Southland Academy is pleased to announce that Miss Haley Jones, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Tim Jones of Americus, was crowned Miss SAR 2009 at the 21st Miss SAR Pageant held Saturday, March 21, 2009, at Southland Academy. Miss Jones was also the Bett Glover Womack Interview Award winner. She was crowned by Miss SAR 2008, Miss Molly Rumph, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Rumph of Montezuma.

The pageant is held each year to raise money for the Thomas A. Greene Scholarship Fund at Southland as well as the Madeline Anne Wildes Scholarship Fund.

This is a wonderful event where eight talented and beautiful young ladies are selected by the various clubs in high school. The girls spend time together preparing for the pageant, and they also volunteer at Southland's Sweetheart Pageant, which is for the younger girls at school.

Miss Christian Felton, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Felton of Marshallville, was awarded first runner up. Miss Brittany Daniel, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Daniel of Americus, was named second runner up and Talent Award winner. Miss Sally Anne Russell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Buddy Russell of Americus, was named Miss Congeniality. Miss Kaitlyn Alston, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Alston of Preston, won the People's Choice Award.

Other contestants in the pageant were Ivy O'Hern, Alex Harrell, and Ansley Jones. Mrs. Mandy Reeves Young, Miss SAR 1997, was the Mistress of Ceremonies. Mrs. Young is married to Ryan Young of Americus, and they have two beautiful daughter, Tate and Reeves. Mrs. Young is an outstanding member of our community serving on various boards and committees. She is a member of the Americus Junior Service League and the First United Methodist Church.