Fraternity Queen reigns in district
Seth E. Davis
Opinions Editor
Issue date: 12/7/08 Section: Campus News
Dezirae Spain, The Beta Omicron chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated's Miss Black and Gold, won the district title of Miss Black and Gold Association of Tennessee Alpha Men during the November 22nd district competition.
The scholarship pageant took place in TSU's Kean hall. Spain, a junior business management major from Memphis competed against six other girls for the title. The girls competed against each other in oratorical, evening gown and talent portions.
"It was a life changing experience," Spain said. "The girls were nice and it was nice bonding with them as well as the Alpha men I was representing."
The scholarship pageant included contestants from district schools such as Vanderbilt, Middle TSU, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and Fisk.
The task of hosting the scholarship pageant is rotated among the participating schools.
According to Dr. Andre Bean, Beta Omicron chapter advisor and district Miss Black and Gold chair, the pageant improved from previous pageants.
"The production was better and very well orchestrated because we brought Dwight Pope in," said Bean.
Bean was also pleased with the participants.
"The talent pool was great. The ladies were exceptional," said Bean.
Spain spent almost a month preparing to compete in the pageant. Along with the competition, Spain believes the intense month long preparation and week of strict rehearsal were challenging.
"The hardest part of the competition was preparing but when I got up there, it just came all out," said Spain.
Daniel Hibbert, Beta Omicron chapter president, is not surprised Spain won the District competitions and predicts that she will win the national title.
"I believe she is the total package," said Hibbert, a senior architectural engineering major from Lansing, Mich. "She has the intellect and the talent. She is a great representation of what Alpha stands for."
As part of the title, Spain receives a $3,000 scholarship and a wardrobe stipend.
However, Spain sees opportunities outside of the perks to make a difference and impact the lives of others.
"My goal as Miss Black and Gold ATA is to be a good role model for women like me on campus," said Spain.
Bean believes that Miss Black and Gold's role is essential to the fraternity.
"She has the opportunity to reach out to others on campus that the fraternity can not," said Bean.
The next step for Spain will be competing in the March regional Miss Black and Gold in Atlanta.•
The scholarship pageant took place in TSU's Kean hall. Spain, a junior business management major from Memphis competed against six other girls for the title. The girls competed against each other in oratorical, evening gown and talent portions.
"It was a life changing experience," Spain said. "The girls were nice and it was nice bonding with them as well as the Alpha men I was representing."
The scholarship pageant included contestants from district schools such as Vanderbilt, Middle TSU, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and Fisk.
The task of hosting the scholarship pageant is rotated among the participating schools.
According to Dr. Andre Bean, Beta Omicron chapter advisor and district Miss Black and Gold chair, the pageant improved from previous pageants.
"The production was better and very well orchestrated because we brought Dwight Pope in," said Bean.
Bean was also pleased with the participants.
"The talent pool was great. The ladies were exceptional," said Bean.
Spain spent almost a month preparing to compete in the pageant. Along with the competition, Spain believes the intense month long preparation and week of strict rehearsal were challenging.
"The hardest part of the competition was preparing but when I got up there, it just came all out," said Spain.
Daniel Hibbert, Beta Omicron chapter president, is not surprised Spain won the District competitions and predicts that she will win the national title.
"I believe she is the total package," said Hibbert, a senior architectural engineering major from Lansing, Mich. "She has the intellect and the talent. She is a great representation of what Alpha stands for."
As part of the title, Spain receives a $3,000 scholarship and a wardrobe stipend.
However, Spain sees opportunities outside of the perks to make a difference and impact the lives of others.
"My goal as Miss Black and Gold ATA is to be a good role model for women like me on campus," said Spain.
Bean believes that Miss Black and Gold's role is essential to the fraternity.
"She has the opportunity to reach out to others on campus that the fraternity can not," said Bean.
The next step for Spain will be competing in the March regional Miss Black and Gold in Atlanta.•
Be the first to comment on this story