The Mu Delta chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha hosted its fifth annual Miss Freshman Pageant in the Marvin Center Sunday. This year’s pageant coincided with National Breast Cancer Awareness month and benefited the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

Vanessa Cacho, public relations chair for Alpha Kappa Alpha, said the mission of the pageant was “to acknowledge an outstanding freshman for her potential as demonstrated by her dedication to academic achievement, creativity, community involvement and enthusiasm.”

The competition consisted of three segments: talent, eveningwear and a question-and-answer session. The talent portion included performances of dramatic monologues, readings of original poems, singing and dancing.

The panel of judges was comprised of Fred Siegel, associate vice president and dean of freshmen; Ritu Singh, 2000 graduate; and Helen Cannaday Saulny, assistant vice president of Student and Academic Support Services.

The six contestants, Uche Anigboh, Harriet Badio, Sho’leh Geula, Alycia Haynes, Amanda Roach and Brittney Wright, raised more than $2,000 together. In addition to raising money and competing for the title of Miss Freshman, the top three girls received scholarships.

Wright, Outstanding Fundraiser and Miss Freshman 2006, won a $1,000 scholarship; Geula, Miss Congeniality and the first runner-up received a $500 prize, and Roach received a $250 prize as the second runner-up.

“We wanted the girls to feel confident and to feel empowered by this contest,” said senior Amber Webb, president of Alpha Kappa Alpha. “I’m so proud of all of them.” For six weeks leading up to the pageant, the girls participated in several educational workshops as well as the 2006 AIDS Walk.