Kia Gowder was crowned Miss Black EIU 2002 Saturday night.

Students, faculty, staff and visitors packed into the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union’s Grand Ballroom Saturday night for the 28th annual Miss Black EIU Pageant.

Gowder also received the Ms. Enterprise Award during the pageant.

Gowder said her goal was never to win; she just wanted to get her message about God out to as many people as she could.

“I wanted to let people know that you don’t have to be ashamed to praise God,” she said.

Gowder said she plans to promote cultural awareness and Christianity while she holds her position as Miss Black EIU.

Elexis Autry, president of the Black Student Union, said Miss Black EIU has been sponsored by the BSU since its inception in 1971.

The pageant was made to pay special tribute to the women of Eastern Illinois University while instilling a sense of pride and cultural awareness for their African American heritage.

The other four contestants who competed are Cassandra Cherry, a sophomore accounting major; Bithyah Graham, a junior family and consumer sciences major; Tiffany Lacy, a sophomore speech communication major and Kimberly Searcy, a sophomore speech communication major.

Graham was awarded first runner-up, Cherry received second runner-up, Searcy was given third runner-up and Lacy was awarded fourth runner-up.

Graham also received the Ms.Ebony Award, Ms.Congeniality Award, Ms. Scholarship Award and Ms.Togetherness Award.

The five contestants were scored in four categories: creative expression, African garment, talent and evening gown/impromptu question. In each category the judges were looking for grace, creativity and originality.

Saturday night’s panel of judges consisted of faculty and staff from Eastern including Shirley Stewart, acting vice president for student affairs; Claudia Lane, Gateway Office academic advisor; Dr.Wilson Ogbomo, director of African-American Studies; Steven Bevil, Student Life Office graduate assistant and Holli Walters, director of the Newman Catholic Center Volunteer Center.

“The main thing I was concerned about was being fair,” Claudia Lane said. Lane said she enjoyed watching the ladies do their performance as they showed great poise and incredible talent.

The talent and creative expression segments of the pageant consisted of dramatic monologues, dance performances and short skits.

Clifton Smith, senior psychology major, said he enjoyed the performances the women did because of their emphasis on God and the importance of spirituality.

“I feel that God’s presence is real and very needed in the African American community,” Smith said.

The other contestants expressed their happiness for being in the pageant even if they were not able to win it.

“I learned so much by being in the pageant, it gave me the opportunity and the will to research about my heritage,” Graham said. “If I could do it all over again, I would.”

All of the contestants were given various prizes according to where they placed in the pageant. The gifts came from contributions from various sponsors.

Interim president Lou Hencken said he thoroughly enjoyed the pageant.

“Every year it seems to get better and better,” he said.

After Hencken expressed his excitement in seeing so many Eastern alumni at the pageant, he gave them a quick reminder – “Do not forget your alumni dues!”