Miss America 2014 To Address Culture, Diversity | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's note: Joy Holster originally posted this article for ECU News Services.

    Miss America 2014 will present "The Beauty of Service, Scholarship and Global Citizenship" at 6 p.m. Oct. 22 in Mendenhall Student Center at East Carolina University.

    The event is free and open to the public.

    Nina Davuluri is the first Indian-American and second Asian-American to hold the Miss America title. The Syracuse, New York native and daughter of Indian immigrants devoted her year of service to a platform of "Celebrating Diversity through Cultural Competency." She traveled more than 186,000 miles worldwide to speak on diversity and culture. Miss America 2015 Kira Kazantsev was recently crowned.

    "Diversity is a rich and endless source of experience, language, custom and tradition that enhances our nation and makes us unique," Davuluri said.

    Dr. Melissa Haithcox-Dennis, director of the Ledonia Wright Cultural Center, said she hoped that students would relate to Davuluri. "Her challenges being part of the pageant world as a woman of color and second-generation immigrant we hope will connect with our students as they plan for their future and prepare themselves for day-to-day challenges," Haithcox-Dennis said.

    Co-sponsors for the event are the Ledonia Wright Cultural Center, the Indian Student Organization and Campus Living and Residence Life.

    For additional information, contact Mariza James, Ledonia Wright Cultural Center at (252) 328-6495 or lwcc@ecu.edu.