Autumn C - 2026 Miss Omega Psi Phi Scholarship Pageant

My name is Autumn Criswell,I am contestant #10 in the Miss Omega Psi Phi Scholarship Pageant. I am a junior at the University of Georgia, double majoring in Sport Management and Public Relations, with a Sports Media Certificate on the Pre-Law track.

A big part of my story—and something that has shaped how I move through life—is that I experienced bilateral pulmonary embolisms, which are blood clots in both lungs. During my treatment, I spent time at the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, and that experience changed me forever.

I met so many incredible young patients my age battling leukemia and other serious illnesses. We helped each other through some of the darkest days—days when I truly didn’t think I was going to live, when I felt hopeless and had little willpower left. Their strength and resilience inspired me to keep fighting, and the nurses at the Aflac Center were just as life-changing. They cared for us with such compassion, kindness, and humanity that it shaped me as a person. These kinds of souls deserve the world.

Due to my experience—and motivated by the Health Initiative of Omega Psi Phi’s mandated programs—I have selected the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center as my fundraising platform of choice. Giving back to the place and people who gave me hope means the world to me. I want to help ensure that other kids and young adults have the same support and care that saved me.

Thank you for your support of the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, as well as your support of me during my journey competing in the Miss Omega Psi Phi Scholarship Pageant. With your donation, we can truly make a difference, helping provide care, hope, and healing to those who need it most.