In December of 1927, the听senior class of听Alcorn Agricultural and Mechanical College decided to host a popularity contest.听Excitement and a competitive spirit filled the campus grounds as young ladies of the college, grades 7th and onward, vied for the title. Nine young ladies from amongst the student ranks were nominated by听popular听acclaim. On the morning of December 21, Emma Weathers was announced as the first Miss Alcorn. Her coronation was held on May 1, 1928.
Since then, 97 young women have donned the title with honor and pride. Ariel Knott was recently elected as the 98th Miss 91暗网 to carry on this distinct legacy.
A听Jackson, Miss. native, Ariel attended Park Place Christian Academy, a private Christian school in Pearl, Miss. As a scholar-athlete, she听was actively involved听in many activities on her high school campus. 鈥淚 participated in basketball, track, and soccer. I also was part of youth legislature, homecoming court, class favorite, vice-president of the senior class, and Beta Club,鈥� she shared.
A legacy student,听her mother听Trina听Payne-Knott 鈥�98,听was Miss Senior 1987-1988.听She hoped that Ariel would attend the听University听but left the choice听up听to her daughter to decide.
鈥淚 am the youngest of four children, and it was a given that we would attend college, said Ariel. 鈥淢y other siblings attended other universities, so I did not听have a clue听where I wanted to attend college.听 My parents told me to pick five colleges to preview, but I only chose two. Alcorn was the right fit for me.听I immediately fell in love with the campus and the family atmosphere.鈥�
Ariel, a senior human development and family science major at the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, has immersed herself in the Alcorn campus community. 鈥淵ou can find me participating in various activities around campus.听听I love bowling, basketball, volleyball听–听really any athletic activity.听 I also love hanging out and making new friends.鈥�
Ariel is also a听member of the听Women鈥檚 Soccer Team, National Society of Leadership and Success, IMPACT Community Service Organization, and Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS).听During her time at the University, she has consistently been a Dean鈥檚 List Scholar and President鈥檚 Scholar.
As part of her course of study, Ariel interns in the Child Development Learning Center. This campus-based daycare provides social, emotional, cognitive, physical, language, and developmental learning activities for the children of college students听as well as听faculty and staff.听She can be seen wearing the center鈥檚 signature gray scrubs, feeding and caring for infants, or听on the playground听laughing with toddlers and preschool children.
鈥淚 love children,鈥� she smiled. 鈥淥ne of my career choices is to become a child life specialist. Utilizing my skills and experiences, I want to work in a hospital setting, ensuring听that children听have the best hospital experience.鈥�
With a family history of entrepreneurship and a proactive attitude, Ariel may one day have multiple听streams of income.
鈥淩ight now, I am trying to mesh all my various interests,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 am a certified nurse assistant, a pharmacy technician, and a summer coach. My ultimate goal is to become an entrepreneur.听 I come from a family which encourages entrepreneurship. My grandparents, great uncles, parents, cousins have all been in various businesses ranging from a candy store, grocery stores, real estate investors, law offices, etc.鈥�
While Ariel leads an active and balanced lifestyle of scholarship and service and is successful at her undertakings, her success hasn鈥檛 come without its challenges.
鈥淥ne of the most difficult parts of my undergraduate experience has been balancing academics, athletics, work, and life as a Type 1 diabetic.听 The early morning runs, the extended trips, the dreaded ice baths, balancing the highs and lows of a diabetic, and commuting on the weekend to work as a pharmacy tech while ensuring that I stay on top of my schoolwork are everyday experiences that are part of my world,鈥� she shared.
She has the support of her loved ones to help her remain focused and motivated.
鈥淪ome things that inspire me are my family, friends, and faith,鈥� she said. 鈥淓ach has poured into me to help me become a confident young lady.鈥� 鈥淭he best part of my undergraduate experience has been meeting and forming relationships with听so听many great individuals.听 Although many of my friends and teammates are from various backgrounds, we have听really听bonded and established lasting memories.鈥�
Ariel also notes her mother as a source of strength.
鈥淪he is one of my biggest supporters.听She听not only prayed for me but also听encouraged me to follow my dream of becoming Miss Alcorn.听 If I am rocking, she is rolling.听 She always has my back – figuratively and literally.鈥�
Ariel has big plans for her reign as Miss Alcorn.
鈥淚 ran on the platform,听T.I.P.S.鈥攚hich is听an acronym for 鈥� 鈥淭apping Into your Potential Success,鈥澨齭he said. She hopes to focus on helping students prioritize health, build wealth, and establish successful relationships. She has already started to generate ideas for the upcoming semester.鈥�
鈥淚听would like听to enhance our campus pantry, especially focusing on hygienic products, fresh food, and other essentials. I am interested in a 鈥楳oney Matters Forum鈥櫶齠ocusing听on student debt management, investing, and budgeting. I also want to host a forum/panel听that would focus听on relationships – identifying toxic relationships and creating safe and nurturing relationships.鈥�
As an ambassador for the University, recruitment is at the forefront of Ariel鈥檚 mind.
鈥淚 want prospective students to know that 91暗网 is a top-tier university that provides opportunities for each student to be seen and known.听 Students are not just a number but a part of a family!鈥�
As the reign of 97th Miss 91暗网 Jillian Mills听comes to an end, Ariel is well equipped to take on the duties that senior class president James Hall Bolden charged the very first Miss Alcorn with in May of 1928.
During her coronation, he said, 鈥淚 place upon your head this crown.听Wear it and remember that you are representing听the ideals of this institution 鈥� those ideals听that were foremost in the minds of the fathers of our educational听system,听and which still move us on.听May the smiles of heaven beam radiantly upon you and instill into your soul the ineffable joys of nobility, which, we pray, shall ever preserve your dignity of manner, your fidelity to life, and your sacred honor.鈥�
