The energy in DeForest Chapel was electric as the Class of 2029 came together for the annual Freshman Pageant. Seven contestants—four male and three female—took the stage to compete for the coveted titles of Mister and Miss Freshman, giving the audience an unforgettable night of talent, personality, and school pride.
The evening was masterfully hosted by our very own Miss Junior, Shakayla Walkes, whose charisma set the tone for the night. She kicked things off by introducing sophomore Joshua Dickerson, who serenaded the crowd with smooth saxophone melodies, immediately capturing everyone’s attention.
Meet the Contestants
The spotlight soon shifted to the contestants, who each took the stage to introduce themselves with confidence and flair.
- Contestant 1: Cornelius Hunt – Hailing from Meridian, Mississippi, Cornelius is majoring in Computer Information Systems.
- Contestant 2: Sarah Abram – Representing Miami, Florida, Sarah is pursuing a degree in Psychology Education.
- Contestant 3: Jayden Williams – From Montgomery, Alabama, Jayden is studying Business Administration.
- Contestant 4: Laniyah Cobbins – All the way from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Laniyah is majoring in Business Marketing.
- Contestant 5: Christian “Havin” Goza – Atlanta, Georgia’s own, Christian is pursuing Business and Finance.
- Contestant 6: Avana “Vannah” Clark – A New Orleans native, Vannah is a Psychology major.
- Contestant 7: Antonio Mason – From Fort Worth, Texas, Antonio is studying Business Administration.
The introductions alone were enough to showcase their poise, personality, and confidence, leaving the audience buzzing with anticipation for what was to come.
Talent on Display
Next came the talent segment, where each contestant brought their A-game:
- Sarah Abram captivated the audience with a soulful rendition of Stand By Me.
- Jayden Williams delivered a powerful spoken word piece titled WANTED expressing his aspirations and platform for the freshman class.
- Laniyah Cobbins celebrated Black beauty and strength through her original poem, Black is Beautiful.
- Christian “Havin” Goza gave an original rap performance, paying homage to his Atlanta roots.
- Avana “Vannah” Clark impressed with a bilingual spoken word performance in both Spanish and English, reflecting on her freshman journey and her hopes for the future.
- Antonio Mason inspired the crowd with a poem on the importance of campus royalty and school pride.
- Cornelius Hunt brought energy to the stage with an electrifying drum performance, leaving everyone clapping along.
The chapel resonated with applause, cheers, and the undeniable excitement of a student body united in celebration of their newest members.
Quick Wit in the Q&A
The Q&A segment, moderated by our 2025-2026 Mister and Miss Talladega College, Meadow Gilliespe and Malachi Reddick, revealed the contestants’ quick thinking, humor, and perspectives:
- Cornelius Hunt: If you could create a new holiday, what would it be? – He responded with a day specifically honoring his grandfather
- Sarah Abram: Do you think it’s more important to speak up or to listen? — She emphasized the importance of listening.
- Jayden Williams: If you were a color, which would you be and why? — He chose yellow, calling himself “the light of our darkness.”
- Laniyah Cobbins: Would you rather be remembered for what you said or what you did? — She prioritized actions over words.
- Christian Goza: If you could switch lives with anyone, who would it be and why? — His answer: “nobody,” asserting confidence in himself.
- Avana Clark: If your class had a superpower, what would it be? — She picked teamwork.
- Antonio Mason: If you could be any season, which would you be and why? — He chose summer, sharing his love for being outdoors.
Their answers highlighted not just intelligence and humor, but also the individuality that made each contestant shine.
Contestant Spotlights
Each contestant shared reflections on their pageant experience:
- Cornelius Hunt: “It was decent, but I got frustrated. I’m confident with voting tomorrow.”
- Sarah Abram: “Everyone is so nice and lovely—just like the Dum Dums I gave out. It was so many people supporting me, how could I not feel confident?”
- Jayden Williams: “Campaigning has been very fun and productive. I’m very confident about the pageant tonight.”
- Laniyah Cobbins: “It’s been a great experience—everyone’s so friendly that it just feels like a big, fun competition. The positivity has made me feel confident and comfortable.”
- Christian “Havin” Goza: “Campaigning has been good even though it was short notice. I did what I could, and my faith is in God.”
- Avana “Vannah” Clark: “Campaigning went really well. I made new conversations and connections, and I feel like God will put everything in place.”
- Antonio Mason: “My experience campaigning was fun, even though it was short notice. I met a lot of people who said they’d vote for me, and my trust is in God. If it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be.”
Crowning the Winners
The night concluded with laughter, applause, and celebration as students eagerly awaited the results. Election results were revealed via email, and the crown went to Antonio Mason and Avana “Vannah” Clark, our 2025–2026 Mister and Miss Freshman.
From drumbeats to spoken word, soulful singing to heartfelt poetry, the Freshman Pageant was more than a competition—it was a showcase of talent, personality, and the vibrant spirit of Talladega College’s Class of 2029.
