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CELEBRATION OF FREEDOM PHOTOS

 Leaf Foundation Winners (l-r):  Alivia Roberts (Riverland Teen), Brooke Bullock (Turtle Creek Teen), Anne Elizabeth Buys (Pearl River Valley Teen), Patty Turner (Miss Riverland), Jerrilyn Lake (Miss Leaf River Valley) and Hannah Matherne (Leaf River Valley Teen).

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LEAF FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS NAMED                               

Alcorn State University graduate Jerrilyn Lake was crowned Miss Leaf River Valley and Jones County Junior College coed Patty Turner was named Miss Riverland in an official Miss America scholarship pageant held at Oak Grove Primary School and sponsored by The Leaf Foundation.

Lake sang the Beyonce classic “Listen” from the movie Dreamgirls.  Lake was named preliminary talent winner and interview winner.  Turner performed a flute solo and won the preliminary swimsuit title.  Miss Mississippi Mary Margaret Roark emceed the eighth annual Miss Leaf River Valley/Miss Riverland Pageant.

In the “Miss” Division, other winners included First Alternate Michaela Moore (Biloxi); Second Alternate Julie Falgout (Hattiesburg); Community Service Winner Jordan Smith (Lucedale);

In the “Teen” Division,  Dancer Hannah Matherne (Oak Grove) was named Leaf River Valley’s Outstanding Teen; Anne Elizabeth Buys (Vicksburg) performed a combination song and dance and was crowned Pearl River Valley’s Outstanding Teen; Classical Ballerina Alivia Roberts (Shannon) was selected as Riverland’s Outstanding Teen; and Classical Pianist Brooke Bullock (Petal) was chosen as Turtle Creek’s Outstanding Teen.

Other winners in the teen division included First Alternate Katelyn Perry (Gulfoport) and Second Alternate Kate Robison (Laurel).

In preliminary competition, Buys was the evening wear winner and Bullock was a double preliminary winner, taking both interview and talent awards.  Matherne was judged best in the Community Service category.

Other recognitions that took place during the September 11 “Celebration of Freedom” were: Dr. Carroll D. Pierce (Seminary) -Leaf Foundation Volunteer of the Year; and Tracy Robinson (Hattiesburg) – Retiring Executive Director of Miss LRV/RL.  In addition the National Patriot Day extravaganza honored three local heroes for their service.  Freedom Awards were accorded to: Hattiesburg Fire Chief David Webster; Columbia Police Chief Jim Kinslow; and Camp Shelby Leader Col. Steve Parham.

Entertainers at the local 9.11 “Celebration of Freedom” included Soprano Dr. Kimberley Davis, Okatoma Idol Winner Sharolyn Magee,  On Your Toes Studio Dancers, South Mississippi Ballet Theatre and Hattiesburg High School Jazz Band.  USM ROTC and Camp Shelby’s Honor Guard rounded out show production participants in an evening that was highlighted by the Ground Zero Artifact Exhibit, loaned from The University of Southern Mississippi.

Winners of the local pageant will move on to their respective divisions of The Miss Mississippi Pageant, held this June in Vicksburg.  For more information on scholarship offerings, local sponsors and the state pageant, go to:  leafrivervalley.com.