Above are the contestants in the 2022 Miss Thomasville Pageant.

THOMASVILLE — History was made once again on the stage of Thomasville Center for the Arts as the 74th year Thomasville crowned an ambassador of this fair city. Weeks leading up to the pageant hosted Saturday, June 25, culminated with a new Miss Thomasville, Aniya Morris. 

Miss Thomasville Scholarship Program Competition, presented in partnership with CNSNext, benefitting Thomasville Jr. Service League was sold out earlier in the week and the energy in the room was contagious as Morris, graduate of Thomasville High School and daughter of Felicia and Benjamin Morris, was crowned 2022 Miss Thomasville. She will receive a $5,000 scholarship courtesy of CNSNext that she will use to further her education at Valdosta State University. She also tied for preliminary Poise, Talent and Essay competition scholarships. She will be the 2023 Rose Queen, reigning over the 102nd Rose Show and Festival. 

She is joined in court by first runner-up, and tied for Poise and Essay preliminary scholarships with Macy Taylor, rising senior at Thomasville High School Scholars Academy, daughter of Lisa and Russ Taylor. Taylor will receive a $3,000 scholarship courtesy of Rosemary and Dale Powell that she will use to further her education upon graduation. Tied for second runner-up were Ellie Griffin, Thomasville High School Scholars Academy graduate, and daughter of Pam and Jason Griffin, and Loxley Slocumb, homas County Central High School graduate and daughter of Danniell and Ty Slocumb.

Griffin will receive a $1,000 scholarship courtesy of Wellspring Medical Spa & Aesthetics. Slocumb will receive a $1,000 scholarship courtesy of Miss Thomasville Scholarship Program. 

Fourth runner-up, Essay and People’s Choice Award winner Jocelyn Watson, a Thomasville High School Scholars Academy graduate and daughter of Lisa Rudolph-Watson and Benjamin Watson, will receive a $500 scholarship courtesy of Synovus Bank. 

This year’s Preliminary scholarships were all sponsored by Miss Thomasville 1979 Kathy Vonier Horton. Horton shared a beautiful piano and vocal performance during the program leading up to announcements of top five. 

Recipients of Preliminary scholarships are tied Essay winners, Miss Thomasville Aniya Morris, first runner-up Macy Taylor and fourth runner-up Jocelyn Watson. Interview winner Emily Sumner, graduate of Thomasville High School Scholars Academy and daughter of Lori and Corey Sumner. Tied for Poise were Miss Thomasville Aniya Morris and first runner-up Macy Taylor. 

This year’s Talent competition resulted in a tie — no one envied the judges with the level of performance each of the 13 contestants shared over the evening. Talent Preliminary winners were Miss Thomasville Aniya Morris and Isabel Lewis, a rising senior at Thomasville High School and daughter of Jennie and Scott Lewis. The Miss Congeniality Award, sponsored by Synovus Bank, is chosen by fellow contestants based on friendship and support and this year’s $500 scholarship will go to Emily Sumner. 

The 2022 Miss Thomasville Pageant had 13 contestants competing from area schools. The contestants were accepted to the program in April 2022 and worked steadily on a long list of deliverables and spent two dedicated weeks learning about community, history, tradition and spent hours rehearsing as well as forming bonds through team building exercises and practices. 

This year’s contestants were Jayden Singletary, Ellie Griffin, Hallie Coppedge, Abby Coppedge, Macy Taylor, Ellie Godwin, Emily Sumner, Mikayla Voyles, Aniya Morris, Aubrey Kinard, Loxley Slocumb, Isabel Lewis and Jocelyn Watson. 

“We are encouraged to know who is shaping the next generation with the support, compassion, leadership, accountability and work ethic we saw demonstrated these past few weeks.” Mariam Mirabzadeh, board member. 

The competition was emceed by Miss Thomasville Committee member, JSL sustainer and Miss Thomasville 2002, Whitney Robertson. Robertson dazzled with her vibrant personality, quick wit and humor as she shared about the program, contestants, sponsors, past Miss Thomasvilles who joined in the audience and history of the community and support the program receives. The program also welcomed back 2021 Talent Recipient Julianna Watson to sing the National Anthem, led by Thomas County Sheriff Office’s honor guard and a vocal performance that received a standing ovation. 

The board and committee thanked the community and the many businesses, friends and individuals and families who have shared meals, gifts, coaching, sponsorships and support to this scholarship program, and its organization. The board and committee also offered a huge thank you to our 2021 Miss Thomasville Caliyah Sinkfield and her court, first runner-up Aleks Arwood and second runner-up Savannah Taylor for being part of the history and part of a tradition that will continue to grow. 

“The sisterhood and bonds created during rehearsal weeks and into pageant night is something you don’t get to witness often and that’s what makes our program and community so unique,” said Laura McCorvey, board member. 

Next year’s date is Saturday, June 24, 2023 at Thomasville Center for the Arts. The program will start accepting applications in February 2023. Young ladies 16-18 years of age interested in participating should reach out to their peers who have participated in the program or reach out directly to speak with a member of the board or committee. 

For more information, follow @missthomasvillega on Instagram and Facebook or email missthomasville.info@gmail.com. 

The Miss Thomasville Scholarship Program empowers young women to be thoughtful, vocal, and impassioned advocates for themselves and our community, and encourages their pursuit of scholastic achievement as a path toward a bright future.