The Miss OBU 2024 Scholarship Competition was held Saturday, Feb. 3, on the campus of Ouachita Baptist University.
Bailey Gibson, a senior finance and marketing major from Hot Springs, was crowned the new Miss OBU 2024 and won more than $3,000 in scholarships. Miss OBU 2023 Haley Shourd, a junior communications major from Conway, crowned the new winner.
Bailey’s talent was a vocal performance of “If I Can Dream” by Elvis, and her Community Service Initiative is Financial Literacy for Youth, which she uses to teach financial literacy to young people in Arkansas. She was sponsored by the Women of Gamma Phi and is the daughter of John and Missy Gibson of Hot Springs.
A total of $4,800 in scholarships were awarded to the following young women during the evening:
Bailey Gibson
Winner $2,250; Photogenic Award $100; Academic Award $100; Alpha Private Interview Award $250; On Stage Conversation Award $100; Evening Wear Award $300
Ava Weeks
First Runner-Up $800; People’s Choice Award; Photogenic Award $100; Alpha Talent Award $250; Talent Award $300
Katy Beth Dunn
Spirit of Miss OBU Award $150
Diana Taylor
Miss Congeniality Award $100
Bailey will compete June 8-15 for Miss Arkansas at the Robinson Center in Little Rock.