Administrative Assistant for Campus Activities Board and Miss Southeastern 2016 co-cordinator Mrs. Cecelia Palumbo (left) and Miss Southeastern 2016 coordinator and consultant for Miss Southeastern Ms. Veda Abene (right) joins Miss Southeastern Louisiana University 2015 Emily Randon (center) as she cuts the cake for her Farewell Dinner in honor of her reign as Miss Southeastern 2015.
The Lion’s Roar / WIlliam Schmidt

Miss Southeastern 2015 Emily Randon talked to those in attendance of her farewell dinner thanking them for all the ways they have helped the university.
The Lion’s Roar / William Schmidt

Emily Randon will forever be known as Miss Southeastern 2015 and with the crowning of Miss Southeastern 2016 taking place Saturday, a farewell dinner was held in her honor and recognition for the last year. 

On Tuesday, October 20 at 6:30 p.m., the Student Union Ballroom Room 3505 hosted friends and family to say “Thank you” and “Farewell” to Emily Randon. 

“Southeastern has been so kind to host a farewell dinner in honor of my year of service,” said senior kinesiology major with an exercise science concentration Emily Randon. “I wanted to show my gratitude and invite all of my family and friends who have contributed to my success this year. I could not have done it without these incredible people in my life.”

Upon the guests’ arrival, they were invited to grab a plate of food and once the dinner was underway, a short video that Emily Randon had prepared with her talking about her year of reign as Miss Southeastern was shown. It was an emotional moment for the viewers.

“It was really sweet to hear the ‘thank you’s’ and to hear Emily acknowledge all the special relationships in her life,” said Emily’s sister, Christyen Randon. “I teared up at the video tonight. She is such a strong woman. She is so talented, gorgeous and grateful.”

Emily Randon’s father was also in attendance for the event and was pleased with the farewell dinner. He was also grateful for being able to participate with university involvement and helping his daughter through Miss Southeastern. 

“We are really happy and real pleased with Southeastern and how they honored Emily in such a way,” said Greg Randon. “She has been really blessed with being Miss Southeastern and it is too bad she can’t go again this year and try again. I basically go with Emily to every event, and I photograph her because I am a photographer by trade for 40 years now. I would say I am her paparazzi, so no pun intended, but intended. Every event was great. We met a lot of great people. It was just a wonderful time and to be with my daughter through this and see her joy and excitement just lit me up.”

Emily Randon has two other sisters and they grew up watching Miss America. Not only were they ecstatic when Emily Randon won Miss Southeastern 2015, but they were overjoyed when she was second runner up for Miss Louisiana 2015. 

“I think it has been such a fun experience for all of us,” said Emily’s sister and a 2010 Southeastern graduate Elizabeth Randon. “All three of us use to watch Miss America growing up and just being supportive of Emily, we are kind of like her mom. Being able to support her, see her grow and just have so much fun, blossom as a person and come out of her shell has been a great and awesome experience. When Emily got the top five at Miss Louisiana, we freaked out and lost our minds.”

Along with the Randon family being pleased over Emily Randon’s experience with Miss Southeastern, Emily Randon reflected on some of her fondest experiences over the last year. 

“I can say that, without a doubt, holding the title of Miss Southeastern 2015 has changed my life in a positive way,” said Emily Randon. “I have grown in so many areas of my life and have become more well-rounded. My fondest memory from this past year has been visiting the children’s hospital in Baton Rouge dressed as Cinderella. Seeing them smile meant the world to me. Besides raising over $1,000 for Children’s Miracle Network, I have also been able to impact the lives of many with the promotion of my platform, ‘Love the Skin You’re In.’ I am happy to say that I am finishing out my year with no regrets and have participated in over 50 events on campus and throughout Louisiana. I loved every minute of getting to serve my community and state.”

Though Emily Randon will end her reign as Miss Southeastern, this may not be the end of her beauty pageant career or her chance to one day be crowned Miss America. 

“I think my daughter did a great job, [and] she put 110 percent into it. I think it will be a little of an adrenaline let down when she crowns [Miss Southeastern 2016],” said Greg Randon. “But, she will go immediately into Miss Crescent City, and if she wins there, she goes to Miss Louisiana. With being second runner up, we may be looking at the next Miss Louisiana. This may be haughty to say, but I believe she has a great potential to do so.”