October 16, 2023
Former Little Miss Arkalalah finalist now a candidate for Queen Alalah
Having once graced the stage of the Robert Brown Theatre as a finalist for Little Miss Arkalalah, Cowley College sophomore Emma Badley is now all grown up. The elementary education major will return to the stage as a finalist for Queen Alalah XCI. Coronation is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27, in the Robert Brown Theatre.
Her parents are Jeremy and Debbie Badley of Arkansas City. Grandparents are Mike and Cheryl Townsley, Steve and Phyllis McCorgary, and Jan and Marcia Badley, all of Arkansas City. She has a brother, Joshua 22, and a sister, Ella 17.
She graduated from Arkansas City High School in 2022. At ACHS, she participated in choir, basketball, softball, the National Honor Society, and the Kay Club.
“I chose to come to Cowley because it was close to home, and I was not quite ready to leave Ark City,” Badley said. “I also got a lot of scholarships, which helped.”
While at Cowley, she has been a part of the President's Honor Roll with a 4.0 GPA, is currently serving as a student ambassador, and is also a member of Phi Theta Kappa.
She is majoring in elementary education and wants to teach first grade after college.
“I have always wanted to be a teacher,” Badley said.
Her aunt, Stephanie (McCorgary) Osterthun, and cousins, Caitlynn McVey and Jill (Hutchinson) Luis, are former Queen Alalah’s. Badley herself was named second runner-up for Little Miss Arkalalah. Her Arkalalah memories of when she was younger include participating in the fun runs and attending the pancake feed.
She enjoys the food booths and looks forward to spending the week of Arkalalah with family and friends. Being named a finalist for Queen Alalah did not immediately register with Badley.
“It took me a while to process, but now I am excited for the experience and look forward to getting closer with each of the other candidates,” Badley said.
Away from Cowley, she is a part-time para at IXL Elementary and enjoys watching her sisters' extracurricular activities.
“Cowley was a good way for me to experience college life without having to go straight to a large university,” Badley said.
She is undecided on which four-year school she will transfer to after Cowley. But, for now, she plans to enjoy the experience of being a finalist for Queen Alalah XCI.
“I hope to make life-long lasting memories and hopefully even friendships with the other candidates,” Badley said.
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Rama Peroo | Director of Institutional Communication
Cowley College
125 S. 2nd Street
Arkansas City, KS 67005
rama.peroo@cowley.edu