FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 5, 2014

For more information:
Dustin Crutchfield
Public Relations Department
Glenville State College
(304) 462-6394
Dustin.Crutchfield@glenville.edu

GLENVILLE, WV – Glenville State College senior natural resource management major Hillary Tinney has been crowned Ms. West Virginia Sweetheart Festival 2014. The annual pageant took place on Sunday, February 23rd at the Braxton County Senior Center in Sutton, West Virginia.

Tinney competed in the festival against young women from all across the state. She won after different portions including a personal interview, evening gown competition, and an onstage question and answer session. As Ms. WV Sweetheart Festival 2014, she will be eligible to compete at the West Virginia state pageant of her choice.

"It's an amazing feeling to have achieved this goal," said Tinney. "Considering the past years of what I've been through and achieving this goal, the feeling pretty much can be summed up as pure thankfulness."

Tinney is no stranger to the pageant circuit. She has been involved since 2007 when she was named the Clay Agriculture Fair Queen. Since then, she's also been crowned Miss Gassaway Days 2009 and Mrs. Clendenin Fall Festival 2012.

Joining her at the pageant were her sorority sisters from GSC's Alpha Theta Xi and 2013 GSC Pioneer Football Team Captain Kyle Warner. Thanks to their support, Tinney received another crown and sash as an award for having the best cheering section.

After this win, Tinney plans to compete at the Ms. West Virginia International Pageant which is scheduled for March 29th at the Clay Center in Charleston. "And there's always the Ms. WV Tourism state pageant and Ms. West Virginia USA which take place later on this year," added Tinney. "My glass ceiling has already been broken, so there really is no limit to achieve a state title that will allow me to compete on the national level."

Tinney is originally from Widen (Clay County), West Virginia.