Elam Crowned Miss Northwestern 2026; Thomason Takes Home Teen Title

November 2, 2025

Abbey Elam (right) was named Miss Northwestern Oklahoma State University 2026 during the annual Miss Northwestern competition on Sunday, Nov. 2. Hadleigh Dugger was named Miss Northwestern’s Star 2026 (front row). Lauren Thomason (left) was crowned Miss Northwestern’s Teen 2026.

Abbey Elam of Shattuck was named Miss Northwestern Oklahoma State University 2026 during the annual Miss Northwestern competition on Sunday, Nov. 2, in Fellers Family Auditorium in Herod Hall. Lauren Thomason of Burlington was crowned Miss Northwestern’s Teen 2026.

Elam, a freshman media and communication major, performed a vocal solo of “She Used to Be Mine” as her talent, and her community service initiative (CSI) is “Small Victories.”

Thomason performed a vocal solo of “My Man”, and her CSI is “Confidence for Kids.”

Elam will receive a $1,500 tuition scholarship and a $500 cash scholarship as Miss Northwestern. When Thomason attends college at Northwestern, she will receive a $1,500 tuition scholarship as well.

Hadleigh Dugger of Shattuck, named Miss Northwestern’s Star 2026, will accompany Elam and Thomason to the Miss Oklahoma Scholarship Competition at Rose State College in June. Dugger is the daughter of TaKeyah Dugger.

Miss Northwestern’s first runner-up is Jamie Torres Franco, a junior criminal justice major from Hennessey. She will receive a $1,250 tuition scholarship.

Second runner-up is Kaylyn Aldrich, a junior early childhood education major from Okeene. She will receive a $1,000 tuition scholarship.

Jadyn Chancey, a junior psychology major from Mooreland, won the Miss Northwestern People’s Choice Award; Olivia Church of Weatherford won the Teen People’s Choice Award. Jessica Goucher, a sophomore biology major from Waynoka, was the top ad/patron seller.

Miss Northwestern 26 Group_300: The 2026 Miss Northwestern and Teen contestants are (left to right) Jayce Schultz, Olivia Church, Teen People’s Choice Award winner; Tanith Erikson; Lauren Thomason, Miss Northwestern’s Teen 2026; Hadleigh Duggar (front) Miss Northwestern’s Star 2026; Abbey Elam, Miss Northwestern 2026; Jadyn Chancey, People’s Choice Award winner; Addison Tucker, Jessica Goucher, top ad/patron seller; Kaylyn Aldrich, second runner-up; and Jamie Torres Franco, first runner-up.

Contestants for the Miss Northwestern and Northwestern’s Teen titles were judged on talent/HERStory, evening gown, private interview, health and fitness, and on-stage conversation.

Elam and Church earned the evening gown awards, a new recognition this year, and each received $5oo Northwestern bookstore gift certificates.

Addison Tucker, a freshman nursing major from Piedmont, also competed in the Miss Northwestern competition. Each Miss contestant will receive a $200 cash scholarship provided by the Northwestern Leadership Trust.

Tanith Erikson of Alva and Jayce Schultz of Okeene also competed in the Miss Northwestern’s Teen Competition. Each Teen contestant will receive a $200 tuition scholarship upon attendance of Northwestern.

Other contestants for the Miss Northwestern Star program included Kaia Kann of Tuttle; Sawyer Lawrence of Hitchcock; Seraphina “Sera” Hall of Alva; Harper Higgins of Alva; and Ellie Vermillion of Alva.

For more information on the Miss Northwestern Competition, visit nwosu.edu/miss-nwosu, or contact Miss Northwestern director Paige Fischer at (580) 327-8533.

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Media Contact:
Sean J. Doherty, University Relations Specialist
Email: sjdoherty@nwosu.edu
Phone: (580) 327-8480