GRAVETTE -- Miss Greater Jonesboro Maggie Benton was crowned Miss Arkansas 2017 at the 80th Miss Arkansas Scholarship Pageant Saturday night. A sold-out crowd of nearly 2,500 was in attendance at the event at the Robinson Center in Little Rock.
Benton won a $30,000 scholarship and more than $75,000 in awards, wardrobe, transportation and gifts. She will represent Arkansas at the 2018 Miss America pageant in Atlantic City and will make appearances around the state promoting the Children's Miracle Network, the Arkansas Children's Hospital and her personal platform "Giving is a Gift."
Ashton Yarbrough, Miss Heart of the Ozarks, placed among the top 15 girls in the pageant and received a $1,500 scholarship sponsored by the Miss Arkansas Scholarship Fund. Earlier, in preliminary competition Thursday evening, Ashton won the Savvy Shields Interview Award, a $250 scholarship given by the Miss America Homecoming Celebration Committee.
Yarbrough, 20, is the daughter of Kimberly and Brian Yarbrough. Her hometown is Gravette. She is a student at the University of Arkansas, majoring in elementary education. She would like to obtain a master's degree in educational leadership and run for public office. Her platform at the pageant, Passion to Action, focused on volunteering.
Community on 06/21/2017