PRAIRIE VIEW, TEXAS: Ten of the most dynamic, talented and intelligent coeds at Prairie View A&M University are vying for the 2017-18 Miss Black and Gold Scholarship Pageant titles. The pageant is set for November 16, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. in the Opal Johnson Smith Auditorium at the university. Tickets are Students $5.00; General $10 at the door.
The pageant producers are Xante Wallace and Regan Johnson (Co-Chairs - Eta Gamma) and Frederick V. Roberts and Lynn Smith (Co-Chairs - Epsilon Tau Lambda), Choreographer and Contestant Direction, Kenneth Epting, President of Exclamation Dance Studio of Houston. Nikisha Francois (Miss Eta Gamma 2017) and Jocelyn Usery (Miss Eta Gamma 2016) are in charge of Contestant Development and pageant assistants.
The Miss Black and Gold Pageant is in its 34th year at the university and has provided a forum and a launching pad for young women who have gone on to win other pageants at the local, state, regional and national levels.
In keeping with that tradition, Miss Nikisha Francois, Miss Black & Gold - Eta Gamma 2017 is Miss Missouri City USA and will compete for the Miss Texas USA title in January. Miss Moriah Colbert, Miss Black & Gold - Epsilon Tau Lambda 2017 is Miss Prairie View A&M University.
The contestants vying to take the positions of the former queens are:
Zahria Iman
Richardson-Battle is from Bay City, Texas and is a graduate of Bay City High
School. She is a sophomore majoring in nursing and her career ambition is to
become a trauma nurse and Nurse Practitioner. Her philosophy of life is “I can
do all things through Christ who strengths me.”
Her talent is Praise Dance. She holds membership in Panther Advisor Leader
(PALS) and listing on receiving an honor award for her 3.36 GPA. Some of her favorites
are shrimp pasta, crawfish, and soul food, Denzel Washington, Taraji P. Henson;
meeting new people, Grey’s Anatomy, and hanging out with friends. Her platform
is “Healthy Self-esteem.” Her high school address is titled “Being classy young
men and young women and having integrity because someone’s always watching. Her
community activities include: Prairie View
Go Green, Panthers at Work (PAW), assisted the Freshman Class of 2021 in Panther
Camp, volunteered at Tuscan Gardens sort clothes for Harvey victims, and Brookshire
Nursing Home. Two persons she would invite to her fantasy dinner are: W. E. B.
Bois and Michelle Obama.
Taylor M. Scott is from
Houston, Texas and a graduate of Manvel High School. She is a junior majoring
in Biology and her career ambition is to become and OBGYN, dedicated to serving
underprivileged communities. Her philosophy of life is: “If You Are Passionate
about anything, find a way to make that your purpose.” Seek God first in all
Things and have no fear to follow your dreams. Her talent is Vocalist. Some of
her achievements are: listed in Carnegie Hall National Honor Choir Vocalist, member-National
Institute of Science Honor Society. Some of her are: Kathy Taylor, the Clark
Sisters, Tamela Mann, Leandria Johnson, Gabrielle Union, Soul Food and reading.
Her platform is “Leave Everything Better than It Was When You Came.” Her high
school address is titled: “Everyone Has a Purpose. Don’t Ever Be Discouraged.” Her
community activities include Martin Luther King Day of Service at Lilly Grove
Baptist Church, Hurricane Harvey Flood Relief, and Nis Elementary after School
Stem Program, House of Help Volunteer Services, Student Partnership and
Outreach Team at PVAMU Elementary Day. Two persons she would invite to her fantasy
dinner are Marian Anderson and Michelle Obama.
Marissa Nicol Jacquet is
from Port Arthur, Texas and is a graduate of Memorial High School. She is
sophomore majoring in Business/Marketing. Her career ambition is to become a
Chief Marketing Officer for a top Fortune 500 Company. Her philosophy of life is:
“Never let anyone or anything have enough power to knock down what you built up.
Her talent is dance. Some of her achievements are maintaining a 3.0 GPA, 2015
Miss Cavoilcade Queen, two-time all American Dancer. Some of her favorites are:
Anthony Hamilton, Lyfe Jennings, Lauren Hill, Soul Food, Pastas, and Hibachi.
Her Platform is “Queens Care.” Queens create, queens achieve goals, and queens
respect the rules and regulations and those who’ve come before us. Queens also
encourage others to do the same. Two persons
she would invite to her fantasy dinner are Oprah Winfrey and Steve Harvey.
Desirai M Nolan
is from Austin, Texas and is a graduate of Hendrickson High School. She is a
junior majoring in Social Work and her career ambition is to become a Pediatric
Medical Social Worker. Her philosophy of life is: living the best life and not
listening to what other have to say about me knowing i can reach my full
potential. Her talent is Spoken Word.
Some of her achievements are listing on the Honor Roll and the Dean’s List. She enjoys Hot Wings and great music. Her Platform is: “Helping People and Giving Back.” Her high school
address to students is “Self Confidence and Believe in Yourself.” Her community
activities include Purple Jacket, Panther Ambassador and University College
Community Assistant. Two Persons she
would you invite to her fantasy dinner are “My Mom and Maya Angelou.”
Kendol La’Faye Pitts is
from Tyler, Texas and is a graduate of Chapel Hill High School. She is a
sophomore majoring in Social Work. Her career ambition is to become a licensed
Social Worker to assist children and families who been sexually abused. Her philosophy of life: “It doesn’t matter
where you are from, it’s about where you are headed.” Her talent is Dancing and
Poetry. Some of her achievements are: the Dean’s List - 3.50 GPA, Panther Dolls,
Social Work Action Club Member, and National Society of Collegiate
Scholars. Some of her favorites are
Erkyah Badu, Lauryn Hill, Dance, Running, Poetry and Brad Pitt. Her Platform:
To help children who has dealt with abuse, due to my own personal experiences.
Her high school address will be titled: Transitioning from High School to
College Career. Her community activities are: SWAC, NSCS, Panther Dolls Dance
Team and H.E.R member. Two persons she would invite to her fantasy dinner are
Maya Angelou and Martin Luther King Jr.
Destiny N. Jefferson is
from Orange, Texas by way of Shreveport, Louisiana and is a graduate of Summer
Creek. She is a senior majoring in Biology and her career ambition is to become
a Pediatrician. Her philosophy of life is: “It Doesn’t Hurt To Be Nice and It Doesn’t
Cost Too Smile. Some of her favorites are Blake Shelton, Jennifer Hudson, western
movies and cartoons; seafood, riding horses, fishing and being outdoors. Her platform is “Mindful Leaders, Mental
Health.” Her high school address would be titled: The Power of Education and the
Great Need to Pursue Higher Education. Her community activities include working
with Best Buddies which assists disabled children and The Red Door which
provides relief and relocation of battered women and children, Vacation Bible
School Teacher, Nursing Home Visits, Children’s Rehab Center and tutoring High
School students at Church. Two Persons she would invite to her fantasy dinner are:
Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey.
Tateania Nealey is from
Houston, Texas and is a graduate of High School: Sam Houston Math Science and
Technology Center. She is a junior majoring in Communications. Her ambition is
to become a lawyer and possibly going into politics. Her philosophy of life: Anything that is not
growing is dead. Talent is vocal performance. Some of her achievements are
listing on the Dean’s List and Ms. Gold Member Club 2016-2017. Among her favorites
are Nia Long, Ice cream, singing, writing and basketball. Her Platform is “Be a
Friend,” because friendship is very important and a friend is supportive and
will correct you when you are wrong. Her high school address would be titled “Exploring
Your Options.” Students have more career choices than being a doctor, nurse,
lawyer or teacher and there nothing wrong with having more than one career
field of interest. Her community
activities include Vice President of Gold Members Club and member of Black-Stone
Pre-Law Society; volunteering at her high school and speaking to students about
college and other post-college experiences. Two persons she would invite to her
fantasy dinner are Cleopatra and Dizzy Wright.
Amelia Brumfield is Fort Worth,
Texas and is a graduate of Paul Laurence Dunbar. She
is sophomore Health major and her career ambition is to teach for a couple of
years and then become a neonatal nurse.
Her philosophy of life is lived through Jeremiah 1:5 “Before you were
born I set you apart.” Her talent is Dance.
Some of her achievements are Edward L. Blackshear scholarship,
membership in Minority Association for Pre-health Students (MAPS) and the
Baptist Student Movement Praise Dance team. Her favorites include the colors
purple and green, seafood, writing, R&B and Gospel music, and dancing. Her platform is “Embrace the Queen in You”.
This platform enforces self-love, positive body image and women empowerment. Her
topic for High School Students is “Mental Fortitude.” Never giving up and
chasing after your desires will make you a better and stronger person. Her
Community Activities Include: Two persons she would invite to her Fantasy
Dinner are Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey.
Anntraniece M. Smith is
from Memphis, Tennessee and is a graduate of Desoto Central High School and a Junior
Marketing Major with an English Minor. Her
career ambition is to become a brand manager and pursue an MBA Degree. She
plans to own a Marketing Firm to help startup businesses establish their brand,
marketing plans, and strategies. Her philosophy of life is “Excellence without
Excuse.” This is a quote instilled in her by her mom. Her talent is Dance. She
is listed on the Dean’s Honor Roll. Some of her favorites are Shawn Mendes, Charlie
Puth, Ginette Claudette, Channing Tatum, Christian Keys and Shah Rukh Khan, Hot
Wings, One Tree Hill, Reading, Writing, Recording and Editing Video Content,
Shopping, and School Work, watching 1970’s and Foreign Movies and learning about
various cultures. Her Platform is
“F.I.N.E.S.T. of Them All.” Fearless, Independent, Natural, Esteemed, Sensational
and Tasteful. Her high school address is entitled “Everyone Has a Voice and It
Matters. No matter your age you can always help make a change for the better
because all it takes is one. Her community
activities include: Prairie View Finance
Association, Mentoring Financial Literacy at Waller High, Hurricane Harvey
Relief Mentoring Elementary students in the Prairie View Area. Two persons she
would you invite to her fantasy dinner are her Mother and Eartha Kitt.
Jasmine J. Blackman is from
New Orleans, Louisiana and is a graduate of Manvel High School. She is a junior
majoring in Human Nutrition and Foods and her career ambition is to become
Registered Dietician. Her philosophy of life is “Nothing Beats a Failure but a
Try.” Her talent is singing. Some of her
achievements are the Dean’s List/Honor Roll, Kappa Omicron Nu Honor Society President,
and a member of Gamma Sigma Sigma National Service Sorority. Some of her favorites are singing, seafood,
Beyoncé, hanging with family and friends, going to church. Her platform is “Learn
What You Eat.” She plans to educate individuals, especially young adults about eating
healthy and not becoming another statistic. Her high school address is titled:
“Obesity among High School Student and the importance of living a healthy lifestyle.
Her community activities include volunteering at the Food Bank, Nursing Home and
Be-The Match. Two persons she would you invite to her fantasy dinner are Prince
& Oprah Winfrey
The pageant producers were Xante Wallace and Regan Johnson (Co-Chairs -
Eta Gamma) and Frederick V. Roberts and Lynn Smith (Co-Chairs - Epsilon
Tau Lambda), Choreographer and Contestant Direction, Kenneth Epting,
President of Exclamation Dance Studio of Houston. Nikisha Francois
(Miss Eta Gamma 2017) and Jocelyn Usery (Miss Eta Gamma 2016) are in
charge of Contestant Development and pageant assistants.
