After almost 80 years of existence, the Miss Alabama State University Program will add another personification of beauty, poise and scholarship to its legacy.

Arianna Thompson, a senior graphic design major, won the majority votes of the students as well as the hearts of the professional judges to become the 2018-19 Miss Alabama State University.

“I wanted to be Miss Alabama State University since my senior year of high school,” said Thompson, who had visited the university before becoming a student. “I am from Wetumpka, Ala., so I visited Alabama State’s campus several times before attending and I also have a desire to help my fellow students and the surrounding community.”

According to program officials, the focus of the Miss Alabama State University Program is scholarship, leadership, campus and community service.

“We want Miss Alabama State University to be visible throughout the entire year by making personal appearances on the campus as well as within the community, while performing her talents when invited,” said Kenneth A. Dean, JD, program director.

Dean said that each Miss Alabama State University has a platform that she advocates during the year.

“The platform helps her tremendously with her speaking engagements because she has something to advocate when she addresses the diverse audiences that she will be speaking to this year,” he said.

Thompson also comments on her platform.

“My platform is P.R.I.D.E., which is an acronym for Power Revealed In Dedication to Education,” Thompson said speaking on her plan to ensure that the importance of education is emphasized during the year, to not only the students on campus, but the surrounding community as well. “I come from a family of educators which is why education is the focus of my platform. Education is vital to one’s life. Without education we would not be where we are today.”

Continuing to place the emphasis on education beyond ASU, Thompson plans to implement programs that do just that. A few of these programs include: Big Hornet Little Hornet, which is a mentoring program for incoming freshman and transfer students; and the Hornet Community Connections, a tutoring program provided for our local Montgomery Public School System.

Despite her own plans, she is also joining forces with the Student Government Association President Jaylon Pickett to support him and the Second Chance Foundation, which is an initiative his administration plans to accomplish to provide another form of financial support for students at ASU.

As a former Alabama State University Cheerleader and Student Orientation Services Leader, she spoke about how they prepared her for this new role.

“I hope to leave a lasting impression at Alabama State University,” Thompson said. “I want students to take PRIDE in Alabama State University and take advantage of their education and all of the opportunities that are offered here.”

She will be joined this year by her First and Second Attendants Natasha Marshall, a native of Chicago who is a vocalist and rehabilitation services major and Chanelle Bryant, a native of Atlanta who is a dancer and a dance major at ASU.

“We are very proud of all three of the young women because they are all honor students, who are very intelligent, creative and cooperative,” Dean said. “All three possess excellent goals and will add a lot of substance to the crown.”

Thompson has already made several appearances as Miss Alabama State University. In fact, she just returned from Atlanta where she and other campus queens represented their respective universities at Lifetime’s “Bring It” Live Tour, which features Miss Dianna and the Dancing Dolls from Jackson, Miss.

“The feeling is still surreal, but I am beyond grateful to my supporters who helped me obtain this position,” Thompson said. “It is truly a dream come true.”