On Nov. 8, nine contestants competed in the 2025 Miss Auburn University Scholarship Competition in the Student Activities Center Auditorium. Faculty, students and locals attended to watch the contestants compete in speaking, talent and beauty contests for a grand scholarship.
Hosted by the Miss Auburn and Miss Auburn Teen Scholarship organization, the Miss Auburn University Scholarship Competition is a pageant for Auburn University women who compete for one year of resident tuition scholarship. In the contest, contestants compete in different phases while promoting their service initiatives for humanitarian efforts.
The 2025 pageant opened with a dance performance called "Flower Power" by 2024 Miss Auburn University Mary-Coker Green and the contestants. Accompanied by The Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun” and Earth, Wind & Fire’s “Let’s Groove,” they performed a coordinated dance in floral dresses.
After the dance concluded, the nine contestants introduced themselves.
- Contestant one, Phedra Peter: an engineering student dedicated to creating STEM learning opportunities for healthcare innovators
- Contestant two, Chailyn Riley: a sophomore studying sports production advocating for education about organ, eye and tissue donation
- Contestant three, Bayleigh Handley: an apparel merchandising freshman raising awareness for cancer
- Contestant four, Isabella Partida: University Recruitment student-worker wanting to help young learners with learning difficulties after COVID-19
- Contestant five, Mikella Anderson: a junior studying management raising awareness for diabetes
- Contestant six, Alyssa Hurst: a senior studying elementary education wanting to improve literacy among elementary school students
- Contestant seven, Hana Vickery: a pre-business freshman wanting to prevent eating disorders
- Contestant eight, Faith O’Hanlon: an aviation student wanting to increase awareness for heart disease
- Contestant nine, Kaci Mundorf: an Athletic Department student-worker advocating for the importance of blood donation in saving lives
Green inspired this year’s Flower Power theme. Raised on a farm, Green wrote the book “The Girl Who Grew A Garden” for her initiative, ENGAGE: Building Healthy and Resilient Minds, which advocates establishing habits to adapt to new life situations.
At a podium decorated with flowers to celebrate Green and the night’s theme, Miss Alabama 2024 Abbie Stockard emceed and hosted the competition.
The competition had four phases: on-stage conversation, health and fitness, talent and evening gown. Each phase was worth a certain percentage of a contestant’s overall score, and the judges rated the contestants from one to ten in each category.
The first competition phase, worth 10% of the contestant’s overall score, was onstage conversation. The judges considered “clarity, personality and the ability to communicate well under pressure,” as Stockard asked the contestants individual questions about their initiatives.
Riley wanted to increase awareness about tissue donation through her service initiative One to Many: Educating and Advocating for Organ, Eye and Tissue Donation. She planned to create driving classes in Lee County that discuss the importance of organ donation in saving lives.
“Your medical care is never compromised because you’re an organ donor,” said Riley. “Starting out at the age of fifteen, teaching these individuals how saving a life can really change someone’s life is how I would continue as Miss Auburn University.”
Through her service initiative Bridge the Gap: Investing the Futures of Young Leaders, Partida said she wants to “bridge gaps” for young learners with learning challenges after COVID-19. A former Camp War Eagle Counselor, Partida planned to require local community service for first-year experience classes.
“While my community service initiative focuses on the education environment of younger learners like those in elementary and middle school, I think it is so relevant and it is so applicable to university students today,” said Partida. “Learning and being able to teach is such a vital skill that is appealing to future employers.
Through her service initiative Hana’s Hope: Eating Disorder Awareness and Prevention, Vickery hoped to increase awareness about eating disorders by partnering with Auburn Cares.
“I would like to partner with Auburn Cares to create a different section for students that are currently struggling with eating disorders to connect them with resources on- and off-campus, online or over the phone,” said Vickery.
The second phase of the competition, worth 20%, is health and wellness. Clad in athletic wear, contestants highlighted their “dedication to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.”
Peter explained how small consistent actions like running and Pilates improve long-term health.
“I believe we do not rise to the level of our goals,” said Peter. “But we fall to the level of our systems.”
As a dancer, Anderson described dance as an “incredible full body workout” that gave her happiness.
“For me, fitness is about finding joy in movement,” said Anderson. “I believe happiness is a key part of a healthy lifestyle.”
The third phase of the competition, worth 20%, was talent. Judged on interpretative ability and stage presence, the contestants’ talents ranged from conventional instrumental and vocal performances to unique speed painting and original fashion pieces.
Before a green background, Handley performed a vocal performance of “Defying Gravity” from the Broadway show "Wicked." Reminiscent of the play’s protagonist Elphaba, Handley matched her black hair with a gleaming black evening gown.
Hurst speed painted to the Auburn University Marching Band’s “Eye of the Tiger.” At the end of her time, Hurst flipped her canvas upside down, revealing a portrait of Aubie the Tiger.
Mundorf showcased original fashion pieces on stage, all of which she designed and sewed herself. Displaying her creativity and craftsmanship, she transformed her custom short orange dress into a long evening gown.
Joining the nine contestants to demonstrate her talent, Green dazzled in a gold fringe outfit, performing “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” on the fiddle.
The fourth and final phase of the competition, worth 20%, was the evening gown portion.
Escorted by Aubie the Tiger, contestants walked across the stage in sparkling evening gowns. Kissing contestants’ hands and waving at audience members, Aubie remained a crowd favorite.
Before crowning the 2025 Miss Auburn University, there were special performances by Miss Lee County Fair’s Outstanding Teen 2025 Eva Litkenhouse and the Green family.
Mary-Coker Green harmonized with her father and brother, performing a country acoustic rendition of “You Are My Sunshine.”
The heartfelt lyrics, “Even though, dear, now I am leaving, I would do it all again,” sung by Green were poignant for her final performance as Miss Auburn University.
For her final walk, Green recited a verse from Ecclesiates and thanked her loved ones and Auburn University.
“Auburn University, thank you for giving me something to believe in and allowing me to represent you for a year,” said Green. “I truly hope I made you proud as you have made me every day.”
Green received a standing ovation for her last bow.
Hand-in-hand, contestants eagerly awaited who would be crowned the 2025 Miss Auburn University.
Kaci Mundorf won the Street Family Achievement Award, and Faith O’Hanlon won the Mallory Hagan Talent Award sponsored by Make Your Move Performing Arts.
The second runner-up awarded a $400 scholarship was Kaci Mundorf, and the first runner-up awarded a $700 scholarship was Alyssa Hurst.
Crowned the 2025 Miss Auburn University was Mikella Anderson. As the new Miss Auburn University, Anderson was crowned by Green and won one year of resident tuition scholarship valued at $12,890.
In a quote for The Auburn Plainsman, newly crowned Anderson said, “I am so incredibly excited and grateful for the opportunity to represent my school and raise awareness for diabetes on this campus.”
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