STARKVILLE - Avent Clark isn't certain what dress she will wear as part of Mississippi State University's homecoming court Saturday.
The sophomore from Greenwood is hoping that a blue "flowy" gown she and her mother selected over the Internet for the occasion will arrive in time. Just in case it doesn't, though, they picked up a backup gown in Meridian.
The final choice, Clark said laughingly, "will be quite a surprise," even to herself.
In addition to being presented during halftime of the Bulldogs' game with Jacksonville State, Clark will be participating the day before in the homecoming pep rally and parade.
Clark will be escorted in Friday's parade by Drew Hull, a fellow Pillow graduate and longtime friend.
On Saturday, Avent's father, Travis Clark, will have the honor of being her escort at Scott Field.
"My dad is excited since he's an MSU alumnus and was president of the student body in the '60s. It's a true homecoming for him," Avent said.
Avent is counting on her mother, Wanda, to be on hand for the pre-game primping.
"I'm planning to wear my hair down and rolled," said Avent, a fashion merchandising major. "I'm definitely going to need my mom's help with that."
On the day of the student body election last week, Clark, a member of Delta Delta Delta Sorority, stuck with her normal routine.
"I just tried not to think about it. I had kind of convinced myself I wasn't going to win because there were so many great girls running for the position," said Clark.
That night, she attended Campus Crusade for Christ, a student-run Bible study and fellowship. As homecoming ballots were being counted, Clark was shouting a joyful noise to the Lord. "We sang the song, 'It is Well With My Soul,' and I knew that everything would work out according to God's plan," said Clark.
Afterward, Clark walked to the Student Association Office to hear the results. There, she was joined by a support group of Tri Deltas and other sorority women as well as a few fraternity men.
It was only fitting, Clark said, for her friends to be along since "all campaigning was done by them." They created a page in support of her candidacy on Facebook, a Web-based social networking service. They had stickers printed with her face on them, wrote "Avent Clark for Sophomore Maid" on the back window of their cars, passed out fliers and placed a large wooden campaign board on the university's drill field.
Clark felt nervous as the election commissioner began to read the results. Soon, however, her emotions turned to shock and then excitement. Her name was the second to be announced.
"Homecoming is going to be so much fun," said Clark. "I'm very honored and excited to get to represent Tri Delta and the sophomore class."
