NEWS RELEASE

Contact: David West (west@nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

02/09/2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES- Last year, Alicia Schulz got to be Miss Northwestern ­ Lady of the Bracelet for three days. Now, she'll get to hold the title all year.

Schulz, a senior theatre major from Metairie, capped off an unusual year for the pageant by winning the Miss Northwestern ­ Lady of the Bracelet Pageant Friday before a capacity crowd of more than 1,200 in the A.A. Fredericks Auditorium. Last year, Schulz was announced as the winner of the pageant, but relinquished the title when a calculation mistake was discovered and Lacey Fletcher was declared the winner. Schulz was allowed to compete in the Miss Louisiana Pageant as Miss Northwestern.

"Last year is still on my mind," said Schulz moments after being crown. "It was a surreal experience. But I thought it would be better to try again. It was hard not doing another preliminary pageant, but I wanted to be Miss Northwestern ­ Lady of the Bracelet. Putting last year behind me was hard, but good things can come out of what seems to be bad."

Schulz won both the swimsuit and evening gown competition.

Wanetah Walmsley of Natchitoches was first runner-up, Andrea Pang of Baton Rouge was second runner-up. Ashley Dunham of Baton Rouge was third runner-up followed by Sarah Jessica Rhodes of Rusk, Texas.

Dunham, Pang and Walmsley tied for first in the talent competition. Brittany Hung of Raleigh, N.C. was chosen Miss Congeniality. Dunham won the Liz Carroll People's Choice Award selected by the pageant audience.

A member of Phi Mu Fraternity, Schulz is also a member of Tri Mu Honors Society, American Technology Honors Society, Alpha Lambda Delta and Phi Kappa Phi Honors Society. She has appeared in several Northwestern Theatre productions. Her platform issue is "Mentoring Children Through The Arts."

Schulz decided to enter the Miss Northwestern ­ Lady of the Bracelet Pageant again after competing in the Miss Louisiana Pageant last June where she tied for first in the preliminary swimsuit competition.

"Competing in Miss Louisiana was a great opportunity for me," said Schulz. "It was a lot of fun and the other girls were great. After that, I knew how badly I wanted to be Miss Lady of the Bracelet and represent the university again."

Wearing the bracelet that contains the names of all those who have held the title of Miss Northwestern ­ Lady of the Bracelet since 1983 is meaningful to Schulz.

"I'm excited to be able to wear the bracelet for the next year," said Schulz. "I will get to follow in the footsteps of people like Shelley Colvin (1999) and Sabrina Plaisance (2000) who I looked up to. That's very important to me. I feel good that there will be a charm on the bracelet with my name on it."

Schulz admitted that she along with the other contestants got caught up in one of the most competitive pageants at NSU in years.

"We all enjoyed watching the talent and seeing what each other did. I know I was paying close attention," she said. "I loved the way the pageant flowed. It was well done."

Schulz will be working closely with Director of Student Organizations Carl P. Henry III and Assistant Director of Student Organizations Terria Alexander for the next four months to prepare for the Miss Louisiana Pageant.

"This will be my third pageant, but I know I will be well prepared," said Schulz. "Mr. (Carl P.) Henry and Terria (Alexander) are willing to spend a lot of time getting Miss Northwestern ­ Lady of the Bracelet ready with mock interviews and other help."

Schulz also hopes to use some student organizations to help implement her platform issue in the Natchitoches area.

Main Menu