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Nakina
Marie Eugene is a native of New Orleans. She
graduated from Xavier University Preparatory
School as the Salutatorian in 2001. She was
honored as the first recipient of the Arnold and
Hazel Donald Scholarship Award. As a Donald
Scholar, Miss Eugene received a full scholarship
to Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota.
She was the only African-American to major in
Chemistry in her classification. While at
Carleton, she also accomplished significant work
in Education, Physics, Acting, and Spanish. She
was honored with the opportunity to study abroad
in Morelia, Mexico for 3 months, where she
focused on the Spanish Language and Mexican
literature and art.
After
graduating Carleton College in 2005, Miss Eugene
enrolled in Tulane University School of Public
Health and Tropical Medicine, where she focused
on Community Health Sciences. While at Tulane,
she was involved in the Society for Young Black
Public Health Professionals and volunteered with
Luke’s House, a local community health clinic.
Graduating magna cum laude, she received her
Master’s Degree in Public Health in 2009.
Miss
Eugene has done extensive work with the
Louisiana Office of Mental Health since February
2008. She coordinated the Family Involvement
Enhancement Project (FIEP) at the Louisiana
Children’s Museum. The FIEP focuses on
empowering special needs families through
trainings, which will enhance their leadership,
support, and communication skills. Parents
received personal development training while the
children were involved in art therapy. In
December 2009, FIEP received national
recognition when FIEP team presented the project
at the National Federation of Families for
Children’s Mental Health Conference in
Washington D.C. In addition, she helped plan
the 1st Annual Walk for Children’s
Mental Health Awareness in June 2010.
Miss
Eugene plans to continue her work with special
needs families through Parents United for
Children’s Mental Health, a non-profit that she
is establishing with several parent leaders.
She, with the help of parents, designers, Xavier
Prep, and Chic Nouvelle Model Management,
planned a fundraiser in October 2010 called
Fashion for Compassion, a benefit for special
needs families.
In her
spare time, Miss Eugene serves as a mentor for
the Louisiana Youth Challenge Program which
assists at-risk youth. She also enjoys acting
and modeling. She recently completed work
modeling for Chic Nouvelle Model Management,
Paperdoll Promotions, Lakeside Shopping Center,
Fashion Week at Bourbon Park 2010, and Harrah’s.
Additionally, she was honorably mentioned in the
Tyra.com Cycle 15 Model Search. Her latest
acting projects include work on HBO’s Treme and
the Summer 2011 action film, the Green Lantern.
She also writes a regular column for Chic
Nouvelle Magazine, a local arts and fashion
periodical. Miss Eugene hopes to achieve much
more in the entertainment industry.
Her
message to others is that faith in God, hard
work, and perseverance will help achieve any
imaginable goal.
As Miss Black Louisiana USA,
Miss Eugene plans to address issues such as
community responsibility and education
disparities, while promoting positive role
models for young black women. |
