JSU Sophomore to Compete in Miss Alabama Pageant

Deanna Dewberry

By Sherry Kughn
JSU News Bureau

August 5, 2004 — Jacksonville State University will have at least one representative in the Miss Alabama Pageant in June 2005. Deanna Dewberry, a sophomore from Valley, was recently crowned Miss Chatt, which stands for Chattahoochee.

“I’m still kind of in shock,” said Miss Dewberry, who is a dancer. “It’s exciting.”

It was the third crown for Miss Dewberry, whose platform is educating the public about juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Three years ago she won Junior Miss Chatt, and while a senior at Valley High School she won Miss Vallerata.

Her parents are Billie and Steve Strickland of Valley and David and Angela Dewberry of Troy. She has a brother, David Peacock, also of Valley. His nine-year-old son, Blake, is the reason Miss Dewberry is eager to teach others about arthritis in children. The youth was diagnosed with the disease at age four. Thanks to the medication and support system he receives, he is able to live a normal life.

Miss Dewberry has taken dancing lessons for 16 years. She performs tap; jazz; ballet; and pointe, which is similar to ballet. She performed a tap routine to “Jump, Jive, and Wail” to win the competition.

“I hope to do well in the Miss Alabama Pageant,” said Miss Dewberry. “The directors are awesome, so I know I’ll be prepared to do my best.”

Miss Dewberry is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in special education. She is a transfer student from Southern Union and chose JSU because of its friendly student body and outstanding teaching program. She is a member of the Marching Ballerinas and Alpha Omicron Pi.

---

Submit items for news releases by using the request form at http://www.jsu.edu/news/requestform.html.