One Crowning Achievement For A Place I Once Called Home
I’m so proud of my hometown.
Not only is it the home of the University of Tennessee, the Tennessee Valley Authority and the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame – as well as having one of only three college football stadiums at the water, an incredible amount of recreation on its lakes and rivers and being on the doorstep to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park among many other attributes – but it was just announced it is hosting the Miss Tennessee pageant.
My hometown is Knoxville, a mid-sized city in East Tennessee that once hosted the World’s Fair. In fact, if I’m not mistaken, it’s one of the few World’s Fairs to have ever turned a profit. I know I certainly contributed to it, especially in that German bier hall with the chicken dance.
The Miss Tennessee pageant is a big deal. Officially called the Miss Tennessee Scholarship Competition, it will take place June 26-29 at Thompson-Boling Arena. That’s where the Tennessee Vols – one of college basketball’s top teams – plays its games.
“ Visit Knoxville is proud to partner with Miss Tennessee and we are looking forward to this event coming to Knoxville,” said Visit Knoxville President Kim Bumpas. “The Miss Tennessee Competition is a time-honored tradition focused on scholarships for women and Knoxville is proud to welcome this program that so highly values education to our community.
“They’re going to say, ‘The Miss Tennessee pageant was in Knoxville, Tennessee.’ I mean I think that’s really what it’s all about when you start to get a visitor engaged in why they should visit Knoxville.”
The Miss Tennessee winner will go on to represent the state at the Miss America competition.
So that’s one crowning achievement for Knoxville, my hometown.
Cheers!
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