Miss Oklahoma speaks at Tecumseh FBC Sunday

Miss Oklahoma, Makenna Smith, will be the special guest during the 10:45 a.m. service Sunday at Tecumseh’s First Baptist Church.
Smith is a graduate of The University of Oklahoma with a bachelor of arts in public relations and a minor in Spanish. At OU, Smith was a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Golden Key, Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society and, during the summer of 2005, studied abroad in Spain. After graduating from OU with distinction, she has continued her education, seeking a bachelor of science in nursing at Oklahoma City University and was on the President’s Honor Roll for 2007.
During college, Smith was a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority and served as an executive committee member in 2004 for OU’s production of “Scandals.” She served as a Senate media intern for the Oklahoma State Senate during the 2005 session. She also interned as an executive assistant for the Oklahoma City All Sports Association and reported for the “Oklahoma High School Sports Express” television show.
In 2002, Smith graduated from Oklahoma Christian School High School in Edmond. She was active in student council, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the National Honor Society. She cheered on her high school cheerleading squad and held lead roles in all her high school musicals. She began studying voice and drama at 8 years old and became involved with Oklahoma City’s Jewel Box Theatre and Summerstock Productions. She has won a number of awards, including Best Actress in 2005 for her performance as Maria in “The Sound of Music.”
Because of her love of performing, Smith began competing in the Miss Oklahoma Pageant during her senior year of high school in 2002 as Miss Oklahoma City. She returned in 2004 as Miss Route 66, winning a preliminary swimsuit award. In 2005, she took home her second preliminary swimsuit award and non-finalist talent award as Miss Capitol City. In 2006, as Miss Queen of the West, Smith was awarded a Kiwanis Club of Tulsa Community Service award and was a top 10 finalist. After competing for five years, Smith captured the title of Miss Oklahoma 2007 competing as Miss Oklahoma City University. She was awarded the Esther Scholarship, a new award in 2007 for encouraging others through personal hardship and difficulty.
As a survivor of a car collision in 2003, Smith has become an advocate for automobile safety through her program “Seat Belts Save Lives. What’s Holding You Back?” In 2004, she launched a safety poster contest for elementary students through a partnership with AAA, including classroom PASS lesson plans approved by State Superintendent of Education Sandy Garrett. The poster contest reaches every elementary school in Oklahoma.
Smith is certified through the Oklahoma Safe Kids Coalition on the proper method of buckling children in safety seats. In 2007, she established www.seatbeltlady.com to share her personal survival story and to further the message of seat belts and safety. In 2005 and 2006, she worked with members of the Oklahoma Legislature to pass SB799 and strengthen penalties on drivers with improperly buckled children.
Smith will speak in Tecumseh about her desire to make a difference through a lifelong commitment to positive values and high character. She also will share her gift of music.
Tecumseh’s First Baptist Church is at 301 S. Broadway. For more information, visit www.tecumsehfirst.com.