The reigning Miss Mississippi State University, first runner-up at the 2014 Miss Mississippi Pageant, represents the state this weekend at the Miss National Sweetheart Pageant.

Junior Laura Lee Lewis of Brookhaven is an elementary education major from Brookhaven and the daughter of Mark and Lorin Lewis of Brookhaven. She is a 2011 Brookhaven High School graduate and a Dean’s List Scholar at MSU.

Taking place Friday-Sunday, Aug. 29-31, the National Sweetheart Pageant is associated with the annual National Sweetcorn Festival in Hoopeston, Illinois. Organized by the Hoopeston Jaycees organization, the competitive event invites runners-up of respective states’ Miss America pageants. For more, see www.hoopestonjaycees.org/pageant.

“This is a great opportunity to represent Mississippi and speak about my platform, ‘Mentoring Matters!'” Lewis said.

The Illinois pageant is designed to foster mentoring relationships and help participants realize their full potential, she added.