ORU students dominate beauty pageants
By Shanna Tabb

Beauty, competition and winning have become second nature to the women at Oral Roberts University. From Miss Oklahoma USA to Miss Black Tulsa, this university has seen at least 20 pageant winners in the past decade.

In the Miss Oklahoma USA Pageant, Star Williams, senior, won the crown for 2003.

In the Miss America Pageant, Kristin Stevenson captured the crown of Miss Oklahoma in 2000 while Casey Preslar won the title in 2002.

The title of Miss Black Tulsa went to senior Priscilla Flagg in 2002 and senior Olivia Specks in 2003.

In the arena of beauty pageants, ORU has equipped its students with character and excellence. Many students have implemented these virtues, going into every person's world to raise a standard in their competitions.

Fueled by commitment, perseverance and ambition, students such as Williams have successful in winning the crown.

Williams has not only contributed to the legacy of winners, but she is the first student at ORU to win the title of Miss Oklahoma USA.

Williams has been competing since her sophomore year in high school. She has learned to stay confident and remain focused on what is important without comparing herself to other competitors.

As a student at ORU, Williams said the University equipped her to have a standard of excellence in everything she does.

"Star not only has an inner and outer beauty, but a sense of excellence with her work and how she communicates," said Dr. Wendy Shirk of the Communication Arts Department. "ORU has accommodated her desire to fulfill her dreams in the [Miss] USA pageant."

As Miss Oklahoma USA, Williams has the opportunity to become a role model and speak to encourage young people to accomplish their goals and dreams.

"I have such a burden for today's youth; I feel like I can relate to them," Williams said.

During her reign, Williams' platform will be aimed at eliminating violence while increasing self-esteem among youth.

In the Miss Oklahoma Pageant, several women at ORU have shined like stars.

Both Preslar and Stevenson, outside of winning the pageant, have several things in common.

Each competed for five years before winning Miss Oklahoma. Their majors were both in music and communications. And their love for youth served as their purpose for the pageant.

Preslar focused on being a witness as she competed to the best of her ability. She believed that no matter what happened, the real reason for competing was to be pleasing in the eyes of God.

"At all times Casey kept a lively spirit [and a] positive attitude, and looked for the good in a bad situation," said sister Shelly Preslar. "Although she was under a lot of pressure, she did not let her emotions take over."

In the fifth year of competing, Preslar refused to accept failure and she looked past herself as motivation. Shelly Preslar said Casey got to the point where she gave up her desire to win the pageant altogether.

In the local pageants of Oklahoma, both Flagg and Specks have been successful as well.

Flagg was recommended to compete in order to bring out her talents and skills. In the pageant, she has learned how to be more professional.

Before winning, Flagg competed twice in the Miss Black Tulsa Pageant. "I ran twice because I knew I was going to win," Flagg said. "I was supposed to win."

Flagg said she is glad that ORU emphasizes the importance of building the whole person spiritually, mentally and physically.

Specks competed to experience a life-long dream. She said the most challenging lesson she had to learn was to be herself. "I knew I was my own competition, and, if I can do better than me, than I can win," Specks said.

At ORU, she said she developed character as a whole person. "The University created a more diverse mindset which contributed to help me communicate effectively," Specks said.

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