Rae Evans, a former Miss Perry High School, was crowned Miss Dogwood 2012 on Saturday at Perry High School.

Evans, a freshman at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, was elected president of the freshman class this year and was first runner-up in the Miss ABAC pageant last week.

At Perry High, Evans was a Student Council member, captain of the varsity cheerleaders, co-editor of the yearbook and vice president of the FFA. She holds the distinction of being one of only two students at Perry High to ever win all four of the school’s titles -- Miss Freshman, Miss Sophomore, Miss Junior and Miss Perry High.

As Miss Dogwood, Evans will reign over the 2012 Dogwood Festival to be held April 14-15 in Perry.

Evans said that although she participated in the last 10 years of Dogwood pageants, this is her first Dogwood title.

“I am consistent and patient,” she said. “I kept trying because I wanted to be a Dogwood queen so bad. Perry is my hometown, and it is such an honor to represent the Dogwood Festival and the city of Perry.”

Evans said because she was away at college, she missed a couple of practices but didn’t have any trouble catching up because of the other contestants.

“That’s one of the reasons I think I kept coming back to do Miss Dogwood,” she said.

“It is such a warm environment, the other contestants are always willing to lend a hand.”

Eighty-two girls competed for the six Dogwood queen titles in the pageant sponsored by the Perry High cheerleaders. The pre-teen, teen and miss divisions competed in interview, casual wear, evening gown and on-stage question.

As successful as Evans has been in pageants and hopes to be in the future -- she is planning on entering Miss ABAC again next year and will be competing in the Miss Georgia Forestry pageant this summer -- crowns are not her primary goal for competing.

“You should never measure your success by the titles you have won, but by the friendships you have made,” Evans said.

Awards given at the pageant were:

Tiny Miss Dogwood: Brynn Owens; first runner-up, Keeli Newman; second runner-up, Dakota Giddens; third runner-up, Lexi Hardy.

Little Miss Dogwood: Lillian Baker; first runner-up, Mary Helen Hartman; second runner-up, Alaini Moore; third runner-up:, Carleigh Chastain.

Junior Miss Dogwood: Jada Hinson; first runner-up, Savannah Scarborough; second runner-up, Abney Fricks; third runner-up, Aubree Jones.

Pre-Teen Miss Dogwood: Greir Glaser; first runner-up, Madyson Kelly; second runner-up, Ashley Gidney; third runner-up, Charley Lollis. Glaser was the pre-teen interview award winner. Lollis was pre-teen Miss Congeniality.

Teen Miss Dogwood: Samantha Gidney; first runner-up, Jessica Swartz; second runner-up: Elizabeth Albritton, third runner-up, Taylor Liszewski. Darlyn Davis was the teen interview winner. Emily Bowlin was teen Miss Congeniality.

Miss Dogwood: Rae Evans; first runner-up, Michelle Baker; second runner-up, Blaire Bagwell; third runner-up, Janea Feeney. Bagwell won the interview award. Angela Denning was Miss Congeniality.