“The Elegant Enchanted Garden Of Tigerland,” the theme that will forever place a mark on the heart of the reining Miss Grambling State University.
NaKesha Dionne Alexander, the 21-year-old elementary education major from Baton Rouge took center stage Wednesday night in T.H. Harris Auditorium.
The evening began with a greeting from Vice President of Student Affairs Earnest L. Pickens Sr. followed by a presentation of the queens of yesteryear by Leslie Randle, Miss GSU 2004-2005. The Orchesis Dance Company danced onto the stage portraying several garden fairies as the audience was given a theatrical image of Alexander as a child.
Campus clubs and organizational queens entered next with a royal selection .
The class queens entered from both side aisles behind several children who portrayed beautiful elements of the garden. The class queens wore sleeveless red gowns and each held a small arrangement of flowers.
Miss Freshman Ashley Denise Mayo made her first public appearance as queen, followed by Miss Sophomore Pharion Sierra Route, Miss Junior Alexis Alexandria Moore and Miss Senior Antoinette Marie Landor.
The audience was placed within the walls of the garden with another musical selection. Suspense was at its highest level when the queen arose from her throne surrounded by a sea of flowers and a white staircase that flowed around the stage, engulfing the queen’s breathtaking white grown.
The audience oohed and aahed.
“I think the coronation’s theme was very beautiful,” said Arkesha Moore, a senior from Jonesboro.
Dr. Pickens entered the stage to give the royal toast along with Levicy Crawford, Student Government Association vice president, and Angelica Barrow, Favrot Student Union Board president. The queen gave an acceptance speech reminiscent of previous royal predecessors, thanking the students and her sorors of Delta Sigma Theta for their help and continued support. Alexander took her royal promenade, presenting her mother and grandfather with roses. The audience ended the night with the Alma Mater, and a reception followed in the Black and Gold Room.