Sara Beth Drake is Miss JSU 2013

01/25/2013

A 19-year-old pre-engineering student and Marching Ballerina from Cullman has been crowned Miss JSU 2013. 

Sara Beth Drake, a sophomore whose platform is "Improving Literacy in Your Community," was crowned on January 18 in Leone Cole Auditorium.

Eighteen JSU coeds competed in the annual scholarship pageant. Miss JSU 2012, Beth Milam, crowned the new Miss JSU.

First runner up was Jayme Wagner, 19, a sophomore from Anniston who is majoring in family and consumer sciences with a concentration in merchandising. Second runner up was Kristin Young, 22, a senior exercise science and wellness major from Heflin. Rounding out the finalists was Tyler Williams, 22, a senior business administration major with a concentration in management and marketing. She is from Pelham.

In addition to being crowned Miss JSU, Ms. Drake won the talent competition. Sara King, a 20-year-old junior from Arab who majors in elementary/collaborative education, won the swimsuit competition.

The Miss JSU Scholarship Pageant is a preliminary pageant for the Miss Alabama Scholarship Pageant, which will take place in June. The winner of Miss Alabama goes on to the Miss America pageant. The Miss America Organization provides millions of dollars in scholarships each year at the local, state and national levels.

Jacksonville State University has been represented well at the national level. Heather Whitestone McCallum was crowned Miss America in 1995, and Teresa Cheatham Stricklin was first runner-up to Miss America in 1979.

Other Miss Alabamas who hailed from JSU include Ceil Jenkins Snow, 1971; Jane Rice Holloway, 1973; Julie Houston Elmer, 1977; Tammy Little Haynes, 1984; and Jamie Langley, 2007.

Top photo: Sara Beth Drake takes her first walk as Miss JSU 2013. Above: Miss JSU 2013 Sara Beth Drake is joined by, from left, finalists Tyler Williams, Jayme Wagner and Kristin Young. (Matt Reynolds/JSU photo)