In an emotional night, Miss UCA 2022 Nia Kelley gave her crown to sophomore elementary education major Jada Simpson on Saturday, Nov. 5.
Simpson went home with an armful of awards: a $3,000 prize package, a UCA-sponsored $6,000 tuition scholarship and at least $800 in other scholarships.
Simpson’s social impact initiative is “Be a H.E.R.O. and Just Say NO to Bullying.” H.E.R.O. stands for “being helpful, encouraging, respectful and open to others,” Simpson said during her onstage interview.
Simpson’s talent performance, a tap dance to Rihanna’s “Where Have You Been,” won her an additional $200 scholarship as the night’s highest-scoring dance performance.
Simpson won $200 for being cooperative and considerate during rehearsals, $200 for her pre-competition interview and another $200 for having the highest GPA.
Nine students competed for the crown. Simpson was one of two sophomores to compete, along with two freshmen, three juniors, one senior and one graduate student.
The onstage interviews, the pre-competition interviews, the talent performances and the red carpet sections made up 15%, 35%, 35% and 15% of their scores, respectively.
After citing statistics about grade school bullying, Simpson said, “If we’re all being heroes for each other, we can put an end to this, one bully at a time.”
Simpson holds a bouquet of flowers after being crowned. Simpson won various other scholarships for her dance performance, GPA, cooperation during rehearsal and her pre-competition interview.
Kelley and Miss Arkansas 2022 Ebony Mitchell helped to crown an emotional Simpson, who was sponsored by UCA’s Students for the Propagation of Black Culture.
There was a delay in getting the results, leading to impromptu performances. Mitchell, who won Miss UCA in 2019, talked about her experience taking part and winning the Miss Arkansas competition.
Simpson said, “Waiting on the results was so nerve-wracking.”
“At the end of the night, I would have been happy with any result because I knew I left it all on the stage last night,” Simpson, who won 2021 Miss Essence of the University of Central Arkansas, said.
Before the crowning, a video narrated by Kelley featured a slideshow of her appearances and supporters.
Kelley sang the national anthem and Mozart’s “Queen of the Night.” She also sang “Home” from the musical “The Wiz” as her farewell to her crown.
Kelley was the first freshman to win the title. A vocal performance major, she made over 140 appearances as Miss UCA, leaving Simpson with big shoes to fill.
Simpson said she’s “ready for the responsibility.”
“Although I will be crazy busy, I am excited to represent my university, and I am going to soak up all the memories,” Simpson said.
She said she’s most looking forward to sharing her anti-bullying initiative with the community.
Simpson will document her reign on the @miss_uca Instagram.
Not only will Simpson represent the university around the state, she will also represent UCA in the Miss Arkansas competition in June of 2023.
The competition, part of a 59-year-old tradition, saw over $10,000 given away in scholarships and in-kind gifts thanks to generous individuals and local businesses, Vice President for Student Affairs Robin Williamson said.
Aside from the winning prize, $3,700 was awarded to other winners during the competition in scholarships and awards.
“The primary purposes of the Miss UCA scholarship competition are to encourage, promote and support young women as they achieve their academic and personal goals,” Williamson said.
The university, the Student Government Association and Miss UCA’s Board of Directors all sponsored the event at Reynolds Performance Hall.