Jennifer Roberts and Holly Buchanan were crowned Miss UTM and Miss Tennessee Soybean Festival Saturday night, November 19, at UTM’s Harriet Fulton Theatre.

Roberts, a UTM junior and Buchanan, a sophomore at UT Knoxville are looking forward to competing in the Miss Tennessee Pageant in June 2006. “I am incredibly excited. I can’t wait to go to Miss Tennessee,” Roberts said after the pageant.

The joint scholarship pageants were emceed by Valli Kugler Kelly, Miss Tennessee 2002 and former Miss UTM.

The eleven contestants were judged in five categories: Swimsuit, Talent, Casual Wear, Interview and Evening Wear.

Mandy Hopper and Kayla Hockett, last year’s winners, said their farewells before crowning the new Miss UTM and Miss Tennessee Soybean Festival.

Rachel Mansfield was named first runner-up to Miss UTM and Melissa Dixon was named second runner-up.

Bethany Jones, a senior at Milan High School, was named first runner up to Miss Tennessee Soybean Festival and Jenna Howard, a senior from Brighton was named second runner-up.

Along with winning the title of Miss Tennessee Soybean Festival, Holly Buchanan also took the title of Miss Congeniality. The non-finalist talent award went to Tabitha Coavington of Kenton. The non-finalist swimsuit award went to Sabree Danner of Martin.

Roberts and Buchanan will begin preparing for the Miss Tennessee Pageant very soon.

The new Miss UTM clogs and will show her talent again in June.

“Clogging is unique and native to Tennessee. I think it brings a good aspect to the pageant, but there are ways that I definitely can improve that, and make it more appealing,” explained Roberts. “I am going to work on my talent and work out every day and do everything for the all-around pageant,” Buchanan said.