(MEMPHIS, TN) FEBRUARY 12, 2008 - February 10, 2008 marked the 61st annual Miss Memphis Scholarship pageant. The new titleholders are: Brooke Poklemba - Miss Memphis 2008, Ivy DePew - Memphis' Outstanding Teen 2008 and Ashlee Reed - Miss Memphis Princess 2008. An additional winner - the first runner up to the title of Miss Memphis - Anna Rene` Morris, was named Miss Sweetheart 2008. Each of the winners will serve as a role model, a talent, a scholar and an unofficial goodwill ambassador for her community during her reign.
Brooke Poklemba, Miss Memphis 2008, is a 22-year-old student at Rhodes College. Her talent was a vocal performance of "If I Had My Way". Her platform is "Autism Awareness: The Importance of Early Intervention". Ivy DePew, Memphis' Outstanding Teen, is a 17-year-old student at Arlington High School. She performed "Carnival of Venice" on the flute. Ashlee Reed, Miss Memphis Princess, is a 17-year-old student at Briarcrest High School. Anna Rene` Morris, Miss Sweetheart 2008, is a 22-year-old graduate of Freed-Hardeman University. Her talent was a vocal performance of "I, Who Have Nothing". Her platform is "Supporting the Arts in our Schools and Communities".
The Miss Memphis Scholarship Pageant is divided into six phases of Competition, including private interview, casual wear, swimsuit, talent, evening wear, and onstage questions. Each contestant is scored individually from one to ten in each category. The contestant receiving the highest number of total points is crowned. Contestants from the Mid-South area including: Shelby, Crockett, Fayette, Madison, Chester, McNairy, Tipton, Lauderdale, Dyer, Hardeman and Haywood county were eligible to compete. While each Miss Memphis contestant focuses on a community service platform, they also raise money for the Children's Miracle Network. Additional information and updates about the pageant can be found at: www.missmemphispageant.com. The pageant is presented annually by the Memphis Jaycees.
The Miss Memphis Scholarship Pageant is part of the Miss Tennessee and Miss America program, and Miss Memphis 2008, Brooke Poklemba, will represent Memphis at the Miss Tennessee Scholarship Pageant held in Jackson, TN during June 2008. The winner of the Miss Tennessee Pageant competes in the Miss America Pageant. At each level, winners and alternates receive hundreds of dollars in scholarship money, which will help further her education.
The theme for this year's Miss Memphis pageant was: "A Night at the Oscars". Contestants and judges made a high-energy red-carpet entrance to a standing-room-only crowd of well-wishers. Entertainment interludes featured rising dancer and ABC's "Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann" contestant Maxx Reed, the Briarcrest Choir, the House of Talent performers and Bentley Black. Miss Memphis 2007, Kaylee Prather, was co-emcee with Miss Tennessee/Miss Memphis 1996 Jeni Stephens Thompson. Memphis' Outstanding Teen 2007, Kristel Quon, performed a dance routine to "All that Jazz". Miss Memphis 2007, Nicole Jordan, sang, "His Eye is on the Sparrow", "Unchained Melody", "As if We Never Said Goodbye" and "Time of My Life".
The 2008 winners are available for interviews and bookings for appearances. Full fact sheets and bios are available. Please contact Shay Bader-Wallace at (901) 603-6150 or Tracee Roderick at (901) 428-8054 for more information. Further details about the evening's festivities are listed below:
Co-Hosts:
Miss Memphis/Miss Tennessee 1996 - Jeni Stephens Thompson
Miss Memphis Princess 2007 - Kaylee Prather
Special Guests:
Miss Memphis 2007 - Nicole Jordan
Miss Teen Memphis 2007 - Kristel Quon
Miss Sweetheart 2007 - Megan Burnett
Tennessee's Outstanding Teen 2007 - Devin Grissom
Vocalist - Bentley Black
House of Talent Performers
Miss Memphis 2008
Brooke Poklemba
22 years; Rhodes College
Vocal "If I Had My Way"
Platform: Autism Awareness: The Importance of Early Intervention
Miss Sweetheart 2008
Anna Rene' Morris
22 years; Freed-Hardeman University (graduate)
Vocal "I, Who Have Nothing"
Platform: Supporting the Arts in our Schools and Communities
1st Runner-up
Jessica Gaines
21 years; University of Memphis
Contemporary dance "Dig"
2nd Runner-up
Brittney Card
17 years; Collierville High School
Piano "Fur Elise"
3rd Runner-up
Jasmine Hockett
18 years; University of Memphis
Vocal "Sway"
Miss Memphis Princess 2008
Ashlee Reed
17 years; Briarcrest Christian School
1st Runner-up
Rachel Swetnam
16 years; Dyersburg High School
Miss Teen Memphis 2008
Ivy DePew
17 years; Arlington High School
Flute "Carnival of Venice"
1st Runner-up
Sarah McCabe
16 years; Briarcrest Christian High School
Jazz dance "You Can't Stop the Beat"
Miss Congeniality Winners
Princess - Ashley Garrett
Teen - Sarah McCabe
Miss - Lindsay Young
Non-Finalist Interview Winner - Tamira Cole
Non-Finalist Fitness Winner - Kyndal Hayes
Non-Finalist Talent Winner - Tanesha Matthews
Non-Finalist Talent Winner (Teen) - Adrian Wilson
Visiting Titleholders:
Miss Athens of the South - Kathryn Knuttila
Miss Knoxville - Lauren James
Miss Nashville - Mallory Langston
Miss Scenic City - Ellen Carrington
Miss Southeast Tennessee - Megan Burnett
Miss TN Soybean Festival - Elizabeth Looney
Miss Tipton County - Jennifer McCullough
Miss Tennessee 2006 - Blaire Pancake
Tennessee Outstanding Teen 2006 - Leah Beth Bolton
Former Miss Memphis' in attendance:
1992 - Suzanne Bohannon Mariencheck
1994 - Erika Ragan Cobb
1995 - Cheryl Green
1996 - Jeni Stephens Thompson
2000 - Tracee Roderick
2002 - Kelly Miller