An enthusiastic audience went to a “Hawaiian Luau” in the middle of November last Thursday night, as 13 young ladies vied for the title and college scholarship monies on the stage of the Ritz Theatre downtown.

Sophomore Kimberly Powell, a Greenville High School graduate and Collaborative Education major, took the title of Ms. LBWCC Greenville 2008-2009.

First runner-up was Brittni Denae Overstreet, a graduate of Lowndes Academy and a freshman, majoring in Cosmetology. Freshman Anna Skipper, a graduate of Highland Home High who is majoring in Elementary Education, took second runner-up. Calhoun High graduate Stephanie Marie Knight, a sophomore and Social Work major, was selected by her fellow contestants as Ms. Congeniality.

The fourth annual Ms LBWCC Greenville Pageant, sponsored by the school’s SGA, brought some changes to the program, with a casual wear competition replacing the talent competition.

Each of the contestants represented different months of the year during the Calendar Girl Competition, dressed in the sportswear or costume of their choice, with each explaining the concept for their outfit to the audience.

The contestants were also judged offstage in an essay competition, and onstage in poise and interview segments.

Powell will represent the local community college at such functions as the annual Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade and the LBWCC Golf Tournament at Cambrian Ridge.

Other contestants vying for the title included Jaleesa Shanae Franklin; Emily Grant; Stephanie Michele Hamm; Ashley Guy; Jordan Autrey; Amanda Paige Snell; Raquel Burnett; Tiffany Elizabeth Hartin and Victoria Jiles.

Mollie Waters served as the event emcee while LeAnn Judah and Sharon Stricklin assisted with the on-stage interviews. Elizabeth and Caroline Dunklin and Starla Jones provided musical entertainment.

Greenville Campus Director Dr. Jim Krudop, who crowned the new Ms. LBWCC Greenville, professed himself well pleased with the changes to this year’s pageant.

“I thought it made the program very interesting and a lot of fun, too. They did a great job,” Krudop said.

Dr. Jean Thompson, a longtime fixture at the school, was all smiles following the pageant.

“I thought all the girls did well. And look at what a variety of high schools they came from. Our Greenville campus is drawing a lot of students from Crenshaw and Lowndes counties and that was reflected tonight,” Thompson said.