Pat Hopson to receive Lifetime Achievement Award at 2023 Pinnacle Awards Ceremony

Pat Hopson, a native of Oxford, Mississippi and current Vicksburg resident, is set to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest humanitarian honor.

The 2023 Mississippi Pinnacle Awards ceremony held in Hattiesburg at Lake Terrace Convention Center on Tuesday, April 11th will honor the finalists of the prestigious Humanitarian Award at a black-tie event followed by the announcement of the winners. This prestigious awards ceremony showcases the top public relations talent in the state and recognizes excellence, professionalism and outstanding achievement in sales, marketing, and community engagement. Pat Hopson, a native of Oxford and a distinguished figure in Mississippi art, entertainment, education, business, and philanthropy for many years is among the honorees.

Hopson who was a former producer of the Miss Mississippi Pageant live television show and won three Emmy awards partnered with her late husband, Dr. Briggs Hopson Jr., former president of the Ole Miss Alumni Association to establish Mississippi as the first state in the nation to offer Miss America cash scholarships awarding millions of dollars to educate young women in Mississippi. Hopson’s volunteer work with pageants began over 40 years ago, starting as a hostess and culminating in her roles as the Miss America Franchise Holder, Miss Mississippi Vice-President, and Executive Producer of the live television show which was viewed statewide and streamed nationwide. Her shows were nominated for Emmys eight times and won three.

After studying art and education at the University of Memphis, Ole Miss, the Memphis Academy of Art, and Mississippi College under Dr. Sam Gore, Hopson continues to actively support both the Dr. Briggs Hopson Jr. Medical Scholarship at the Miss Mississippi Corporation and the Pat Hopson Art Scholarship at Ole Miss. Although retired as President and designer of Pat Hopson Swimsuits, her dedication to education and philanthropy persists.

Throughout her years of service, Hopson has dedicated herself to various organizations including Crawford Street United Methodist Church, the Committee for the Mississippi Dresden Exhibit, the First International Ballet Committee, the Vicksburg Convention Center Advisory Board, the First Ole Miss Drive for Athletics Committee, the Fordice Inaugural Governor’s Mansion Reception for 10,000 attendees as well as serving as a Designing Consultant for the Mississippi First Lady’s Inaugural Gown and a Historical Consultant for the Robert Dafford River Mural on the Vicksburg Waterfront. Hopson’s efforts have been recognized as she was named one of Mississippi’s 12 Outstanding Women and received the 40-Year Miss America Volunteer Award from the Mississippi State Medical Alliance. Additionally, she is a Life Member of both the Vicksburg Junior Auxiliary and the Ole Miss Alumni Association.