Kristen Howard, a sophomore interior design major from Inverness, Fla., was crowned Miss Samford University 2004 Friday, Nov. 14. A vocalist, Howard won the talent award for her presentation of a jazz selection, and also won the swimsuit competition. Her pageant platform is women in crisis situations.

Miss Howard, age 19, will represent Samford in the Miss Alabama pageant in June.

Finalists were: Melinda Toole of Birmingham, first runner-up; Erica Jewel Littleton of Birmingham, second runner-up; Abby Milner of Bogart, Ga., third runner-up; and Sarah Frances Penn of Hoover, fourth runner-up.