What was your most embarrassing moment?    

While on a Gulf Coast Katrina relief trip, I shared a camper with six other girls. I volunteered to take the first shower since I was used to waking early, and set my alarm for 4:30 A.M. The next morning I climbed in the camper’s bathroom (which was about the size of a small refrigerator), turned on the shower and lathered up. While reaching for my shampoo, I fell head-first out of the shower and out of the bathroom, sliding to the other end of the camper. Naturally the noise woke the other girls who found me lying on the floor, stark naked and dripping wet. To add insult to injury, by breakfast the entire youth group had heard about my misadventure and teased me unmercifully.

What is your biggest guilty pleasure?   

Naps! Since I do not have much spare time, I have developed the useful ability to sleep anytime, anywhere.

What is your favorite movie and why?    

"Pirates of the Caribbean"—it combines my love for adventure with my love for Johnny Depp.

What is your favorite color and why?    

Emerald green—it is the color of life. And, coincidentally, it is also the ribbon color for my platform, organ and tissue donation.

What do you like to do for fun... relaxation... recreation?    

For fun and recreation, I love to hang out with my friends, including “Girls’ Night In” which involves “Grey’s Anatomy”, pizza and brownies. I enjoy going to football, basketball and baseball games, as well as to museums, zoos, shows, ballets, plays, etc. I also love traveling, especially to the beach, and photography. For relaxation, I enjoy walking my dog, Mackenzie, around the beautiful campus at MSU. I also like to play my piano and harmonica, write song lyrics, go fishing, swim laps, and watch TV, including “Friends”, “Desperate Housewives”, and “The History Channel”.

What would be your dream vacation or destination?   

My dream vacation would be one in which I set foot on all seven continents! One day I hope to see the world. I have a keen interest in different cultures and would like to indulge my interest by visiting India, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland, Patagonia, and other exotic locations.

What do you like best about your hometown?    

If you live in Madison, Mississippi, it is virtually impossible to walk into the grocery store without seeing someone you know and having a ten minute conversation with them. Even though Madison is growing by leaps and bounds and has sophisticated restaurants and trendy shops, it has maintained its friendly, small-town feel. I also love my second hometown, Starkville. Living in a college town is great—I get to meet someone new almost every day.

What do you like best about the state of Mississippi?    

I like best and am proudest of the quality of character and the dignity of Mississippi residents, as evidenced by the way our state handled the aftermath of Katrina. Our teamwork, volunteerism, and continued optimism have allowed this state to make tremendous strides in rebuilding the Gulf Coast. Mississippi has advanced in other areas as well, such as becoming more “green”, promoting education, improving health, and making technological and industrial advances. And a recent CDC study revealed that Mississippi is the seventh “happiest” state in the nation—that says a lot about our people!

What’s in your CD player or on your iPod right now?    

The Beatles, North Mississippi All-stars, Ninth Hour, Ben Harper, Amos Lee, William Joseph, Blues Travelers, Shane & Shane, James Taylor, Nickel Creek, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Dave Matthews Band, Rod Steward, Otis Redding, and The Who. Music is my life!

Where do you see yourself in ten years?    

I see myself pursuing a career in communications or music production, either working for a record company or, if I’m really blessed, owning my own music studio. I will be married to the man of my dreams, have two wonderful children, and own a lot of horses. I will be a proud MSU alumnus and be active in my church and community, especially working to promote organ and tissue donation through local organizations.

Who am I?   

I like being me! As Oscar Wilde said, “Be yourself. Everyone else is taken.” I love chocolate, Italian and Japanese food, hushpuppies, music of all kinds, and being outdoors. My sister, Rachel and I are both left-handed—what are the odds of that? I hate spiders. I spend most of my time attending class, studying, exercising, being involved in Chi Omega, playing piano, watching the news, reading, writing poetry and lyrics, playing with my cat, Dixie, and my dog, Mac, and hanging out with my friends and family. My favorite authors are C.S. Lewis and Dave Eggers—my favorite book, “The Great Divorce”. The Beatles is one of my favorite bands. Friends, teachers and family describe me as open-minded, easy-going, independent, positive, mature, competitive, determined, aspiring and goal-oriented. I am a member of and/or volunteer for a number of organizations including the VFW Ladies Auxiliary, Chi Omega Sorority, Make-a-Wish Foundation, MORA (Mississippi Organ Recovery Agency), Salvation Army, Red Cross, Toys for Tots, and Nothing but Nets. I’m at my best when helping others. I believe that integrity and understanding are the ingredients of peace. I am interested in language, philosophy, religion and different cultures. If I could do one thing, it would be to travel around the world.

Tell us about your occupation?         

Every job I’ve had has taught me something new. When I was fifteen, I worked at McAlister’s Deli as a waitress/cashier, and then later at Fetish, a women’s boutique, as a sales clerk. Both jobs taught me how to deal with the public and that the customer is always right (even when they’re wrong). These jobs led me to make a personal commitment to always be extra nice to waiters, waitresses, and sales clerks—tip well and fold it back neatly!

I also worked as a gymnastics coach for Courthouse Gymnastics. I have a knack for working with children and I love gymnastics, so this job was a perfect fit for me. Coaching required stamina and patience (traits I learned as a gymnast), but the reward came when one of the students mastered a new skill and got to “ring the bell” to the applause of everyone in the gym. As a gymnastics coach, my job satisfaction was not measured by the size of the paycheck but by the smiles of the young gymnasts when they had worked hard and reached a goal.

Fulfilling my role as Miss MSU 2009 was the most challenging, and in turn rewarding, job I have ever had. I committed myself to a wide range of responsibilities from student recruiter to mistress of ceremonies to public speaker on a variety of topics. As a result, I have gained the necessary skills to be prepared for just about any task or challenge that might come up in the future. Being the representative of the largest university in Mississippi pushed me to the next level. I feel that having succeeded in all that I was called to do as Miss MSU, I can do anything!

 

Platform

Organ and tissue transplantation saves lives! It is an increasingly successful treatment option for many deadly diseases; however, there are not enough donor organs for the growing number of people needing them. Today there are over 105,000 people on the organ transplant waiting list. Every ten minutes a new name is added to the list and each day seventeen people die waiting for a lifesaving transplant. By contrast, there were only approximately 10,900 organ donors in the United States last year (from January 1 to September 30, 2009). That is an enormous gap.

Promoting organ and tissue donation is more than just a platform for me—it is a personal life mission. Ralph McDonald, a dear friend and one of the most courageous people I have ever known, suffered from a rare and potentially fatal liver disease. Because of a liver transplant, Mr. Ralph’s life was extended and he was able to spend precious additional years with his family. These years were a gift made possible by a stranger, an anonymous organ donor. What a legacy! My mission is to spread awareness of the need for organ and tissue donation—especially to my generation. I am doing this to honor Mr. Ralph’s memory and ultimately to help save as many lives as possible. Supply and demand should not be an issue when it comes to saving lives!

What was your most embarrassing moment?

My most embarrassing moment happened when I was trying to show my younger brother and sister how to perform a routine on the trampoline and fell and fractured my ankle.

What is your biggest guilty pleasure?

My biggest guilty pleasure is a very large piece of turtle cheesecake. I do not eat it that often so when I do I must have a large piece.

What is your favorite movie and why?

My favorite movie is "Mean Girl" I like this movie because it shows young girls that being mean to someone can affect a person feelings and I love the ending because it shows that if you are true and sincere great things can happen. So many girls what to hang with the "cool girl clicks" not realizing that is not always the best choice.

What is your favorite color and why?

My favorite color is Pink. Pink to me represents something edlicate, soft gentle and loving.

What do you like to do for fun, relaxation or recreation?

I love spending time with family and friends, relaxing on a warm, sunny beach , especially Myrtle Beach, going to see a great movie and eating at my favorite resturant.

What would be your dream vacation or destination?

My dream vacation is to travel to India. I would love to see the Taj Mahal and other great attractions they have to offer.

What do you like best about your hometown?

My home town of Flor, MS is a very small and quiet. Flora is ofter referred to as the best keep secret of Madison County. We offer that great southern hospitality and great food at our family own resturants. We have the benefits of country living and access to everything a large city has to offer is just 20 minutes away.

What do you like best about the state of Mississippi?

Mississippi has a lot of history. We have something for everyone. If you like the blues travel to the Mississippi Delta where the blues originated. If you are interested in history travel to Vicksburg, MS for interest in the Civil War or to see beautiful antebellum homes visit Natchez, MS. If you are looking to relax on a warm, sunny beach visit our Mississippi Gulf Coast.

What's in your CD player or on your iPod right now?

I love all genres of music. In my iPod right now you will find gospel, R&B, Jazz, opera, hip hop, and Blues.

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

In ten years I see myself having finished medical school and is a resident at the University of Mississippi Medical Center on my way to having a successful career as a prominent physician.

Who am I?

I am the sixteen yr old daughter of Perry and Sharon Sumler of Flora, MS. I have one sister Mone't and one brother Malik. I attend Madison Central High School where I am a member of various clubs and a member of the Madrigal Singers. I am a lead vocalist in the youth choir at Jones Chapel M. B. Church. I have been singing for as long as I can remember. If you ask my mom how long has I have been singing she would say I was singing before I could speak. She often tells me I would hum songs before I could speak the words. I am blessed to have two wonderful grandmothers (Willie Bell Armstrong and Elizabeth Sumler) as well as my 93 yr old great-grand mother (Mattie Marshall) apart of my life to keep me on the straight and narrow and always there to give me advice. I also have a very special former teacher that I am blessed to have meet. She was my elementary and middle school music teacher, Mrs. Deborah Creel, I can always count on her support no matter what. I often call on her even now that I am in High School and she always has time for me. She is one of those teachers you will never forget and treasure forever.

I love seafood especially crab legs and shrimp. I love my family vacations and always make sure that at last part of my summer vacations is spent on a warm sunny beach.

Occupation?

I got my first job last spring at Chick-fil-A. Getting a job at 15 taught me to be responsible. I was able to see what it was like to give great customer service instead of being on the receiving end. I learned to appreciate the service I receive whenever I am in a restaurant or out shopping, just a smile or a kind word can make a difference in someone's day.

Tell us about your platform.

My Platform is "Preventing Childhood Obesity" I chose this Platform because in today's society there are so many people that suffer from this disease. I feel that if we can prevent it in children we may not have as many adults with this problem. I have learned that most adults that suffer from obesity where obese as children. Preventing childhood obesity is very dear to my heart because it has affected my family personally. Just a few weeks ago I lost a cousin to an untimely death as a result of obesity. He was well over 400 pounds and died of sudden cardiac arrest. A few years ago I lost two other cousins who were in there 20's and were morbidly obese. Mississippi has been known as the "fattest state" for far too long. I hope in promoting my Platform I can continue to educate parents and kids on the importance of eating a healthy diet and exercise. I would love to see Mississippians live a long, healthy life instead of a life filled with complications of obesity such as diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, or kidney disease. i would especially like to reach out to as many parents and kids as possible in our impoverished areas of Mississippi. I think Education can make a difference.