Vicksburg native Sarah Randolph accepted into UMMC School of Dentistry

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — Vicksburg native Sarah Randolph has been accepted into the University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Dentistry.

Randolph received her official acceptance letter Dec. 15 after a lengthy wait, saying she felt a mix of relief and gratitude once it arrived.

“I was so relieved but grateful when I found out because it was a lot of long nights of studying and sacrifices to get this,” Randolph said.

The acceptance comes just months after Randolph graduated from Mississippi State University, where she was highly involved on campus. She served as president of the Pre-Dental Society, worked as a Road Runner and crew leader with S.P.A.R.K. (Students Paving a Road to Knowledge), sang in the university choir and is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.

Randolph said her interest in dentistry developed after shadowing Dr. Hoover at a rural clinic in Winona.

“I loved how she interacted with her patients and just the overall atmosphere,” Randolph said.

Four years after first stepping on MSU’s campus, Randolph now moves on to dental school. She plans to pursue a career as a cosmetic dentist and has also been accepted into the Rural Dentistry Scholarship Program.

While awaiting her acceptance, Randolph remained active in pageantry. In October, she was crowned Miss Heart of the South 2026 for the second time and also earned the Talent Award. She previously served as Miss Mississippi State University 2025.

Randolph is a 2021 graduate of Warren Central High School, where she finished in the top 10 of her class, cheered on the varsity squad and danced at the Debra Franco School of Dance.

She will spend the next four years at the UMMC School of Dentistry.