<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><item href="/news/10282026-queen-finalist-avery-smith.html" dsn="blogs"><featured/><pubDate>10/28/2026</pubDate><title>Avery Smith Finds Her Place Through Creativity, Leadership and Service</title><description>Meet Queen Alalah XCIV finalist Avery Smith, a Cowley College Mass Communications student combining photography, campus leadership and community service.</description><author>Hunter Ferguson</author><image><img src="/_resources/assets/img/news/avery-smith.jpg" alt="Avery Smith"/></image><video/><video-caption/><tags><tag>Annual Events</tag><tag>Community Events</tag><tag>Student Life</tag></tags></item>