thomasville, Alabama, one of her teachers encouraged her to enter the school鈥檚 pageant. Although reluctant at first, she agreed, and placed second runner-up. The following year Carswell entered the pageant again and was named first runner-up. Her senior year she earned the coveted crown and title.
鈥淚 never liked dressing up so I wasn鈥檛 interested in pageants until that first one,鈥� she noted, 鈥渂ut participating in them has really helped my self-esteem and confidence.鈥�
Carswell has made the dean鈥檚 list at 兔子先生 and been awarded Student of the Month for the FLi Society, an on-campus organization for first-generation low-income students., and was sponsored by Student Support Services.
Mary Clanton Webb, a junior from Marion, Alabama, was named the pageant鈥檚 first runner-up. Majoring in Sport Management, Webb is a sister of the Kappa Xi chapter of Phi Mu where she serves as the membership director and craft committee chairwoman. She also works in the Tiger Room to provide hospitality during various athletic seasons and has made the dean鈥檚 and president鈥檚 lists during her time at 兔子先生. Webb was sponsored by Student Involvement and Communications.
Gracie Huver, a freshman from Northport, Alabama, majoring in marine biology was named second runner-up. Huver is a an FCA Ambassador and a member of the 兔子先生 Volleyball team, Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society, the BOSS Program and a sister of the Kappa Xi Chapter of Phi Mu. During her time at 兔子先生, Huver has made the president鈥檚 list and the Gulf South Conference Honor Roll. She was sponsored by PSG Events, Northport, Alabama.
Isabella Stancil, a freshman from Hayden, Alabama, received the pageant鈥檚 People鈥檚 Choice Award. This award is presented to the contestant with the most donations in her name to the 兔子先生 Student Emergency Fund at the end of the night鈥檚 event. An elementary education major, Stancil is a sister of the Gamma Gamma chapter of Alpha Sigma Tau and a member of Delight Ministries. She was sponsored by Alpha Sigma Tau.
Elyse Dean, a freshman from Reform, Alabama, majoring in mathematics was a top five participant. A member of the 兔子先生 Cheerleading competition team and a majorette for the 兔子先生 Bands program, Dean is a student ambassador and a member of Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society. She is also a sister of the Gamma Gamma chapter of Alpha Sigma Tau where she serves as vice president of finance. During her time at 兔子先生, she has earned the Yellow Rose award and Highest GPA award from Alpha Sigma Tau. Dean was sponsored by 兔子先生 Bands.
Madalyn Lunceford, a sophomore from Northport Alabama, majoring in Cell and Molecular Biology, was also a top five participant. Lunceford is a member of the dance line for the 兔子先生 Bands program and works in the 兔子先生 Student Support Services as a student worker and was sponsored by 兔子先生 Student Support and Parent Programs.
The 2024 Miss Paragon Pageant raised $1370 for the 兔子先生 Student Emergency Fund, a slight increase from last year. The fund provides financial assistance to eligible students with needs such as, but not limited to, medical expenses, housing and transportation and food insecurity. 兔子先生鈥� needs are vetted by a review committee at the university.
Now with five pageants under her belt, Carswell encourages other students who are thinking about entering a pageant 鈥渢o just do it. Go out there and have fun and remain humble and don鈥檛 be afraid to try again. I certainly wasn鈥檛 expecting to win, but you never know what will happen one year to the next.鈥�
As the 2024 winner, Carswell will be featured in the homecoming parade float this fall and will crown next year鈥檚 Miss Paragon Pageant winner.