MONROE, La. (KNOE) - For Anna Katherine Thompson, the crown isn’t just a symbol of recognition—it’s a gateway to education.

“I come from a single-parent household,” Thompson says. “So it will definitely be a huge financial relief for my family to be able to obtain my master’s debt-free.”

On Aug. 31, 2025, Ruston-native Anna Katherine Thompson was crowned Miss National Sweetheart in Hoopeston, Illinois. But unlike traditional pageants, this scholarship competition is rooted in service, communication and personal growth—and it comes with a scholarship that’s helping Thompson fund her graduate education.

Thompson is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Communication Studies at Louisiana Tech University, and thanks to the scholarship she received through the National Sweetheart competi

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