Life Student Bridgett Gardner Seeks the Title of Miss Black America
Bridgett Gardner, a 27-year-old from Dallas, Texas and a third-quarter student at Life College in Marietta, Georgia, is vying with 40 other hopefuls for the title of Miss Black America in Indianapolis, Indiana, July 20-21.
The woman crowned Miss Black American will receive a $5,000 scholarship, $2,500 in cash, plus additional prizes; the runner-up will receive a $3,000 scholarship; a $2,000 scholarship will go to the third place finisher.
The competition is comprised of four phases: evening gown (30 points); swimsuit (50 points); talent phase (30 points); and interview (50 points). The semi-finals are held Saturday, July 20; finalists will compete for the title on Sunday, July 21.
Bridgett became interested in entering a pagent to win scholarship monies for her chiropractic education. She researched several pagent possibilities and corresponded with the current Miss American, Debbye Turner, a black veterinarian student from Missouri, and other pagent winners; they, along with friends encouraged her to compete.
Bridgett is sponsored in her quest to be Miss Black America by Life College, the Ebony Chiropractic Council of Georgia, the Georgia Chiropractic Council, and by contributions from various individuals. Her make-up is being donnated by a nationally known black cosmetic line, along with the services of a make-up artist for the competition.
She feels her presence at the pagent is excellent exposure for chiropractic. When ask how she feels competing against the other girls, she replied, "I feel wonderful; I feel I have a strong chance of winning."
For the talent portion of the competition, Bridgett wrote and will perform a two minute skit, "A Drug Free America." The skit, done in pantomime, will portray how easily people fall prey to various drug addictions. Only at the end of the skit does Bridgett speak: "We need a drug free America."
Bridgett says of the skit, "I wanted to do something pro- chiropractic and that would reflect the way I felt."
Bridgett told "DC" she had long wanted to be part of the health care profession, but wasn't sure which field to pursue. Bridgett's decision to become a DC was made after becoming a chiropractic patient. She was impressed by the care she received and intrigued by the non-invasive, manipulative techniques of chiropractic.
Bridgett, the youngest in her family (she has four sisters and one brother), chose to leave Texas to attend Life College because it offered a B.S. in nutrition and had a large minority student enrollment. She was impressed with the bonding and camaraderie among the students at Life and liked the support and encouragement they gave each other. "Life's school spirit was so charged up and really attracted me," she said.
Her parents will be in Indianapolis to support her goal, as will her sorority sisters at the Alpha Delta Upsilon house. "It has turned into a school project, from Dr. Sid Williams to Dr. Lee, to the students in my classrooms," Bridgett enthused.
On campus the students passing by say, "How ya doing today Miss Black America?"
Whatever the outcome in Indianapolis, Bridgett Gardner is a fine representative for chiropractic at the Miss Black America pagent. Our best wishes will be with her.
Steve Kelly
Assistant Editor