Sheniece Morton is no quitter. It may have taken her three tries but she finally achieved what she set out to do two years ago, be crowned Miss Liberal.

“I was very surprised and even shocked,” Morton said about having her name announced.

Morton participated in the Miss Liberal competition since 2008, when she was a senior in high school. She placed in the Top 5 in both ’08 and ’09 pageants but it took her a third try to finally be crowned Miss Liberal.

“She was very well qualified and she did great job,” Lu Haines, pageant director said. Haines has been on the boards of many beauty pageants and has overseen twelve in Liberal.

Morton is enrolled in 19 credit hours at Seward, works at Liberal High School and as a sandwich artist at Subway.

“She’s a very busy girl,” Haines said. Morton even said so herself in the interview portion of the competition.

Even though she has been in the pageant three times before, Morton says this was her best time.

“I?do not think I should have won any other time,” Morton said. “This year was the most fun because my confidence level was where it needed to be.”

Along with the title, Morton has received many benefits from being in the pageant.

“You earn a lot of scholarship money, you meet new people and you learn respect, a lot of kids look up to me,” Morton said.

Morton will compete in the Miss Kansas pageant in Pratt this June.

“She certainly will be successful,” said Haines. “The contestants learn so much about performance and interview skills that will help them in the future job market.”

Morton is excited and looking forward to the Miss Kansas competition.

“I?can’t wait to meet new people and learn new things.