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Ellzey readies for Miss Mississippi Pageant
Friday, July 06, 2007
Contact David Tisdale - 601.266.4499
Original title: Miss University of Southern Mississippi readies for Miss Mississippi Pageant
Hattiesburg – Miss University of Southern Mississippi Katelyn Ellzey is making final preparations for the Miss Mississippi Pageant, set for July 10-14 in Vicksburg.
Ellzey won the Miss Southern Miss title back in February, the first freshman in years to do so. The speech pathology major from Laurel says she has spent the last few weeks leading up to the state competition working on her talent (she will sing “Come Rain or Come Shine”), interview skills and exercising.
All of her preparation will be put to the test soon, with just days to go before the pageant kicks off. “I’m just trying to relax, get my thoughts together and make whatever preparations I need to make for the week of competition,” said Ellzey, a West Jones High School graduate.
Other Southern Miss students participating in the pageant include Miss Leaf River Valley Natalie Goldman, a speech communication major from Meridian; Miss Byram Tri-County Rachael Shannon, an interior design major from Terry; Miss Dixieland Sasha Williamson, a speech communication major from Bay St. Louis; Miss Jones County Hillary Layne Walters, a speech language pathology major from Jones County; Miss Southern Magnolia Kristen Benigno, a music education major from Laurel and Miss Vicksburg Telia Brewer, a music education major from Vicksburg.
Ellzey is a dean’s list scholar and has been active in a variety of campus activities. She is a member of Phi Mu sorority, a Vice Presidential Scholar, a member of Lambda Sigma Honor Society and the Student Government Association cabinet.
Katelyn Ellzey
She is also serving as a freshman associate advisor and is a member of the Golden Eagle Welcome Weekend Crew. After graduation, Ellzey plans to pursue a master’s degree in speech pathology with an emphasis in deaf education.
Her platform is recognizing and fighting depression, an issue she has made her cause after learning that a close friend from high school had battled depression for years, and even considered committing suicide before seeking help.
She has spoken to campus groups about the dangers of undiagnosed and untreated depression, and has volunteered with the Southern Miss Counseling Center, where she has worked to organize and present at open seminars about the issue.
“Nearly 20 million Americans suffer with depression daily, and 80 percent of these people are undiagnosed and untreated,” she said. “By informing people of the symptoms and treatments for depression, lives can be saved.”
She has worked closely with Southern Miss associate dean of students Mike Mitchell on her interview skills, a key component of the pageant’s competition, which includes a 12-minute interview with the pageant’s five judges.
Mitchell said he’s impressed with Ellzey and the work she has put in to get ready for competition. “She’s very passionate about her platform – that really stands out,” he said. “She’s a hard worker and she’s dedicated.”
Ellzey said she’s grateful for the support she has received from the Southern Miss community and says it has given her confidence going into the state pageant. “Southern Miss is a close-knit campus. You’re not just a number here, and I’m looking forward to representing the university at the pageant,” she said.