Organizers of the Ms. Excellence 2017 Scholarship Pageant — a program open to young girls 12 to 18 — say the event was a “huge success this year.”
This year’s Ms. Excellence winner is 12-year-old Lanaya Watkins of Rockingham.
She is the daughter of Marshalla Moody and Napoleon Watkins Jr. and the granddaughter of Lillie Ma Watkins and Napoleon Watkins Sr., also of Rockingham.
She is described as “an outstanding student” from Rockingham Middle School. In addition to winning the title of Ms. Excellence 2017, she was just recognized for her academic achievements during her school’s semi-annual awards ceremony. During the ceremony, Lanaya received this semester’s AB Honor Roll certificate and perfect attendance for the 2016-2017 school year. She also received a certificate from her teachers who described her as joy to teach everyday.
She is a member of the Philadephia United Methodist Church in Rockingham.
This is the fourth year a young girl has obtained the $1,000 Alberta Ingram Memorial Scholarship, sponsored by The Voices of Evangelism Church of God in Christ where the pastor is Superintendent Garcia L. Morman Sr. In previous years, winners have been from Anson and Richmond Counties.
This year’s program was held at Pattan’s Downtown Grille in Rockingham, where those attended enjoyed a buffet dinner and live entertainment.
Ms. Excellence returns in the summer of 2018. If you know of a young girl who you would like to enter, send an email to event coordinator Lisa Patterson at [email protected] with “Att: Ms. Excellence Inquiry” in the subject line.