North Greenville University
Left to right: Miss North Greenville University 2020 Kasie Thomas, first runner-up Brooke Biondo, second runner-up Hope Scott, and third runner-up Kimberly Ensley.
Brook Biondo from Travelers Rest, was first-runnerup, Hope Scott from Kingstree second runner-up, and Kimberly Ensley from Inman was third runnerup.
Faith Yeargen from Piedmont received the Community Spirit and Miss Photogenic awards. Paola Martz from Inman won the $250 Yates-Dobson Congeniality Scholarship.
Thomas is a member of NGU’s volleyball team. Inspired by her involvement with sports as long as she can remember, Thomas chose her social impact platform to be “Empowering Youth Through Sports and Physical Activity”.
“Sports have truly taught me different character traits and lessons I have used throughout my life,” Thomas said. “I want the youth of today to learn the character traits I did through sports. Today’s youth are our future. Hopefully, I will be able to create a bigger serving community around me.”
Thomas said she wants to be someone that embodies strength and courage and be able to show God’s love through it all.
Director of Student Conduct and Competition Coordinator Atari Jarrett encouraged Thomas to compete. “When we got back from Christmas break, she (Jarrett) was very persuasive, and some of my other friends were doing it, so I decided to enter a week before it,” Thomas said.
Thomas was first runner-up for the 2017 Elmore County’s Distinguished Young Women in high school, but that is the closest she’s been to a pageant.
“When my name was called as the winner, I was so surprised,” Thomas said. “I honestly was not expecting to win at all, and I was just so, that tears started to fall. I know this had to be a tough year for the judges because all the girls are so beautiful and inspiring.”
Thomas is also a work-study on campus and announces and runs cameras at on-campus sporting events.
“I am currently working with friends to put together a black history program, and I am also looking forward to singing with more friends to perform a gospel concert coming up in February,” Thomas said. “Then, of course, being Miss NGU.”
Allison Yeater Lipe was Miss North Greenville University 2019.