Omar Temple No. 21
Shriners, Prince Hall Affiliation, held their annual Talent and
Scholarship Pageant on April 17, 2004 where they crowned Miss Whitney
Gusby, Miss Omar Temple 2004. Whitney is the 18 year old daughter of Kim
Gusby-Williams. She is a Senior at H.V. Jenkins High School where she is a
member of the National Honor Society and the Chatham County Youth
Commission. She has been awarded the Exchange Club Youth of the Month,
chosen as Best All Around Senior and is the Senior Class President.
Whitney is co-captain of the varsity cheerleading squad, a member of the
Key Club, National Honor Society recording secretary and Administrative
Officer in the Naval Junior ROTC.
The
purpose and benefits of the Talent & Scholarship Pageant are three-fold.
Contestants are able to present their talent to a captive and appreciative
audience in the community and participate for the honor of representing a
Shrine unit from the local level to the International level. Omar Temple
No. 21 Shriners and our auxiliary, Omar Court No. 91 Daughters of Isis,
are able to demonstrate their commitment to the development of youth. The
pageant also allows the public an opportunity to enjoy witness and
appreciate the talent, intellect and culture of young ladies from the
Coastal Empire.
The event, emceed by
Noble Tyrone Hendry of Statesboro, was held before a captive audience in
the Auditorium at Johnson High School in Savannah. Other winners of the
event were:
1st Runner Up
– Brittany White. Brittany is the 19 year old daughter of Regina and Tony
White of Decatur, Georgia. She attended Cedar Grove High School in
Ellenwood, Georgia and is currently enrolled at Savannah State University.
2nd Runner Up
- Mary Ferguson. Mary is the 20 year of daughter of Brenda Wright & Eddie
Ferguson, Jr. of Woodburg, New Jersey. She is a graduate of Windsor Forest
High School and is currently a sophomore at Savannah State University
Other contestants were:
Lauren Baker. Lauren is
the 18 year old daughter of Charles & Karen West. She is currently a
Senior at South Effingham High School in Guyton, Georgia.
Tamarietta Spence.
Tamarietta is the 17 year old daughter of Pamela Ann Spence. She is a
senior at Sol C. Johnson High School.
Carrie Ward. Carrie is
the 18 year old daughter of Margaret Ward. She is a senior at Johnson High
School in Savannah.
The events also
featured non-competitive performances by Underworld from Statesboro
Georgia. Judges for the event
were Carver State Bank Senior Operations Officer David Douse, Doris Thomas
Realty Account Manager Michelle Thomas and
Georgia Southern University Financial
Aid Counselor LaQuinda Hendry.
Miss Gusby will advance
to represent Omar Temple No. 21 during the Shriners State or Desert
Convention on Friday, April 30, 2004 in Valdosta, Georgia. The winner of
the Desert competition will advance to the international level and compete
for financial values up to $3,000 at the Shriners Imperial Council Session
to be held August 14-18, 2004 in Atlanta, Georgia.
