ON THE COVER
Crowning Achievement
Sydney Russell prepares for new career stage
By Glenda Sanders
When Miss Mississippi USA Sydney Russell passes her title to her successor April 6 , it will cap a jam-packed year for the Collinsville native , whose crowning achievement will come five weeks later when she walks across a stage in Oxford during commencement exercises for the University of Mississippi ’ s School of Pharmacy .
“ It has been a long journey ,” Russell said of her seven-year path to earn her professional doctorate , or PharmD , degree from the university .
Her final year in pharmacy school was highlighted by her being crowned Miss Mississippi USA a year ago and representing the state in regional and at the Miss USA pageant in Reno , Nevada , last fall .
The soon-to-be 25-year-old admits , looking back now , it is a little astonishing she was able to juggle both the responsibilities of Miss Mississippi USA and the challenges of studying and fulfilling her clinical rotations for pharmacy school .
“ I can ’ t believe that I did it . It was a lot , and it was stressful at times ,” Russell said . “ But it was very rewarding , and it just made me realize that I really can do anything that I set my mind to . Although it was hard , I made it work , but I had to make it work .”
With her rotations on the campus of the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson , Russell said program administrators and preceptors were extremely supportive of her pageant duties and worked with her to make sure she completed her projects and rotations on time while preparing for the nine-day trip to the national pageant .
“ My school was absolutely amazing , and I need to give a shoutout to Dr . Laurie Fleming ,” Russell said . “ She is over all of our rotations , and she helped me so much with get-
At left , Sydney Russell , a Collinsville native , wins the title Miss Mississippi USA during the state pageant held at the Pearl River Resort in Choctaw on April 1 , 2023 . Photo by Demarcus Bowser and courtesy of Miss Mississippi USA Pageant .
At right , Russell poses with other contestants at the Miss USA pageant in Reno , Nevada , in September 2023 . Photo by Jeremy Eastmond and courtesy of Laylah Rose and the Miss USA Pageant .
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