University of West Florida seniors Meghan Grace Gibson and Matt Hulse were crowned Ms. and Mr. UWF 2021 at the homecoming game on Oct 16. Meghan’s smile while proudly wearing her crown and sash alongside her peers captures how much this school and title mean to her. 

“Winning Ms. UWF meant the absolute world to me,” she explained. “Being a student here has given me so many amazing opportunities and it has provided me with so much growth. I am just so honored to now be able to represent the school that has done so much for me as Ms. UWF. My goal now is to give back to UWF the same way it has given so much to me.”

Meghan has already contributed much to the university throughout her last four years here and has always found a way to be involved. This includes being involved as a:

• UWF Cheerleader 
• Alpha Chi Omega member
• UWF Street Team
• UWF Athletics Student Worker
• UWF Recreation Facility Attendant 
• Intramural Sports member
• Argo Arrival Team Leader
• Recruitment Counselor for Panhellenic Recruitment
• Co-Host of the UWF Athletics Vlog

Meghan’s long list of achievements and involvements is nothing new. Previous to being an Argo, she could always be found on the sidelines or in the stands cheering on the Clay High School Blue Devils. 

During her time at Clay High, Meghan made an effort to be a part of anything she could. This includes involvement in:

• Varsity Cheer Team
• Varsity Girls Weightlifting Team
• Yearbook Staff Member 
• Class of 2018 Vice President for Sophomore, Junior, and Senior year
• Future Business Leaders of America 
• National Honor Society
• Beta Club
• Miss Clay High School Sweetheart
• Miss High School Sweetheart 

No matter where she is, Meghan works hard to support her school and her peers. This sense of school spirit comes from truly being proud of the schools she attends. 

“I feel that having extreme school spirit is what I’m best at,” she said. “I am truly my happiest when getting involved on campus. I just simply enjoy being a student and living my ‘student life’ to the fullest.”

Making her way to Pensacola from Jacksonville and eventually becoming Ms.UWF was not a game of chance for Meghan. In fact, UWF was the only school she applied to despite never touring the campus or even visiting the area. 

“I didn’t want to go to a huge college that I would just be another face in the crowd,” Meghan said “I went to a small high school where I was super involved and knew all of the students and faculty. I knew I wanted to have that same experience in college.”

Meghan actually stumbled upon UWF while googling “small universities in Florida.” 

“Just from researching UWF online, I could tell that it was the perfect school for me,” she said. “It was a smaller college that had plenty of campus involvement opportunities, and that was exactly what I was looking for.”

Meghan’s time at West Florida has been nothing short of what she was seeking, and it has changed her life personally and professionally. 

“Being involved on campus and holding leadership positions within my clubs and organizations has given me an immense amount of confidence that has made such a positive effect on my personal life,” she said. “I also have met so many people and made so many amazing connections due to being a student here at UWF.”

She also plans to take what she’s learned to the next level after graduating and is confident in the skills that she has attained here. 

“There is no doubt that this university has set me up for success when it comes to my professional life,” Meghan explained. “After college, my goal is to be a sports broadcaster. I have been fortunate enough to work for the UWF Athletics Department since my freshman year.” 

Working for UWF Athletics has provided Meghan with opportunities she wouldn’t have had at other universities. It has introduced her to important people in the industry and has given her experience that will carry into her professional career. 

Meghan accredits much of her success here and in the future to her professors, teachers and mentors over the years. She believes that smaller universities like UWF allow professors to develop better relationships with their students and set them up for personalized success. 

“I have been given some amazing opportunities by some of my professors because they see potential in me,” Meghan said. “I feel that that is probably something that doesn’t happen often at big universities.”

Meghan Grace Gibson is a great representation of the University of West Florida and what it means to be an Argonaut. Meghan has made an incredible impact during her four years here.  She bleeds blue and green and embodies everything that this university wants a student to be, from her interactions and experiences with her peers to cheering on UWF teams at sporting events. Meghan strives to put others and her time at the university first in her life, and that is what being an Argonaut is all about.