Winter 2012 - Wayland Baptist University Alumni Association

needed something specific, they would contact others in the network and
find a way to have the goods or services donated.
“Using the technology like that made it to where we could meet the
needs very quickly,” Page said. “It was really fun to be part of it, and it is still
going on now.”
But it was the need of her own family that drew her to Plainview. As her
grandfather fell into declining health, Page moved to Plainview to care for
him. She also wanted to continue her education so she enrolled at Wayland.
Although Page had never really considered Wayland as an option, what she
found was a warm and inviting environment where her professors really
seemed to care about her.
“I feel like a person with them,” Page said. “I feel like they want to see
their students succeed.”
Leading her list of caring professors is Dean of the School of Languages
and Literature Dr. Cindy McClenagan.
“She is doing what I want to do,” Page said. “And she is doing it in such a
way that she is an inspiration to her students. She cares about your schooling,
but she cares about you.”
Page said there have been periods when she spent a good deal of time
at the heart hospital with her grandfather. Dr. McClenagan and others were
always there to make sure she had the freedom and support to care for her
grandfather and still work with her to meet the classroom requirements.
It was Dr. McClenagan and the School’s administrative assistant Annette
Coon who persuaded Page to compete for Miss Wayland.
“I told them no,” Page smiled. “I’ve never done a pageant. That is kind of
not in my realm of things to do, I guess.”
But McClenagan and Coon wouldn’t take ‘no’ for an answer.
“They said that I should try something outside of my box. They thought
I would really enjoy it,” Page said. “I’m really glad that they pushed me
around.”
Sponsored by the School of Languages and Literature, Page joined the
competition, not knowing any of the other 15 girls competing.
“I was a little intimidated going into a room full of girls fighting for one
position,” she said. “That is not something I would put myself into, but everyone
was so wonderful. I made 15 new friends.”
Although rehearsing for several hours each night for a month prior to
the pageant was difficult and time-consuming, Page said she really enjoyed
getting to know each of the contestants and she has fully embraced what it
means to be Miss Wayland and to represent the school to the community of
Plainview.
“I have always loved public speaking,” said Page, who as a young girl got
to meet Zig Ziglar whom she admired. “When I was told I would have the
opportunity to speak about Wayland and promote the school around town, I
thought that would be such a fun opportunity.
As her reign as Miss Wayland begins, Page is looking forward to promoting
Wayland and its programs. She said Wayland has offered her so many
opportunities that she probably would not have had at a larger school and
she will forever be grateful.
“I have so many heartstrings attached to (Wayland),” Page said. “I love
this school.”
“We realized very
quickly that we
couldn’t really
change anybody’s
situation, but we
could give them
all we had to
offer, which was
our friendship.
“Amanda Page
Miss Wayland 2013
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