The 2015 Miss Mississippi Hannah Roberts was named first runner-up to Miss America, and to celebrate her achievement an event, Backstage with Miss Mississippi, is scheduled from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Sunday at The Bluffs of Vicksburg, 1509 Washington St.

“The downtown merchants wanted to do something to honor Hannah and her placement at Miss America,” marketing and special events manager of the Vicksburg Convention and Visitors Bureau Laura Beth Strickland said.

The last time Mississippi got this close to the crown was when Susan Akin won the Miss America crown in 1985, Strickland said.

Hosted by the downtown businesses and the city of Vicksburg, the event will also feature a special recognition by Mayor George Flaggs Jr. and an opportunity for pictures following the program at a Miss Mississippi Meet and Greet.

During the event, Roberts will speak on the importance of education and pursuing a career in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) fields.

She was named as the STEM scholarship recipient and a finalist in the Quality of Life category at the Miss America Pageant.

Roberts will also share some of the backstage secrets from the Miss America Pageant and speak about her platform Pages of Love, which has donated more than 25,000 books to Batson’s Children’s Hospital and St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, in Memphis.

The event is free, but a children’s book donation is encouraged.

“It was obvious this down-to-earth, intelligent and extremely gifted lady was going to make Mississippi proud. Hannah’s first runner-up status was as impressive as winning the actual title, and clearly an event to be celebrated, ” said Art & Soul owner Regina Gailani in a press release issued by the VCVB.

For event sponsorship, call 518-935-7813.

All funds raised will go toward Miss Mississippi scholarships.

For more information visit downtownvicksburg.org or visitvicksburg.com/events.