RUSSELLVILLE - Persistence paid off for Kenleigh Garner.Garner, a 21-year old Arkansas Tech University senior from Hot Springs, was crowned the 70th Miss Arkansas Tech during a scholarship pageant at Witherspoon Auditorium on Friday, Feb. 6.She won the Miss Arkansas Tech crown in her third and final try. Garner was second runner-up in 2024 and third runner-up in 2025.Faith Kelly of North Little Rock was the was first runner-up. She won the Nona Dirksmeyer Memorial Talent Award and the Instrumentalist/Artistic/Spoken Word Award in the 2026 Miss Arkansas Tech pageant.Savannah Brown of Rison (second runner-up), Damaris Castaneda of Clarksville (third runner-up) and Kylee Lineberry of Alma (fourth runner-up) rounded out the top five among the 11-contestant field.Akira Forrest-Mock of Clarksville won the Virginia Bachman Scholastic Achievement Award as the contestant with the highest grade point average. Kennedy Stroud of Benton captured the Kristen Hayes Atchley Dance Award. The contestants selected Gianna James of Russellville as the winner of the Dr. Jim Collins Miss Congeniality Award.Other contestants in the 70th Miss Arkansas Tech pageant were Amanda Carson of Russellville, Trinity Emmons of Russellville and Rose Gunther of Bigelow....
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