What are your hobbies?
Singing, snowboarding, cooking, playing intramural sports, shoe shopping with my sister, playing the oboe, international traveling, watching Major League Baseball, spear fishing, and spending time with my precious family.

What makes you special and unique?
How many people can say they have been zip-lining down the jungles of Belize, or have been lobster diving, spear fishing, or even cave tubing? I had the wonderful opportunity to travel to Belize this past summer and enjoy these amazing adventures. It was an unforgettable experience that I am very thankful for.

What is the best advice you have ever received?
During stressful times my father always says, "Do your best and your best will always be enough". These simple words have been so comforting, especially during my college years. There is tremendous relief in understanding that if I do everything to my utmost, there is no need to worry. I am a firm believer in God's providence. Everything happens for a reason!

Name one thing you cannot live without.
Sushi! I eat at my favorite Japanese restaurant at least 3 times a week. I simply cannot live without the crunchy roll.

What is the most valuable lesson you ever learned?
The most valuable lesson I have ever learned was from my basketball coach. She taught me to persevere. Day after day of her intense practices taught me to push myself and to never give up. This has been a valuable lesson in every aspect of life.

Who is your most valued role model and why?
I am so thankful to have such wonderful parents to serve as my role models. I praise and thank them for instilling God's Word in me and providing a warm and nurturing home in which I have grown up. They are my most valued role models because everything I see in them, I long for my children to one day see in me.

What was your most unexpected moment?
My junior year of high school our band was chosen to march in the Presidential Inaugural Parade. We were told not to turn our head and look at President Bush as we marched by, however that was next to impossible for me. When I turned to view our nation's leader, I made eye contact with President Bush and he winked at me! That was definitely unexpected!

What is your workout routine?
30-40 minutes of cardio each day as well as a 10 minute Pilates routine with upper and lower body workouts

What has been your biggest accomplishment to date?
I won a national essay contest sponsored by the National Campaign to Stop Violence. The contest was funded by Kuwait in appreciation to the United States for its help in the first Gulf War. I was awarded a trip to Washingon, D.C. where I presented my essay to the Senate as well as at the Kuwaiti Embassy. My essay is published in the Library of Congress.

What is the best compliment you have ever received?
I have the same voice teacher my mother had when she was in school at William Carey. One day after our lesson, my teacher told me she heard my mother's voice when I was singing. That was the best compliment because I have always wanted to be able to sing like my mother.

What is your secret wish?
My secret wish is to play the role of Christine in the Broadway musical "Phantom of the Opera"!

What was your most embarrassing moment?
My first day of snowboarding I attempted to go down the second hardest level of mountains. I was finally upright on my board going full speed, my head held high with pride, when I realized I was headed straight for the trees. I tried desperately to stop while uncontrollably plowing through my fellow snowboarders. I landed in a deep pile of soft snow next to the trees. I am not sure how my body landed upside down, but I am sure that about ten random people have a nice photograph to laugh at.

What is your biggest guilty pleasure?
Cheez-its. I can empty an entire box of white cheddar cheez-its within a matter of minutes. After all, the tastiest bites come from the bottom of the box!

What is your favorite movie and why?
I love history and war movies. Mel Gibson's "Braveheart" is a movie I have watched over and over again. It became even more of a favorite for me when I visited Ireland and toured the castle where one of the battle scenes was filmed.

What is your favorite color and why?
Blue is my favorite color because it has a calming effect on me.

What do you like to do for fun... relaxation... recreation?
When I think of fun I think of spending time with my family. There is nothing I would rather do than go home on the weekends and watch a movie or play a game of Scrabble with my family. When I need to relax I enjoy sitting on the couch wrapped in a blanket, drinking a cup of hot tea, and watching old movies. For recreation, I love being involved with the intramural sports program at my school. I play flag football, kickball, volleyball, and basketball. Snowboarding would have to be my favorite form of recreation. Not only is it good exercise, but it is also a way for me to enjoy God's beautiful creation in the Rockies.

What would be your dream vacation or destination?
My dream vacation would be to go to a tropical island surrounded by crystal clear fresh water (not salty water!) and lay in a shaded hammock all day while drinking fresh pineapple juice.

What do you like best about your hometown?
My hometown reminds me of Mayberry. Each Christmas, following the Christmas parade, everyone gathers in the local park to view the lighting of the Christmas tree. The mayor stands on a podium and the entire crowd counts down..5..4..3..2..1..and our beautiful park becomes bright with Christmas spirit.

What do you like best about the state of Mississippi, besides our food & hospitality?
I must say, I love our weather. If you do not like it, just wait ten minutes and it will change.

What's in your CD player or on your iPod right now?
The theme song from Rocky, "Eye of the Tiger" is on my iPod right now because I last used my iPod to go running. Talk about a motivational song for working out!

Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Within the next ten years I plan to run my own business and be happily married with children.

Who am I?
I am Jessica Nicole Cofield. I am a junior business major at William Carey University and loving every minute of it. My major includes an emphasis on business management and marketing. I am also a communications minor. My goal is to obtain a Master's Degree and start my own business. Through much hard work and determination I am a President's List Scholar as a very involved leader on the campus of WCU. As the Entertainment Commissioner for the Student Government Association, I am in charge of anything fun that goes on on campus. My mother says I am a natural organizer. I am also the Social Chair for my sorority, Gamma Chi. I believe a true leader serves best when serving others. I have organized numerous community service projects and have been in charge of raising money for many organizations. The majority of my time is dedicated to William Carey University, so needless to say I live on campus in order to perform my duties to my fullest extent. My leadership opportunities at WCU have been an honor and a blessing.

I grew up in the small town of Wiggins, Mississippi, complete with 4 stop lights of which we are very proud! I have a springer spaniel named Jefferson and a shih-tzu named Paris. I have a handsome younger brother named Logan, who is incredibly fun to be around! I am thankful for the relationship I have with him. I have a beautiful older sister and a new brother-in-law whom I thank God for every day. My sister, Lacey, was diagnosed with a chronic illness and has battled it for 9 years now. God graciously provided her with her own personal nurse, in the form of her new husband Jeremy! My parents are my guidance as well as my best friends. Although I live on campus, my family is my home.

I strive to look for the best in every situation and in every person. I know that everything happens for a reason, so there is no need for getting upset over the small things. Life has its blessings as well as its trials. I am thankful for all of it, because even trials can be blessings in disguise. My ultimate goal is to glorify God in all I do, and enjoy Him forever!

I can remember as a small child watching the Miss America Pageant on television with my mother and sister, dreaming of becoming that beautiful lady with the pretty dress and shining crown. I even had the opportunity to meet Miss America 1998 Kate Shindle when I was 11 years old, who inspired me to want to be Miss Mississippi. Each year we have a Miss America and Miss Mississippi party in my living room, complete with crowns and banners. I must say I am overwhelmed at the opportunity to represent the city of Hattiesburg and apply for the honorable position of Miss Mississippi 2008.

Tell us about your occupational experience.
I am an Aloette Beauty Consultant for Aloette Cosmetics. I do not even consider this a job because I have so much fun selling Aloette! I sell Aloette skin care and make up to women all over Mississippi. I have met many amazing women through this occupation who have become dear friends. Aloette has helped me become a business woman before I have earned my business degree!

Tell us about your platform.
My platform is "Speaking Out Against Youth Violence". The National Campaign to Stop Violence sponsors an essay contest that is funded by Kuwait in appreciation to the U.S. for its help in the first Gulf War. I had the opportunity to write on issues to pertaining to youth violence and my ideas for possible solutions. I won the essay contest and was able to present my ideas on local, state, and national levels. I spoke in press conferences in the Senate building as well as in the Kuwaiti Embassy. My essay is now published in the Library of Congress. In collaboration with the National Campaign to Stop Violence, I am committed to speaking our against youth violence in our schools and communities. Just turn on the television or open a newspaper. News of youth violence are splashed across every page. The mall shootings in Nebraska. the church shootings in Colorado Springs. And a little closer to home, the Jena Six disputes in Louisiana. The number of crimes committed by the youth are escalating. We need to inform ourselves of the underlying causes of such violent acts to put an end to crimes committed by our youth.