Merrilee LaVilla, a junior communication arts major at Shorter University, crowned Miss Shorter University

From left to right: Second runner-up Bricey Bradshaw, Miss Shorter
University Merrilee LaVilla, and first runner-up Benjie Klouda.
Miss Shorter University 2013 Merrilee LaVilla was crowned Feb. 21.

Media release: Merrilee LaVilla, a junior communication arts major at
Shorter University, was crowned Miss Shorter University on Feb. 21. LaVilla,
a native of Acworth, Ga., was selected for this honor by a panel of three
judges. She received a $2,000 scholarship and earned a chance to compete in
the Miss Georgia Scholarship Pageant later this year.

At Shorter, LaVilla is a member of Zeta Tau Alpha, Panhellenic Council, and
serves as president of College Republicans.

Benjie Klouda, a freshman pre-nursing major from Trion, Ga., was first
runner-up. She is a Shorter University cheerleader and a gymnastics coach at
Hotshots Cheerleading Gym. Junior communication major Bricey Bradshaw was
second runner-up. The Canton, Ga., native is a member of Zeta Tau Alpha,
Shorter Relations Society, The Periscope student newspaper staff, the Peer
Mentoring Program, and West Rome Baptist Collegiate Ministry.

Presented by Shorter's Office of Student Life and the Student Government
Association, the Miss Shorter Pageant featured five phases, including a
10-minute private interview, a lifestyle and fitness swimwear competition,
an artistic expression/performing arts competition, an on-stage interview,
and an evening wear competition.

Other competitors were Mary Blanks, Claire Crain, Sarah Curlee, Amanda
DeJiacomo, Ashley Henderson, Mary Ellen Kiker, Kassie Oldham, Lauren
Persichetti, Lauren Shields, Rachel Skinner, and Tabitha Smith.

The Miss Shorter University Scholarship Pageant is a preliminary to the Miss
Georgia Scholarship Pageant.

Founded in 1873, Shorter University is a Christian university committed to
excellence in education. The Princeton Review annually includes Shorter on
its list of best value and best Southeastern Colleges. Shorter University is
a member of the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU).
Shorter offers traditional bachelor's degree program in 48 areas of study,
online courses and degree programs, undergraduate programs for working
adults, and four master's programs. Shorter is online at www.shorter.edu.