Miss Roanoke Valley 2020 Crowned

Dominga Murray, a senior communications and meteorology major at Virginia Commonwealth University, was crowned Miss Roanoke Valley 2020. The Miss Roanoke Valley competition was held Saturday, October 19, 2019 at the Dumas Center. Murray won the talent award, for her singing performance of "Ain't No Sunshine," and the community service award, for her service work on ending hunger. She is the director of Helping Hands, a food bank that focuses on lowering food insecurity in Virginia.

In addition, Jordan Welker, a junior at the Colgan High School Center for Fine and Performing Arts, won the title of Miss Roanoke Valley's Outstanding Teen 2020. An accomplished soprano who has performed with the Virginia All-State Honor Choir, Welker sang "Think of Me," from Phantom of the Opera, for her talent. Welker's community service platform is "Two Hands, One Heart: CPR Education and Awareness." She is a Red Cross certified CPR, AED, and First Aid Instructor.

Makenzie Lucas was appointed Miss Roanoke Valley's Teen-in-Training. Everley Boswell and Analise VandeLinde were crowned Miss Roanoke Valley's Princesses in a non-competitive ceremony.

Murray earned $2300 in scholarship prizes. Welker won a $500 college scholarship and a full-ride to Hollins University. They will each proceed to the Miss Virginia and Miss Virginia's Outstanding Teen competitions, respectively, in June 2020. Miss Virginia and Miss Roanoke Valley are both part of the Miss America Organization.