Katy Beth Boyers / Arts and Life Editor
Nov. 1 was a big night for sophomore Madison Ward when she was announced as Miss Samford 2020. Crowds erupted in applause and cheers as she felt the support from her friends and family.
“I was just completely astonished,” said Ward. “Throughout the entire night, I felt a lot of support.”
Ward got a lot of help during preparation for the pageant from Miss Samford 2019 winner Anna Bain. Ward tells how her and Bain got to go to Miss Alabama last year and how she is one of her “really close friends.”
Ward is a communication studies major with minors in marketing and Spanish. She has been involved with the Miss American organization since age nine with the Rising Star Mentorship, in which young women mentor young girls who wish to participate in pageants, and she competed for two years in the Miss Alabama Teen program. Ward said she enjoyed being a part of the environment.
This past week has been full of school work and activities as she continues to process Miss Samford 2020.
I’m so excited. I’m in a state where I don’t think it has really hit me yet. I have so many plans on who I want to work with, service projects on campus and getting ready for Miss Alabama,” she said.
This isn’t Ward’s first pageant title. Last year, Ward was Miss Trussville 2019, which is her hometown that she was proud to represent. Throughout the year, Ward worked with city officials and the mayor of Trussville to do service projects and work on her social impact initiative.
“It was cool being able to have the crown and sash, not because its a crown and sash but it was like a platform to talk to people,” said Ward.
Ward decided to compete in Miss Samford 2020 because she had a great time representing her hometown and wanted to go back to participate in Miss Alabama, which takes place in the summer.
“I wanted to represent my university,” she said.
Since Miss Samford 2020, Ward has been busy meeting with students and faculty and coming up with her future plans as Miss Samford. One of her plans is to hold a special day on Samford’s campus for her organization called SHINE. SHINE stands for Serving Him In Neighborhoods Everywhere, and is an initiative to get people involved in their communities.
“It’s basically an initiative to get people involved to do community service by taking a talent or something they are passionate about and encouraging them to serve with it,” Ward said.
While she was Miss Trussville, Ward held a SHINE Month in Trussville in April to get people involved in community service. Along with SHINE she hopes to work with SGA, SAC, and the Campus Outreach team on campus.
“I really want to make sure that I am spreading myself across campus in different areas and making myself available to serve whenever I’m needed,” she said.
Madison Ward is honored to represent Samford University and looks forward to participating in Miss Alabama as well as working with and serving her community.
“It’s not the title that defines you,” she said, “It’s the platform of mentoring people.”
