Palmer named new Miss G#039;ville High

Published 12:00 am Thursday, March 9, 2006

Dreams really do come true. And you don't necessarily need a fairy godmother to be the belle of the ball.

Just ask Leslie Palmer.

Last weekend, the fair-haired, vivacious young beauty experienced a fairytale evening in Greenville.

On a stage decorated with images from the Disney version of &#8220Cinderella,” a jubilant and slightly tearful Palmer was crowned Miss Greenville High School 2006 at the GHS Auditorium Saturday night.

Its long-time sponsor, the GHS &#8220Boomerang” yearbook staff, mounted the annual event.

Palmer, who was sponsored by The Art Room and J's Formal Wear, took top honors in a field of 70 young ladies. Palmer is assistant editor of the yearbook.

Senior Aundrea Poole, a GHS cheerleader who has also performed in the school's drama productions, was chosen first runner-up. Flowers Bakery sponsored Poole.

Courtney Rice, a freshman, was selected second runner-up. A dancer, vocalist and part-time dance instructor, Rice was sponsored by Sonya's Dance and Fitness.

Kendra Mitchell, a senior, was selected as third runner-up. Mitchell, sponsored by Forget-Me-Not Florist, was the GHS representative to Girls' State and serves as a Camellia Girl for the Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce.

Top Ten contestant Jateum Perryman, a senior, was selected as the pageant's Academic Award winner. Rachel Williams, a freshman, won Miss Congeniality, while freshman Jamie Brant, a Top 30 contestant, took the Interview Award for the evening.

Other contestants placing in the Top Ten were Tara Gibson, Shanquita Scarver, Meghan Branum, Amber Newton and Olivia Glenn.

GHS history teacher Todd Henderson was the emcee for the evening, while students Jonathon Duke, Andrew Allen Godwin, Tom Powell and Marcus Jones served as escorts for the young ladies.

Boomerang sponsor Mollie Utley, the pageant director and her student director, Lakeshia Fountain, kept the newly streamlined program on track.

&#8220With 70 girls this year, we had to change our program, cut it in a few places. I think it went very, very well,” Utley said as the finalists posed for photos after the production and received congratulatory hugs from family and friends.

&#8220The crowd was good, well behaved…it was a great event,” Henderson said.