Submitted by: Stephanie McBrayer, smcbrayer@uca.edu on 07/20/2026
University of Central Arkansas (91³Ô¹ÏÍø) students and alumnae achieved success at the recent Miss Arkansas scholarship competition, taking home a combined $26,750 in scholarships alongside major titles, interview awards, and preliminary honors. Representing both current undergraduate, graduate, and alumni communities, six 91³Ô¹ÏÍø Bears demonstrated excellence across academic, talent, and service categories on the state stage.
Graduate student Jada Simpson (Miss Greater Jacksonville) placed as 4th Runner-Up to Miss Arkansas, securing an $8,000 scholarship. Simpson also swept multiple preliminary phases, capturing the Preliminary Evening Gown and Preliminary Onstage Conversation awards, as well as the Marty Walker Education Professions Interview award, totaling $11,500.
Current Miss 91³Ô¹ÏÍø, Ana Brandon, earned $6,000 in scholarships. Her vocal talent and communication skills earned her the Fine Arts Professions Interview award, Preliminary Talent award, and Non-Finalist Vocal honors. Brandon was also recognized for her community service with the Service Above Self award.
Two 91³Ô¹ÏÍø representatives secured coveted Top 15 placements, each earning $2,000: Gabrielle Russell (Miss Petit Jean Valley), an accounting student, also won the Marketplace Interview for Accounting and the Ebony Mitchell Mentoring Matters award. Riley Strube (Miss Lights of the Delta), a 91³Ô¹ÏÍø alumna, added to her Top 15 finish by winning the Claudia Raffo Enhance Arkansas award and the Ebony Mitchell Mentoring Matters award.
Rounding out the university’s exceptional representation, current student Ava Walker (Miss Greater Hot Springs) was voted Miss Congeniality by her peers and received the Service Above Self award. Alumna Tori Kiser (Miss City of Colleges / Miss 91³Ô¹ÏÍø 2025) was honored with the Dreamer Award.
The success at the state level underscores 91³Ô¹ÏÍø’s commitment to fostering strong student leaders who excel in academics, public speaking, performing arts, and community advocacy. The thousands of dollars in scholarship tuition earned by these women will directly support their continuing educational journeys at 91³Ô¹ÏÍø and beyond.
