Staff report
McALESTER —
The ladies of Beta Iota of Epsilon Sigma Alpha International are excited that Miss Oklahoma 2010 Emoly West will be the emcee for the Miss McAlester Pageant.
The Miss McAlester Pageant is Saturday at 7 p.m. at S. Arch Thompson Auditorium at 221 E. Adams Ave. Tickets can be purchased at Chaney-Harkins Funeral Home located at 528 S. Third St. or by calling 423-5353.
West was crowned
Miss Oklahoma this past June in Tulsa. She will be competing for the title of Miss America 2011 in January.
As Miss Oklahoma, West will travel the state of Oklahoma speaking to schools and civic groups as well as appearing in parades and other local pageants. She is excited to promote her platform of Leadership and Character Development, from elementary school students to the business community. It is her goal to help people realize how minute-by-minute choices affect their lives and impact the lives of others. West believes that character goes right to the heart of what makes us better people, and that the time is now to give people the tools to either stop a problem before it happens or to address one that already exists to experience the best future possible.
West is a senior at the University of Central Oklahoma pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in dance with a minor in broadcast journalism. West began dancing at the age of four. She has studied ballet and jazz at ARTS (Arts Revealing The Son) with Katha Bardel, as well as tap, lyrical, modern, and hip hop. By the age of 10, West had performed before thousands, going on tour to Florida and performing on local and national stages. She has trained with Ballet Magnificat, Ballet Oklahoma (now Oklahoma City Ballet), Ad Deum Dance Company, and she previewed with touring Russian Ballet Master Gaunnadi Malkhasiants, formerly with Bolshoi Ballet, as well as numerous artists throughout the years. At the age of 14 West began teaching dance. Through the years she has influenced hundreds of children in the arts, teaching ages four to 18, as well as adult classes in the subjects of ballet, jazz, tap, weight lifting, modeling, and speech. One of West’s favorite activities with her students is dancing with character, where she incorporates a specific character trait into each of the student’s dance lessons.
Ten years ago West founded the Annual Winter Ball, having raised over $58,000 for Oklahoma character-based charities. Attended by more than 400 guests, this annual event provides a family-friendly, elegant atmosphere that has turned into a yearly tradition for many. Also during her early teen years West discovered Character First, a program that she now champions by being a certified character coach, and serves as a board member of the Character Council of Edmond.
West is the daughter of Jack and Stephanie West of Edmond.
She has three brothers: Ed, 38, and wife Jana; Jack III, 36, and wife Carrie; and Steve, 32. She is also the aunt of three nieces: Kate, 7; Sarah, 4; and Rileigh, 3.
