By Rashad Harrison, staff writer

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. - Campbellsville University's Carmen Drake, a junior from Hodgenville, was crowned CU's Valentine Pageant Queen at the institution's annual pageant Feb. 13 in The Gheens Recital Hall.

Drake, who represented Delta Omicron, also won Miss Congeniality. She is majoring in music education.

Other winners in the contest were: Amanda Edmondson, a sophomore of Morganfield, Ky., representing Harlequins, first runner up; and Andrea Fielding, a senior from Liberty, representing KEA-SP, second runner up; and Jessica Miller, a junior from Rushville, Ind., representing the SWITCH Club, won the Talent Award.

Fielding also won the Interview Award, and Edmondson won Poise and Appearance. Josh Pennington of Liberty, escorting Liz Lowery, a junior of Westmoreland, Tenn., won Best Escort.

Other contestants were: Liz Lowery, representing Stapp Hall; Emily Bryant, a junior of Louisville, Ky., representing the junior class; Natasha Horton, a senior of Stanford, Ky., representing Student Government Association; Jennifer Lilly, a sophomore of Olive Hill, Ky., representing Baptist Campus Ministry; and Lauren Shrader, a junior of West Chester, Ohio, representing Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Drake sang “O Mio Babbino Caro” from the comic opera, Gianni Schicchi. The aria tells the story of Lauretta, the daughter of a poor man, who begs her father to help her marry her sweetheart.

Edmondson performed a monologue as she portrayed Jane in the Disney movie “Tarzan.” This was a two-part monologue: one being where Jane meets baby monkey and the other when Jane was saved by Tarzan by the monkeys and she tells her father all about her experience. She is majoring in theater with a double-minor in Spanish and business management.

Fielding performed Kellie Pickler's “I Wonder.”

Miller, who won the talent award, performed “When You Believe” in sign language.
Lowery, who is in the Campbellsville University Marching Band, performed with flag, rifle and saber as she performed her original choreography to the song “Hollywood's Not America.”

Bryant sang “You're Not Alone” by Meredith Andrews.

Horton danced and she portrayed Roxie Hart in the 2002 hit Chicago as she danced to “All That Jazz.”

Lilly performed a puppet show to the Police song “Every Little Thing She Does is Magic.”

Shrader sang Carrie Underwood's “Crazy Dreams.”

Reigning queen Miranda Meeks, a senior art major from Princeton, Ky., in her outgoing speech, talked of her last year's experience with the pageant and said she was getting ready to graduate in May.

Fred Miller, assistant director of student records at Campbellsville University, served as master of ceremonies of the event.

Brenda Allen, mayor of Campbellsville; Brenda Cox Gribbins, technical expert with the Social Security Administration; and Karen Reed, activity director at Grandview, a nursing home and rehabilitation center, served as judges.

Drake will go on to represent Campbellsville University in this year's Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival in May in Pikeville.

Campbellsville University is a private, comprehensive institution located in South Central Kentucky. Founded in 1906, Campbellsville University is affiliated with the Kentucky Baptist Convention and has an enrollment of 2,601 students who represent 93 Kentucky counties, 27 states and 31 foreign nations. Listed in U.S.News & World Report's 2009 “America's Best Colleges,” CU is ranked 22nd in “Best Baccalaureate Colleges” in the South for the second consecutive year. CU has been ranked 16 consecutive years with U.S.News & World Report. The university has also been named to America's Best Christian Colleges®. Campbellsville University is located 82 miles southwest of Lexington, Ky., and 80 miles southeast of Louisville, Ky. Dr. Michael V. Carter is in his tenth year as president.