Callie Cox

Hometown: Lexington, South Carolina

Major: Mass Communications

Minor: Social Sciences

Talent: Vocal Performance

Platform: Callie’s Open Book

Veronica Dishart

Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA

Majors: Mass Communications and Experimental Psychology 

Minors: General Education and Criminal Justice

Talent: Dance Performance

Platform: Sexual Trauma Awareness

Francie Evans

Hometown: Myrtle Beach, SC

Major: Early Childhood Education

Minor: Special Education

Talent: Dance Performance

Platform: Breast Cancer Awareness

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Christina Harding

Hometown: Columbia, SC

Majors: Music and Political Science

Minor: N/A

Talent: Vocal Performance

Platform: Teaching Children Music

Sara Sears

Meagen Sigmon

Hometown: Due West, SC

Major: Pharmacy

Minor: None

Talent: Sign Language Performance

Platform: Children’s Miracle Network

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Hometown: Greenville, SC

Major: Visual Communications

Minor: Business

Talent: Piano Performance

Platform: I Believe You

Alexis Stritt

Hometown: Chapin, SC

Major: Public Health

Minor: Linguistics

Talent: “Pass on Plastic” Monologue

Platform: Pass on Plastic

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Skyler Yakes

Hometown: Rushville, OH

Major: Anthropology

Minors: Islamic Studies and Criminal Justice

Talent: Dance Performance

Platform: Pediatric Hip Dysplasia

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2018 CONTESTANTS

Meera Rutuparna Bhonslé

Meera Rutuparna Bhonslé

Hometown: Lexington, South Carolina

Majors: Journalism, Retail Marketing

Minor: German

Talent: Piano

Platform: Reading is Leading: Raising SC Literacy Rates for Brighter Futures

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Callie Cox

Hometown: Lexington, South Carolina

Major: Mass Communications

Minor: Social Sciences

Talent: Violin

Platform: Callie’s Open Book—Promoting a Love and
Understanding of Literacy in Children

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Hanna Davis

Hometown: Columbia, South Carolina

Major: Biology

Minor: Chemistry

Talent: Vocal

Platform: There is Hope Foundation

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Sarah Dyer

Hometown: Monroe, NC

Major: Retailing

Minor: Business

Talent: Banjo

Platform: Inspiring Girls to be Joyful, Healthy and Confident.

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Catherine Kirkland

Hanna Lamm

Hometown: Lexington, South Carolina

Major: Mass Communications

Minor: Theater

Talent: Vocal

Platform: Ending Child Hunger

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Hometown: Pittsburg, Pennsylvania 

Major: Global Supply Chain & Operations Management

Minor: Arabic

Talent: Mix of Languages Monologue

Platform: Adopt Don't Shop

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Julie Rowland

Hometown: Hanahan, South Carolina

Major: Accounting

Minor: Political Science

Talent: Jazz Dance

Platform: Mentoring Matters

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Alexis Stritt

Hometown: Chapin, South Carolina

Major: Broadcast Journalism

Minor: Aerospace Engineering

Talent: Lyrical Dance

Platform: Animal Welfare

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2017 CONTESTANTS

Meera Rutuparna Bhonslé

Hometown: Lexington, South Carolina

Majors: Journalism, Retail Marketing

Minor: German

Talent: Vocal

Charitable Organization: Children’s Miracle Network

Black History Quote: “Love makes your soul crawl out from its hiding place.” ~  Zora Neale Hurston

Davia Ester Bunch

Hometown: Spartanburg, South Carolina

Majors: Political Science, Marketing

Talent: Dance

Charitable Organization: Kids Konnected

Black History Quote: “Success isn’t about how much money you make, it’s about the difference you make in other people’s lives.” ~ Michelle Obama 

Emily Elizabeth Doyle

Hometown: Columbia, South Carolina

Major: History 

Minor: Sociology

Talent: Baton Twirling

Charitable Organization: Children’s Miracle Network

Black History Quote: “I can always look through muddy water and see dry ground ahead.” ~ Modjeska Simkins

Caroline Blaire Gibson

Hometown: Fountain Inn, South Carolina

Major: Nursing

Talent:   Vocal     

Charitable Organization: Heather French Foundation for Veterans

Black History Quote: “It doesn’t matter how strong your opinions are. If you don’t use your power for positive change, you are, indeed, part of the problem.”  ~ Coretta Scott King

Armani Latimer

Hometown: Anderson, South Carolina

Major:  Exercise Science

Talent:  Dance

Charitable Organization: Our Military Kids  

Black History Quote:  “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in times of comfort and convince, but where he stands in times of challenge and controversy.” ~  Martin Luther King, Jr.

2016 CONTESTANTS

Olivia Kathleen Albanese

Hometown: Mercerville, New Jersey

Major: Public Health

Minor: Medical Humanities

Talent: Jump Rope

Charitable Organization: National Eating Disorders Association   

Favorite Quote: “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”

~ Mahatma Gandhi

Perry "Louisa" Aldrich

Hometown: Sumter, South Carolina

Major: Fashion Merchandising

Talent: Dramatic Monologue

Charitable Organization: Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals

Favorite Quote: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.”

~ Philippians 4:6 

Ariel Ashley Black

Hometown: Westminster, South Carolina

Major: Public Relations

Minor: Law

Talent: Dramatic Monologue

Charitable Organization: American Cancer Society

Favorite Quote: “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not.”

~ Dr. Seuss

Jasmine Nykia Briaunna Caruthers

Hometown: Greenville, South Carolina

Major: Business Management

Minor: Political Science

Talent: Singing

Charitable Organization: Still researching, trying to find one associated with Limb Girdle Myasthenia Gravis Disease

Favorite Quote: "Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

~ Mahatma Gandhi

Kaylee Elizabeth King

Hometown: Summerville, South Carolina

Major: Exercise Science

Minor: Health Promotion Education and Behavior

Talent: Lyrical Color Guard with Saber

Charitable Organization: Families Helping Families

Favorite Quote: "Why work so hard to fit in when you were called to be set apart?"

~ 2 Corinthians 6:17

Awa N. Dia

Hometown: New Rochelle, New York

Major: Broadcast Journalism

Talent: Poetry Out-Loud

Charitable Organization: Autism Speaks

Favorite Quote: “Don’t work toward being successful, but work toward being significant and the success will naturally follow.”

~ Oprah Winfrey

Rebekah Ann Parris

Annsley Lynn Judy

Hometown: Reevesville, South Carolina

Major: Elementary Education

Talent: Vocal

Charitable Organization: Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

Favorite Quote: “So keep your head high, keep your chin up, and most importantly, keep smiling because life’s a beautiful thing and there’s so much to smile about.”

~ Marilyn Monroe

Heather Nicole Pusey

Hometown: Pelzer, South Carolina

Major: Chemistry with Emphasis in Pre-Med

Talent: Piano

Charitable Organization: Cure International

Favorite Quote: “‘For I know the plans I have for you’, says the LORD, ‘plans for good, and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’”

~ Jeremiah 29:11

Hometown: Blythewood, South Carolina

Majors: Enterprise Risk Management and Insurance, Finance, Economics

Minor: Spanish

Talent: Dance

Charitable Organization: Ronald McDonald House of Columbia

Favorite Quote: “Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.”

~ Albert Einstein

Sarah Adair Roof

Hometown: Chapin, South Carolina

Major: Exercise Science

Talent: Tap Dancing

Charitable Organization: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Favorite Quote: "No grit, no pearl"

~ Anonymous

Cortnie Michelle Stuppard

Hometown: Columbia, South Carolina

Major: Public Relations

Minor: Social Work

Talent: Singing

Charitable Organization: Girls on the Run of Columbia

Favorite Quote: “For with God Nothing shall be impossible.”

~ Luke 1:37

Arrington Elisabeth Taylor

Hometown: Newberry, South Carolina

Major: Early Childhood Education

Minor: Sociology

Talent: Clogging

Charitable Organization: Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital

Favorite Quote: “Live life to the fullest, and focus on the positive.”

~ Matt Cameron

Katherine Elizabeth Turner

Hometown: Blythewood, South Carolina

Major: Broadcast Journalism

Talent: Flute

Charitable Organization: Children’s Chance

Favorite Quote: “She is clothed with strength and dignity and laughs without fear of the future.”

~ Proverbs 31:25

Meribeth Lindsey Turpin

Hometown: Anderson, South Carolina

Major: Sports & Entertainment Management

Talent: Singing

Charitable Organization: A21 Campaign

Favorite Quote: "Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person. Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.”

~ Mother Teresa