Spotlight on Students is a feature that showcases WYWLA students 

and cool experiences they've had and/or recognitions received.

This month, we highlight senior Sidney Hamilton, and freshmen Mya Bridges, Irie Womack, Jordyn Best, and sophomore Evangeline Engstrom!

Why did you decide to join this pageant?

In January 2020, my older cousin joined the pageant, and it looked like a lot of fun! My mom is part of the sorority that sponsors it, the Western Wake Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. She pushed for me to join because it only happens every other year, and I wouldn’t be eligible for the next one. 

What was the process of being a pageant queen?

I went to meetings for the pageant every Sunday at 3 o’clock with the other contestants and leaders of the organization. We talked about community outreach opportunities and ways to raise money. During one meeting, we made Valentine’s Day cards for a local rest home.

Where do you plan on applying to school after you graduate?

After I graduate from high school, there is an array of colleges I would like to apply to. Some of my top choices include North Carolina State University, Winston-Salem State University, UNC Greensboro, and North Carolina A&T.

How do you plan on using the scholarship you won?

With the money I won during the pageant, I can use it to pay for my first year of college and maybe even put a little bit aside to help me be as independent as possible in school.

What was the biggest challenge you faced during the pageant?

The biggest challenge I faced was raising all the money and actually going out and getting the word out there. Fundraising involved a lot of going out and posting on social media. When it came to speaking to people about the pageant, I was a little shy because I wasn’t sure how exactly people would perceive me or if they would donate or not. Eventually, I came out of my shell and realized there were more people that supported me than I thought and I was really grateful for that.  

What was the biggest lesson you learned through this journey?

The biggest lesson I learned in all of this was to put myself out there because there is an array of opportunities that can easily be missed all. After all, I didn’t want to put myself out there.

What’s something about pageants people don’t usually see or know about?

Something I was personally surprised about was the amount of time and effort that truly goes into it. It’s a known fact that contestants perform a lot of community outreach. However, we usually met about once a week for a couple of hours at a time and discussed ways we could get the word out about donations and the pageant in general. Another thing was rehearsals. We performed 2 dances in the competition; one was a father-daughter dance and the other was a group dance with just the girls. Rehearsal ended up taking a lot more time than I thought it would because there were so many moves to memorize. It was especially hard for me because I’m not a very good dancer.

Who was your biggest supporter throughout the competition?

My biggest supporter throughout the competition was my mom because it was her sorority chapter that held the pageant, and I could tell she was rooting for me the hardest throughout the whole process. I truly couldn’t have done it without her.

What opportunities has winning opened up for you?

I have been featured in the Delta Sigma Theta newspaper and magazine since the pageant, and I now represent Jabberwock as a whole for the next two years. The pageant is only held every other year, so the next time the pageant comes around, I will be able to crown the next queen and wear my dress again.

Do you plan on competing in any future pageants?

Currently, I do not plan to compete in any future pageants. My time is currently focused on school and college. 

How did they get started in volleyball?

 Most of the volleyball team got interested in volleyball through their friends. They were influenced by people around them to start volleyball and fell in love with the sport. Some of the team had family members who introduced them to volleyball, which played a vital role in their start. One other reason that some teammates joined is because they wanted to try something new, and they decided to try volleyball, which led them to join the Broughton volleyball team.

Describe how a usual practice goes?

Usually, a practice starts with a warm-up, which consists of some dynamic stretching as a team, but first, they have to get there because they don't go to that school, so they have to take a bus that takes them to Broughton and then get their gear on, including knee pads and shoes. Then they start something called ¨peppering, ¨ where you pass, set, hit, cover, and serve with a teammate continuously for as long as possible. Then they play a game called ¨queens¨ where they group up and compete against each other to see who becomes the new queen. Then they will work on things that they are struggling with. With the leftover time they have in practice, they scrimmage, and the losing team must complete a set of exercises.

Describe how a usual practice goes?

When trying to balance school with volleyball, the team must plan their week to find out the days that they must focus on school work and get the work done that they can not get done on the volleyball days. They can always do their homework after practice because it ends at four, giving them the time they need to get their school work done. Most of the team will prioritize schoolwork over volleyball, so they can still do what they love, because you need a certain GPA to compete and practice in a sport.

What position do you play, and what is your favorite thing about the position?

All of the members on the team play different positions to help the team win. Evegiline plays hitter, which she likes because it allows her to be a hitter and passer in different rotations. Next up, we have Mya, who plays hitter/blocker because she fell in love with hitting when practicing all the other positions. Then there is Irie, who is a defensive specialist. her ¨favorite thing about playing this position is passing hard balls and diving because there is something about doing that that makes playing this sport so fun.¨ Then, finally, we have Jordyn, who plays libero, and what she likes about it is that it involves both diving and digging for balls.

 What is a funny story from volleyball?

There are many funny stories that we could tell, but here is one that we all thought was hilarious. This story was told by Irie ¨One time, my teammates and I were doing warmups before a game, and the two people beside my partner and me made the ball go wild, and it kept hitting me (one time in the face), so now every time we warm up and do that exercise,  it is a joke.¨

Who is your favorite college volleyball player?

All the members of the volleyball team have someone who inspires them, and these people are Safi Hampton, Chiaka Ogbogu,  Sydney Daniels, and Ava Falduto. These are all college players who play the same position that they do, and these are people whom the team looks up to and people they want to be like.

What is a challenge you faced in your volleyball journey?

There are many challenges people can face in their sport, but one of the biggest challenges in volleyball is ensuring you're in the right place and constantly being aware of your surroundings, so you know where you need to be to support your team.  Another challenge that volleyball can pose to people is discouragement. When you lose a game, it can be frustrating, but the best thing to do is to shake it off and keep moving forward. One last thing that can set you back is injuries. With injuries, you must undergo extensive care and therapy before returning to your sport. Once you're healed, you have to relearn skills and regain your previous level of performance, which takes time.