Hanna Holley, a third-year public relations student from Dublin, was crowned Miss University of Georgia 2017 at the annual scholarship pageant held Jan. 21 in the UGA Fine Arts Auditorium. A 2014 graduate of West Laurens High School, she is the daughter of Dennis and Dawn Holley.
Fourth runner-up in the pageant was Karson Pennington, a first-year health, political science and journalism major from Martinez; third runner-up was Kaylee Ewing, a third-year marketing major from Monroe. Nia Hampton, a fourth-year communication studies major from Snellville received second runner-up honors, and Alexa Giloman, a third-year journalism major from Suwanee was named first runner-up.
The Floreida Harrell Miss Congeniality Scholarship, voted on by the contestants, was awarded to Brooke Carter, a third-year business management major from Kingsland. Carter also received the People’s Choice Award voted on by the audience. An award for Best Interview was given to Kelly Donoghue, a third-year marketing major from Marietta.
Holley will compete in the 73rd annual Miss Georgia Scholarship Pageant June 13-17 in Columbus. The winner of that pageant will represent Georgia in the Miss America Pageant, a nonprofit civic corporation.
The Miss UGA Scholarship Pageant is a program of the Tate Student Center within UGA’s Division of Student Affairs.