WS Chronicle

Nia lmani Franklin, the Winston-Salem native who was crowned Miss New York in June and Miss America on Sept. 9, is returning to her hometown for some celebrations in November.

On Saturday, Nov. 3, and Sunday, Nov. 4, several events are planned.

The University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) will hold a free panel discussion with performances 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday in honor of Miss America, who attended the University of North Carolina School for the Arts, where she earned the Campus Arts Scholarship. At 3 p.m., a parade in her honor will go from Bailey Park in downtown Winston-Salem to the Benton Convention Center.

On Sunday, Nia Franklin will attend a Celebration and Benefit Fellowship 1:30 to 4 p.m. at Mount Zion Baptist Church, 950 File St., where she is a baptized member and served as Children’s Choir assistant director and Youth Ensemble president. Limited $20 tickets remain. To contact the church, call (336) 722-2325.

Her parents are James and Kristy Franklin. They accepted a Winston-Salem City Council resolution declaring Sept. 17, 2018, as “Winston-Salem Native Ms. Nia lmani Franklin Day.”

Franklin is a graduate of North Davidson High School. She attended college at East Carolina University (ECU), where she earned a bachelor’s degree in music composition. She then attended UNCSA. While at UNCSA, she was a Kenan Fellow at the Lincoln Center Education in New York City. Franklin graduated summa cum laude from UNCSA with a Master’s degree in music composition.