On Wednesday, Feb. 5, the top five Miss Auburn candidates began their campaigns on Haley Concourse, meeting with students, explaining their personal connection to Auburn and representing their initiatives. Colorful signs and coordinating shirts decorated with platform slogans created a vibrant atmosphere as students rallied in support of their chosen candidate.
The Miss Auburn candidates are represented visually through personalized colors and campaign slogans —
- Kendall Anderson in red, representing “Keep Climbing with Kendall”
- Ellen Connell in purple, representing “Engage with Ellen”
- Sophie Marino in blue, representing “Soar with Sophie”
- Riley Parman in pink, representing “Rooted with Riley”
- Vera Smith T in yellow, representing “Raise Your Voice with Vera”
Wednesday through Friday, candidates will engage with students while supporters don campaign shirts and speak with peers to share their support for their nominee. Whether through personal experience or indirect involvement, these supporters believe their candidate will honorably represent the Miss Auburn position.
Sara Grace Merrill, sophomore in nursing and one of Riley Parman’s top five campaigners, has been personally mentored by Parman throughout her educational journey. After asking Merill to campaign with her, Parman had coffee with Merrill to discuss her passion.
“She just really poured into me, and she’s helped me find different ways to get involved on campus and actually root my passion for mentoring younger girls tie into my education,” Merrill said. “I’m a nursing major, and now I’m really thinking about going into education after nursing and being able to educate future nurses.”
Gwen Hellman, sophomore in apparel merchandising, initially met candidate Ellen Connell over a two hour conversation during Panhellenic recruitment. This meeting blossomed into a friendship.
“[Connell] just made me feel so seen and heard, and she’s just one of those people who doesn’t just talk to the people who she needs to talk to,” Hellman said. “She will talk to anyone, and she’s a really personable human. [...] She’s always involved, always reaching out to people, always making sure people feel like someone’s with them, someone has their back.”
Auburn native Ella Thames, freshman in pre-elementary education, has grown up with candidate Vera Smith T and her family. Seeing Smith T’s past service first-hand, Thames has a sneak peek as to how she would serve as Miss Auburn.
“I’ve just seen the way that she serves at Auburn and the way that she just loves people really well, and I just think she would represent Auburn so well as Miss Auburn,” Thames said. “Being a freshman, it’s so hard for a semester, and she took us all under her wing and went out of her way to be intentional with us and make sure that we felt supported and just loved on.”
Anna Katherine Clark, exploratory freshman, met candidate Kendall Anderson through their sorority Alpha Gamma Delta. Although this is only Clark’s first year at Auburn, Anderson has made a positive impact on her through involvement.
“[Alpha Gamma Delta] really is a big family and I just want to support in every way possible and just show that [Anderson is] so loved and I get to share [her] with the rest of campus,” Clark said. “She has been such a light every time I’ve been around her, she really just has the brightest smile and just brings so much light and positivity to the people around her.”
Anne Bon Simmons, freshman in exercise science, shares both her major and sorority Alpha Delta Pi with candidate Sophie Marino. Only two weeks after their initial meeting, Marino helped a stressed Simmons study for her test.
“So, [Marino] sat there with me and studied for an hour before the test, and that has always just stuck with me,” Simmons said. “So, remembering what she said about remembering your worth, she just always has made me feel like I belong here — belong not just in Auburn, but in my major. [...] It’s so fun to see her, kind of, spread her platform, and I’m just so excited.”
From 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. Friday, Auburn students are encouraged to speak with the candidates and their supporters to learn more about the Miss Auburn platforms.
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