When Candice Lauren Maynard was nominated for Homecoming Queen at William Jewell College, she bristled at the notion.

Now, just over two years later, the Queen runner-up has received another well-deserved accolade. Maynard was selected as Miss Black Missouri USA. But this significant accomplishment was no surprise to faculty and friends, such as Dr. Cecilia Robinson, who witnessed the positive impact
Candice had on Jewell during her four years as a student.

“She was just a joy,” Robinson said. “She would be the kind of student you’d want to have in your class, in your community or in your organization.” Originally of the Woodlands, a suburb of Houston, Texas, Maynard was graduated in 2003 with a bachelor of arts degree in English and Communication. It was only two years ago that the women of Delta Zeta Sorority sent their president and the Greek Community’s Outstanding Panhellenic Representative to compete for the title of Homecoming Queen. In August, the Homecoming Queen runner-up will travel to Washington, D.C., to compete for the title of Miss Black USA.

“I am so proud to represent a state that I have been impressed with since I was an undergraduate,” she said. Candice said it is fun to be recognized for such an honor, but her efforts to achieve it were the true prize.

“It’s good to feel special, although I already do most of the time as a teacher,” she said. “My job is very rewarding.”

For the past year, Maynard has taught freshman English and coached volleyball at the Paseo Academy for Fine and Performing Arts in Kansas City, Mo. She is concurrently completing her master of education degree at Rockhurst University.

Preparing for the pageant while working full time, completing her graduate studies and volunteering in the community is no small feat. But Candice said her experience at Jewell helped prepare her for such a balancing act.“I feel like Jewell more than prepared me for this experience by requiring the most of me,” she said.

“I am nervous about the pageant, but not any more so than I was about my senior communication recital, sorority events or Pryor Leadership at Jewell,” she added.
While an undergraduate, Maynard was a Scholar Athlete each semester, serving as co-captain of the volleyball team her last two years and receiving many accolades for her athletic accomplishments.

She served as president of UNITY Association and Black Student Association and was a member of Sigma Tau Delta English Honor Society, Lambda Pi Eta Communication Honor Society, and the Jewell Communication Society.

Maynard was selected as a William Jewell Cardinal Host, a Homecoming Queen candidate and as the recipient of the Martin Luther King Jr. Outstanding Service Award. Since 1985 Candice has played classical violin. She has performed in a number of venues, including Carnegie Hall. Her next major performance will be at the Warner Theatre, the site of the Miss Black USA Pageant.

She will be supported by her parents, two sisters, grandmother, aunts, cousins, boyfriend and sorority sisters, who will travel from around the country to attend the pageant.

Prior to the event, Candice will make appearances at summer schools and camps to advance her platform,“Promoting Literacy in the African-American Community,” and to raise funds for the Children’s Miracle Network, the pageant’s philanthropy.

“Every dollar I raise for the Children’s Miracle Network goes to Kansas City area hospitals,” Maynard said. In addition to these fundraising efforts, Maynard must also raise by the end of summer a minimum of $5,000 to fund competition-related expenses such as her wardrobe and travel as she competes to become Miss Black USA. She welcomes“words of advice and encouragement” and other contacts at
maynardc@rockhurst.edu.