Victoria Luchner crowned Miss Huntingdon 2013 Montgomery, Ala.—A
new Miss Huntingdon was crowned Saturday, February 16, at the
conclusion of the annual scholarship pageant at Huntingdon
College. Nine women competed for the title. At the conclusion of
the pageant, Victoria Luchner of Enterprise,
Alabama, was crowned Miss Huntingdon by her predecessor, Miss
Huntingdon 2012 Ansley Stewart of Lake Placid, Florida.
Luchner, the daughter of Tom and Suzy Luchner, won a $600
scholarship with her title. She is a junior communication studies
major and political science minor who performs with the Huntingdon
Concert Choir and Huntingdon's jazz/show choir, Huntingdon
Harmony. She serves as vice president of the Drama Club, special
events chair for the Campus Activities Board, a senator for the
Student Government Association, and a member of Alpha Omicron Pi
women's fraternity. For her talent, she performed "Let Me Be Your
Star" from the television series, Smash. Luchner's
platform is "Active Minds."
Stephanie Yasechko of Niles, Ohio, was awarded First
Runner-up honors, including a $400 scholarship. She is the
daughter of Ron Yasechko and Kim Bagnoli. A freshman biochemistry
major, Yasechko is a member of the Huntingdon Student Government
Association, the Exchange Club, the American Chemical Society, the
Marching Scarlet and Grey, Huntingdon Dazzlers dance team, and
Freshman Forum. For her talent, she performed a baton-twirling
routine to "Baby, I'm a Star."
Katy Rebekah Hall of Prattville, Alabama, was named
Second Runner-up and awarded a $200 scholarship. The
daughter of Wade and Brenda Hall is a sophomore athletic training
and physical education double major. She serves as vice president
of member recruitment for Alpha Omicron Pi women's fraternity and
is a member of the College Republicans, Experts Club, and Voice of
Justice. She sang "How Great Thou Art" for the talent portion of
the competition.
The contestants awarded the title of Miss Congeniality to
Jamie Reschke, a freshman art and biology double major from
Las Vegas, Nevada, and the daughter of James and Debbie
Reschke. A member of the College's first intercollegiate women's
lacrosse team, Reschke earned a place on the Dean's List of High
Honors for the fall semester 2012 and is active in Freshman Forum
and the Dining Hall Committee.
Members of the student body, who voted prior to the pageant,
awarded the title of "Most Photogenic" to Bailee Ikner,
the daughter of Gwen Phillips and Roger Ikner and a junior
psychology major from Mobile, Alabama. Ikner serves as
membership director for Phi Mu women's fraternity, captain of
the Huntingdon Dazzlers dance team, and public relations
chairman for the Psychology Club.
Contestant Georgianna Hunt is the daughter of Chuck and
Elaine Hunt of Wetumpka, Alabama. She is a member of Chi
Omega women's fraternity and serves as chair of public relations
for the Campus Activities Board. She is also an active
participant in Freshman Forum, Voice of Justice, and Campus
Ministries. Hunt is a freshman communication studies major and
political science minor.
Contestant Kaison Darden, a sophomore communication
studies major and political science minor, serves as president of
the Commuter Student Organization and represents the CSO as a
senator in the Student Government Association. She serves as
treasurer for the Class of 2015 and as editor of the College
newspaper, The Gargoyle. She is a member of the
Panhellenic Executive Council and serves as philanthropy chair for
Alpha Omicron Pi women's fraternity. Darden is the daughter of
Scott and Kristy Kelsey and Kenneth Darden of Wetumpka,
Alabama.
Contestant Alyssa McCurry, a junior art major, is the
daughter of Elder Michael and Dr. Tammie McCurry of Montgomery.
Named a Huntingdon College Ambassador for the 2012–2013 academic year, McCurry also represents the
College as a member of the intercollegiate women's volleyball and
basketball teams. In recognition of her academic achievement during her freshman year she
was named to Phi Eta Sigma freshman honor society.
Brooke Meadows, the daughter of Allen and Paulette Meadows,
was the final contestant. She is a member of the Huntingdon Lady
Hawks softball team and of Voice of Justice. She is a junior
biology major from Tallassee, Alabama, earning secondary
teacher certification and a minor in Spanish.
Scores earned during interviews with pageant judges prior to the
pageant comprised 35% of the contestants' scores. During the
pageant, the women were judged on their self-introduction and
platform preview, talent, poise, and response to an on-stage question.
 The student pageant coordinator, who also co-hosted the event, was
Skye Esry of Eufaula, Alabama, a freshman majoring
in history and political science. Esry is a member of Chi Omega
women's fraternity and serves as vice president for Freshman
Forum. Her co-host was Ryne Taylor of Andalusia,
Alabama, a senior majoring in mathematics who serves as a
Huntingdon Ambassador, a member of the Huntingdon Hawks football
team and the Math Club, and a senator for the Student Government
Association. Taylor is also involved with the Hawks Fellowship of
Christian Athletes.
2012 Miss Huntingdon Ansley Stewart spent her year-long reign
raising money for and awareness about the Smile Train organization, the
world's largest cleft lip charity that performs simple and inexpensive
surgeries that can change children's lives. Stewart, a senior Christian
education major and psychology minor, interns with Stella's Voice, an
anti-human-trafficking organization. She is a member of Chi Omega
women's fraternity and serves as secretary for the Class of 2013.
The Miss Huntingdon Pageant is an event of the College's Campus
Activities Board.
Huntingdon College, grounded in the
Judeo-Christian tradition of the United Methodist Church, is
committed to nurturing growth in faith, wisdom, and service and to
graduating individuals prepared to succeed in a rapidly changing
world. Founded in 1854, Huntingdon is a coeducational liberal arts
college. The College motto, "Enter to grow in wisdom; go forth to
apply wisdom in service," is inscribed in stone above the front
door of John Jefferson Flowers Hall. Ranked in the top tier of
regional colleges by U.S. News and World Report and
consistently listed in the Princeton Review's "The Best Colleges:
Region by Region," Huntingdon has for two years been recognized on
the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll and
is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Washington
Monthly, which ranks colleges on the basis of their
contributions to the public good, places Huntingdon in the top 20%
of 352 baccalaureate colleges. Huntingdon's
Cultural and Community Events Series events are co-sponsored by
Baptist Health.
Pictured left-to-right in photo, upper right: Alyssa McCurry, Georgianna Hunt, Bailee Ikner, Stephanie Yasechko, Victoria Luchner, Katy Hall, Jamie Reschke, Brooke Meadows, and Kaison Darden.
Pictured left-to-right in photo, lower right: Skye Esry, Ryne Taylor, and Ansley Stewart.
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