By Katie Duncan
The 2018 Miss Buford Middle School pageant took place on Thursday, November 15, 2018, in the Daisy Shadburn Auditorium of the Buford Fine Arts Center. This year, twenty-six contestants from sixth through eighth grades participated in the event. The Miss BMS pageant is organized each year by the eighth-grade teachers, and all proceeds from the pageant go directly to supplement the instructional needs of the eighth-grade students. It’s a great event that provides support for the students at Buford Middle. The reigning 2017 Miss BMS, Emma Victoria Sanders–a current ninth grader at Buford High–was present to crown and congratulate this year’s winners. Teresa Moody, the daughter of Rodney and Amy Moody, provided the entertainment during intermission by singing “You Say,” made popular by Christian artist Lauren Daigle.
The new 2018 Miss BMS is eighth grader, Elisa Mariana Borja. Mariana is the daughter of Alonzo and Carmen Borja. Mariana’s accomplishments include being a member of the Buford Community Girls Chorus, a member of the Middle School Honors Chorus, recognition on the A Average honor roll, and a representative on the BMS Student Leadership Council.
Two other winners are also crowned as part of the pageant–the Miss Spirit of BMS Award and the People’s Choice Award.
The Miss Spirit of BMS award is selected by the faculty and staff at Buford Middle as well as the contestants and is given to the young lady who embodies what being a Buford Middle School student is all about—someone respected by her peers and teachers, someone who is honest, has a strong character and work ethic, and maintains her personal integrity. This year’s Miss Spirit of BMS is Anna Catherine Smith, an eighth-grade student and the daughter of Carson and Amy Cates Smith and granddaughter of Carson and Michael Smith. Anna Cate is a member of the Student Leadership Council, a leader in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, an honor roll student, and a recipient of the citizenship award.
The People’s Choice Award is voted on by the family and friends of the contestants through donations. This year’s People’s Choice Award winner is seventh grader, Ava Grace Woolery, daughter of Trey and Mandy Woolery.
Congratulations to these remarkable young ladies!
