Golden opportunity

Freshman Terrilyn Dennie beamed before a crowd of 300 Saturday night, a glittering crown atop her head and $1,000 richer.\nThe winner of the 13th annual Miss Black and Gold Pageant, sponsored by the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, Dennie received a $1,000 scholarship opportunity for female students Saturday night at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater before a crowd of students, friends and family members.\nAmong the 11 women who competed, freshman Terrilyn Dennie advanced to the district pageant.\nTerrilyn Dennie's cousin, Ariel Dennie, Miss Black and Gold 2004, presented her with a sash, crown and flowers.\n"I'm so excited," Terrilyn Dennie said. "My mom raised three kids by herself and any money that I can make her not spend is helpful."\nTerrilyn Dennie, also Miss Congeniality as voted by her peers, captivated the crowd and received a standing ovation after she vocalized gospel music, clad in a white suit, for her talent performance. \n"It gave us all goose bumps," sophomore audience member Keats Wineland said.\nRunner-up sophomore Sarah Taylor won Miss Gold and received a $500 scholarship while junior Noma Diko became Miss Black and earned $250.\nThe women were judged by several representatives from campus, including Interfraternity Council President Jason Growe and Panhellenic Association President Jessica Borchert. Criteria upon which the judges chose Miss Black & Gold included GPA, community service hours, evening gown presentation, a pre-performance interview and an introduction completed in business apparel.\nThe talent performances provided for the majority of the program. Diko engaged the audience by performing a traditional African dance in customary clothing -- face paint and all. \nThe crowd hushed as sophomore Ashley Kirklen presented an original monologue emphasizing "a woman's worth," while Taylor took a demanding presence on stage for a hip-hop ballet routine.\n"It was a really good mix of ballet and hip-hop," Taylor's friend, sophomore Rachelle Bennett said. "She made up the dance herself."\nBlack Curtain, IU's black student theater organization, provided entertainment during short intermissions. Actors contributed to the evening's theme of empowering women by presenting a rendition of abolitionist Sojourner Truth's famous speech "Ain't I A Woman."\nEven the women who didn't leave the theater with a sash or scholarship money are credited for being part of the program. Women were required to apply in early September and be accepted by Alpha Phi Alpha representatives to even compete.\nThe pageant occurred nationwide in chapters of Alpha Phi Alpha. At the national level, women have the opportunity to earn up to $5,000 in scholarship money.\nThough the pageant is presented by a historically black fraternity, pageant coordinator and Alpha Phi Alpha member Cameron Beatty said all women are encouraged to apply for the pageant.\nTerrilyn Dennie said she'll start preparing right away for the district competition early next February.