The Miss Black and Gold Scholarship Pageant is back with a vengeance, coming off a successful 2014 year with Nadia Grier as Miss Black and Gold Texas and First Runner-up to Miss Black and Gold Southwest Region of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
The 2015 pageant, with 12 contestants narrowed down from a field of 25, is set for November 7 in the Opal Johnson Smith Auditorium, Willie A. Tempton Memorial Student Center at 7:00 p.m. Producers for the pageant are Frederick V. Roberts and Richard Amagwula and Choreographer Kenneth Epting from the Exclamation Dance Theater of Houston.
The contestants vying for the title under the theme: 12 Shades of Black: 1 Shade of Beauty include:
ALORIA PRINCE is a 19 year old junior nursing major from Highland Village, Texas. She is a Presidential scholar, a member of the famed Black Foxes of the Marching Storm at Prairie View A&M University and a former Miss Fort Worth Outstanding Teen. Her platform is Depression is Real. Acknowledging Mental Illness in Our Community. She enjoys volunteering in her spare time and teaching dance to young teens in the community and science fiction. Aloria aspires to become a dentist. Among her favorites are Sidney Poitier, John Legend and Gabrielle Union. Her talent is Dance
HALI BRISCOE is 19 year old sophomore biology major from Kansas City, Missouri. She is on the Dean’s List and an active member of MAPS and aspires to become a Radiologist. Among her favorites are Erykah Badu, Beyonce, Halle Berry and Taraji P. Henson. She enjoys Rap and Hip Hop Music and eating sautéed crab legs and broiled lobster. Her platform is Let every man be respected as an individual and no man idolized. In her spare time she tutors and helps her fellow students to achieve their goals. Her talent is Spoken Word
ASHLEY MARIE HALL is a 19 year old junior psychology major from Houston, Texas. She is on the Dean’s List and holds membership in the Psychology Club and Alpha Beta Psi Honor Society and the founder of M.I.F., Mentoring Incoming Freshmen. In her spare time she volunteers at a Nursing Home for the Elderly and assists with food drives at the Star of Hope. Ashley aspires to become a Criminal Counselor. She admires Beyonce for her business sense and enjoys volleyball, basketball and buffalo wings. Her Platform is Men Inspiring Aspirations for boys and girls 5-17 with absent fathers. Her talent is Vocal
ROCHELLE LYLETTE VAZQUEZ is a 19 year old sophomore English and Legal Studies major from Killeen, Texas. She is in the Honor’s Program and is on the Dean’s List and a member of the Purple Jackets and treasures her travel to China. Rochelle aspires to become a Sports Attorney and Arbitrator for the major league baseball or the national football league. She volunteers with the student giving Phone-a-Thon and the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. She admires Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson and Zoë Saldana. She enjoys pizza, Puerto Rican food, Latin music and yoga. Her Platform is My Brothers Keeper to reach out to elderly and retired males in the community and to bridge generational gap. Her talent is Dance.
ADEBISI ADENIJI ADELE is a 21 year old junior Mechanical Engineering student from Houston, Texas by way of Lagos, Nigeria. She on the Dean’s List and Who’s Who Among Students and a member of the National Society of Black Engineers, Golden Key International Honor Society and the African Students Association. Adebisi aspires to become a professional engineer. She admires Forest Whittaker and enjoys public speaking and debate. In her spare time she volunteers and serves as a mentor for children with disabilities, the Boys and Girls Club and advocates for AIDS eradication in Africa. Her Platform is Reintroducing STEMM to high school students in lower socio-economic areas. Her talent is Dramatic Interpretation.
JONTIA ELANE BROWN is a 20 year old junior Mechanical Engineering student from Mesquite, Texas. She is a presidential scholar and is on the Dean’s List and is also a Student Ambassador for the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. She volunteers with the Boys and Girls Club, House of Help and the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life. Jontia aspires to earn a Master’s in Aerospace and MBA and to work in the aerospace industry. Her favorites are Alicia Keys, John Legend, Will Smith, and Rob Hill, Sr. and enjoy Lasagna, Mexican dishes and shopping. Her Platform is “Self Empowerment: You are a Limited Edition. Her Talent is Vocal Performance.
2014 Black and Gold Pageant Contestants - 12 Shades of Black: 1 Shade of Beauty
DIAMOND WHITE is a 20 year old junior Social Work student from Liberty, Texas. She is on the Dean’s List and President’s Honor Roll and is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. She aspires to become a professional dancer and pursue a career in social services. She volunteers in programs to inspire the youth and have assisted St. Paul’s Church with its feeding the homeless program and clothing pantry, and MO-TO-GO awareness program for Blacks to obtain post secondary education. She admires Gabrielle Union, Arianna Grade, and Kevin Hart and enjoys Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop and Lyrical dancing. Her Platform is I CAN: Inspiring Confidence in Abilities Now; focusing on your strengths and not your weaknesses. Her Talent is Dance.
ANGEL DANIELLE DUNCAN is a 21 year old senior Human Performance student Kansas City, Missouri. She is a first generation college student, Student Government Association Senator of Education, Secretary of Phi Epsilon Kappa (Human Performance Honors Society and a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. In her spare time she volunteers with the March of Dimes, American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life, PAWS – Panthers at Work and Highway Clean Up. Angel aspires to become a professional trainer. She admires Jill Scott, Angela Basset, Beyonce, Oprah and Hill Harper. She enjoys writing, acting, public speaking, eating pastas and reading novels. Her Platform is “The Formulating Four” - Faith, Family, Fitness, and Finances. Her talent is Spoken Word
KA’VONDA WOODROW is a 20 year old senior in Music Education from Missouri City, Texas. She is listed on the Dean’s List and serves as President Prairie View A&M University Concert Chorale and won the Best Academic Music Student Award in 2013. She volunteered with the Tour De Pink to raise awareness for Breast Cancer, the March of Dimes and Toys for Tots. She aspires to become a world renowned music therapist and researcher. She admires Eryka Badu and Beyoncé and enjoys singing and sushi and Chipotle. Her Platform is learning how to be G.R.E.E.K with or without letters. G.R.E.E.K. -- Growing Regal, Ethical and Eloquently in Knowledge, inspiring others to be real and achieve more in life.
KIEARA D. HOOEY is a 20 year old junior Political Science and Spanish major from Houston, Texas. She is on the Dean’s List with membership in the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, President of Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honor Society and Delta Sigma Pi Spanish Honor Society, and the famed Classic Dance Ensemble. She volunteers as a tutor at the Julia C. Hester House after school program for elementary students in 5th Ward, mentor for Duryea Elementary. She aspires to become a Bilingual Attorney or an International Affairs Envoy. She admires Michael Jackson, Tupac Shakur, V. C. Andrew and Jessica Alba and enjoys Ballet, Modern and Jazz dancing, writing and reading fiction. Her Platform is Take PRIDE in your endeavors: Personal Responsibility In Delivering Excellence. Her talent is Dance.
NIA A. SHY is 20 year old English and Behavioral Sciences major from Biloxi, Mississippi. She is an honor student and the Dean’s List. In her spare time she finds time to volunteer with the Jone’s Elementary Chinese after school program, the Burt Cobb summer camp and for Christian L.E.A.P. program She aspires to become an English Professor. Among her favorites are Alicia Keys, Oprah and Tears of a Tiger book. She speaks conversational Mandarin and enjoys playing the piano, writing poetry and learning new languages. Her Platform is Pay it Forward: Volunteering and mentoring the youth in the community. Her Talent is Spoken Word
RONNEKA YVETTE DAVIS is a 21 year old senior Health Education major from Dallas, Texas. She is a first generation college student and the recipient of the Texas Developing Colleges Scholarship and listed on the Dean’s List. Ronneka aspires to become an Occupational Therapist. She admires Beyonce, Alicia Keys, Angelina Jolie, Kerry Washington, Loretta Devine, Idris Elba and Leonardo DiCaprio. In her spare time she volunteers with the PAWS – Panthers At Work, American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life and Tour De Pink and helping the elderly. Her Platform is Hope for Veterans. Her talent is Dance
