5/7/2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Update: Francennett Herrera will be officially crowned Miss Philander Smith College in a coronation ceremony at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12 in the Sherman E. Tate Recreation Center.
PSC - LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (April 30, 2009) --- Students at Philander Smith College, a private, historically Black college, made history this spring when 20-year-old Francennett Herrera became the first woman of Mexican origin to win the crown of Miss Philander Smith College. The sophomore political science major will serve the 2009-2010 as campus queen.
Originally from Durango, Mexico, and raised by a single mother and her grandmother, Francennett moved with her family to the United States at the age of thirteen, spending time in Washington state before settling in Illinois. In 2007 she graduated from Olive Harvey Middle College in Chicago where she was elected prom queen by the student body with a 3.5 grade point average. Soon after, she was on her way to Little Rock to attend Philander Smith College as a Mason Scholar, becoming the first person in her family to attend college.
“Throughout my life I have prided myself on having high academic standards as well as having a positive social standing with everyone I meet.”
Her studious and pleasant nature was no doubt an asset that helped her to win the title of Miss PSC, a contest that she was initially hesitant to enter. “I first considered running for a position in the student government association because I had doubts, as the only Hispanic contestant, that the students would actually vote for me.”
When she heard her name announced as the new Miss PSC, she says felt “shock,” but her reaction paled in comparison to her family’s response. “My mom was super excited and screaming over the phone and my grandma was crying; they were behind me the whole way.”
Already active in several campus activities, Francennett is excited about what the next year will bring serving as the college’s official goodwill ambassador. “There are a lot of expectations,” she said. “I am not used to this kind of attention or exposure but I’m going to take advantage of it all the best I can.”
Although hers has been a journey filled with challenges and obstacles, Francennett, whose goal is to become an immigration attorney, says she is grateful. “Throughout the journey of moving to the United States and adapting to a new culture I have experienced many things; some I am happy for and some not as much. But I do not regret anything and am thankful for this journey.”
Her attitude sums up the motto she adopted for the pageant: “If you can’t fly, then run; if you can’t run, then walk. If you can’t walk, then crawl but by all means, keep moving.”
Founded in 1877, Philander Smith College is one of the oldest private, historically Black institutions of higher learning in Arkansas. The four-year liberal arts college is affiliated with the United Methodist Church and is the only United Negro College Fund member institution in the state.
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