By By James Crawford
News Editor
Lindsey Ann Sherrill, a 17-year-old senior at Escambia Academy, was crowned Miss Atmore 2003 Saturday night.
Sherrill said winning the pageant was a complete, and pleasant, surprise.
"All I could think was 'They had to read that name wrong. I couldn't have won,'" she said. "I never for a second thought I'd win. I just did the whole pageant for fun. I'm still in shock."
Sherrill will attend the University of Montevallo this fall and plans to double major in theater and journalism.
She is a member of the U.S. Achievement Academy and Who's Who Among American High School Students. She also was named an Outstanding Student of America and scored a perfect 800 on the SAT II writing subject test. She is also a National Merit Scholarship Commended Student at a JDCC Phi Theta Kappa Leadership Conference Delegate.
She is a member of Walnut Hill Baptist Church and First Presbyterian Church, a staff writer for the Atmore Advance, assistant editor of the Escambia Academy yearbook. She also takes voice lessons and is active in community theater.
The judges asked Sherrill "You are active in both journalism and community theater. Which do you find more fulfilling and why?"
"I find both very fulfilling," Sherrill replied. "Both allow me to connect with people on an emotional and intellectual level. However, I have to say that theater is more fulfilling. A great teacher of mine once told me 'the reason for theater is to make your audience glad to be alive.' There is nothing more fulfilling than being on stage and knowing that what you portray, either joy or sorrow, can make your audience forget everything else for just one moment in time."
Sherrill is the daughter of Kent and Anne Sherrill.
Contestants in the 2003 Miss Atmore pageant were: Jessie McKinley, Meagan Bell, Heather James, Shelby Hester, Christine Henderson, Stephanie Gelman, Tracey Coleman and Lindsey Sherrill.
Heather James won the physical fitness award, Tracey Coleman won the poise and appearance award, Stephanie Gelman was Miss Congeniality and Shelby Hester won the Miss Hospitality award. Stephanie Gelman was second runner-up, Tracey Coleman was first runner-up and Lindsey Sherrill was crowned Miss Atmore 2003.