KENT: New Miss Perry High want to use crown to do good deeds

McKayla Conner was crowned Miss Perry High School 2016 before a packed auditorium at Perry High School on Feb. 11.

Conner is a senior at Perry High School.

The Miss Perry High School pageant showcased 13 Perry High students who competed in interview, sportswear and platform, talent and evening gown. The pageant opened with the contestants dancing to the theme "Confident."

Winners for the evening included Miss Congeniality, Anna Kathryn Jones; interview winner, Conner; and talent winner, Evelyn Jones. Charley Lollis was named Miss Sophomore 2016. Greir Glaser was named Miss Junior 2016. Senior Kaitlyn Bustamante was named first runner-up.

Along with her new title, Conner is reigning Miss Christmas Belle.

"It was surreal," Conner said about winning the top title. "It was one of the best days of my life. It was just amazing."

Conner's duties as Miss Perry High School will include conducting tours for the upcoming eighth-graders and representing the school at various functions.

Conner would like to expand her duties somewhat to include the other high school title holders.

"I was thinking the other night, what if the five of us got together and did something like a canned food drive or school supplies? Those are the things that I like to do as a queen. Because I believe that using your sash and crown for good is what it is all about," Conner said.

Conner is the daughter of Rebecca Conner, Chris Lamey and Greg Wright. McKayla has been nominated for the Bridge Scholars program at Georgia College and she is a member of the Healthcare Occupational Students of America Chapter at Perry High School She is both a trained certified nurse's assistant and is certified in CPR. She has played varsity soccer for the Lady Panthers for four years. In her spare time, she enjoys volunteering at 5k runs and blood drives. She is a member of Cross Point Baptist Church.

She plans on attending Kennesaw University in the fall, where she wants to major in radiologic sciences before transferring to Emory University to study to become a radiologist.

The pageant was sponsored by the Perry High School Theater department.

Alline Kent can be reached at 396-2467 or allinekent@cox.net

This story was originally published February 23, 2016 at 8:53 PM with the headline "KENT: New Miss Perry High want to use crown to do good deeds ."