Straughn High School graduate Kayla Mitchell was crowned Miss Troy University Saturday, and will represent her school in the Miss Alabama competition next June.

Mitchell, the daughter of Joyce and Michael Mitchell, is a junior at Troy, where she is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in nursing.

Contestants in Miss Troy University must raise a minimum of $100 for the Children’s Miracle Network, which is the philanthropy of Miss America. The pageant is structured on the Miss America pageant rules, and included a 10-minute interview, an opening number in which contestants introduced themselves, swimsuit, talent and evening gown.

“Miss America 2.0 has done away with the swimsuit portion,” Mitchell said. “But the preliminary pageants still have them.”

For her talent, she performed “Solfeggio in C Minor” by Carl Phillip Emanuel Bach on piano.

Last year, Mitchell competed for and won the Miss Troy title, represented the city in the National Peanut Festival. This was her first time to enter Miss Troy University.

“I’ve never gone into a pageant expecting to win,” she said. “I believe you should approach anything in life with a little bit of humility. But I walked away feeling really good about it. I knew I had put my best foot forward, so I was really pleased when they called my name.”

Mitchell has already selected her platform for Miss Alabama, which is preventing heart disease.

“Preventing heart disease is near and dear to my heart,” she said. “My dad is at high risk, having high blood pressure. And it’s a leading killer of both men and women.”

She also expects to hone her interview skills in the coming months and practice piano a lot.

“I am passionate about it, and want it to show in my piece,” she said.

She also will continue fundraising for Children’s Miracle Network.

At Troy, Mitchell is involved in her social sorority, Alpha Delta Pi, and has been active in the Student Government Association, Environmental Club, Student Nurses Association and Student Alumni Association. She plans to pursue a master’s degree and become a nurse practitioner.

She said she couldn’t be happier with her choice of a university.

“Truthfully, it’s the best size, and they offered me the best scholarship in the state,” she said. “What really surprised me, was how quickly I came to love everything about it.”

She said she is very excited about participating in Miss Alabama.

“I’m just excited for the opportunity to participate and represent a school I have come to love,” she said. “I hope to make an impact in a positive way. ”