Colby Eagles Alumni Association
Nancy Ellen (Burris) Withers, Class of 1984
Miss Kansas USA 1989
Copyright Colby Eagles Alumni Association @ 2014
Nancy entered her first pageant during her freshman year at Colby Community College in 1984/85, and was 1 st Runner-up in the Miss Troia- Thomas County contest. She entered the same pageant in 1985/86 and was selected as "Miss Troia-Thomas County". She competed in the Miss Kansas (Miss America) pageant in 1986, winning the Swimsuit award and being in the top ten. Nancy won the Miss Troia-Thomas County pageant again in 1988, and went to the Miss Kansas pageant in Pratt, KS, again winning the Swimsuit award and was in the top ten.
In 1988 Nancy entered the Miss Kansas (USA) pageant in Hutchinson, KS, winning the crown. This entitled her to compete in the Miss USA pageant in Mobile, Alabama in February of 1989. During her reign as Miss Kansas, she promoted the state of Kansas, and traveled extensively throughout the state.
Nancy is the daughter of Dr. Norman Burris and the late Ann Burris, and the stepdaughter of Lee Burris. Norm taught Optical Technology at Colby Community College in the early '80s.
Nancy is married to Matthew Withers, and they have two children, Ciciley and Grant. Nancy graduated from Fort Hays State University and is a successful Interior Designer in Wichita, KS. She is employed at the Kitchen and Bath Gallery.
