{"id":258160,"date":"2026-04-20T17:47:41","date_gmt":"2026-04-20T17:47:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/258160\/"},"modified":"2026-04-20T17:47:41","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T17:47:41","slug":"texas-tech-grad-student-kortnie-koebel-settles-in-as-miss-lubbock-april-2026-texas-tech-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/258160\/","title":{"rendered":"Texas Tech Grad Student Kortnie Koebel Settles In As Miss Lubbock | April 2026 | Texas Tech Now"},"content":{"rendered":"

She is working on her second graduate degree while getting ready to represent the
\n city and the university at the Miss Texas competition.<\/p>\n

\t\tCREATORS<\/p>\n

\"Portrait<\/p>\n

Kortnie Koebel has never met a question she couldn\u2019t answer, which should come as
\n no surprise for a person who has never met a goal she couldn\u2019t achieve.<\/p>\n

The Texas Tech University<\/a> student is poised, prepared and polished whatever the subject might be \u2013 from the
\n biggest topics to the smallest minutiae.<\/p>\n

It comes with the territory of being a pageant contestant, but Kortnie is a natural
\n conversationalist. Unlike some, she doesn\u2019t rely on an interview coach to get her
\n ready. She does her own thing, and it works just fine.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t do on-stage question prep,\u201d she said, \u201cbecause I think it\u2019s so important
\n to be authentically myself, and if I have these rehearsed answers, that\u2019s not me.
\n I don\u2019t want to eliminate that aspect of the judges seeing me give real answers. I
\n think taking a pause, understanding what the question is about, analyzing it in your
\n head and then answering is much more appropriate than a rehearsed answer.\u201d<\/p>\n

In January, Kortnie was crowned Miss Lubbock. She will compete in the Miss Texas competition
\n in June. It\u2019s the latest in a string of achievements for Kortnie, who is working on
\n her second master\u2019s degree from the Graduate School<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Kortnie is originally from the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and she transferred to Texas
\n Tech from Connors State College in Oklahoma, where she earned three associate degrees.
\n She has been equally busy academically since arriving on campus in 2020, completing
\n a bachelor\u2019s in sociology<\/a> with a focus on criminology<\/a> and a minor in forensic science with honors.<\/p>\n

Her first master\u2019s, completed in May 2025, was in forensic science<\/a>. She is now working toward completing a master\u2019s in mass communication<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cGrowing up, I was heavily involved in agriculture and FFA,\u201d she said. \u201cBut when I
\n got to junior college, I met with my criminal justice professor and asked how I could
\n go into law enforcement without becoming a cop because I wasn\u2019t made to be a cop.<\/p>\n

\"AKortnie Koebel<\/p>\n

\u201cHe said, \u2018Well, what about crime scene investigation?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

The seed was planted, and the quest was on. Kortnie expects to begin her career in
\n forensics later this year, and if that path doesn\u2019t work out, she has mass communications
\n as an alternative plan.<\/p>\n

\u201cI realized that I wanted to help people, especially those who no longer had a voice,\u201d
\n she said. \u201cI knew forensic science was the best way to go, and once I discovered the
\n program Texas Tech had, I knew this was the right place.\u201d<\/p>\n

Finding her Home at Texas Tech<\/p>\n

Her suspicions were confirmed during a weekend visit. Kortnie visited campus on a
\n Red Raider football<\/a> weekend, learned about the Honors College<\/a> and study abroad<\/a>, and she couldn\u2019t pack her bags for Lubbock quickly enough.<\/p>\n

As an Honors College student, Kortnie was able to take classes that helped prepare
\n her for the demands of the Graduate School as far as writing and researching. For
\n study abroad, she jumped at the Semester at Sea program. The program is available
\n for Texas Tech students interested in visiting multiple countries.<\/p>\n

The experience involves a cruise liner that has been converted into a floating campus.
\n Each semester, students and other lifelong learners populate classes and visit a variety
\n of countries. For Kortnie, she saw 16 nations during her semester.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was the opportunity of a lifetime,\u201d she said. \u201cWe were able to spend a short amount
\n of time in each country, but it was enough to really allow me to immerse myself in
\n different cultures.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of my favorite experiences was when a large group of us were in Spain. Some of
\n my friends and family had flown in, so it was a big surprise for all of them when
\n we met a lady who we followed to her favorite restaurant and bonded with her through
\n sharing food and culture.\u201d<\/p>\n

As an FFA member, Kortnie benefited from its leadership development and career development
\n events, preparing her for what to expect in certain situations. Studying abroad and
\n the chance to interact with and learn from people of different cultures augmented
\n and amplified her skills.<\/p>\n

She originally began attending Texas Tech in 2020, the year of the COVID-19 pandemic
\n and online classes. It was a challenging experience since her only in-person class
\n was yoga, but she made the best of it.<\/p>\n

\u201cKortnie is the kind of person who doesn\u2019t let hardship stop her,\u201d said Bethany Kuwitzky<\/a>, assistant director of the Study Abroad program in International Affairs<\/a>. \u201cIf anything, challenges have only made her stronger and more determined. When she
\n sets her mind to something, she follows through in a way that makes you believe she
\n will find a way no matter what.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Bethany and Kortnie met in 2021, and Kortnie was hired as a student assistant in the
\n Study Abroad office in 2023.<\/p>\n

She made an immediate impact on the office, advising hundreds of students on study
\n abroad opportunities and helping them understand the process and its benefits.<\/p>\n

And while all of those experiences were meaningful, the lingering after-effects of
\n the pandemic also left an impression on her, causing Kortnie to prioritize her mental
\n health.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe remote learning and lack of socialization were difficult,\u201d she said. \u201cBut I quickly
\n discovered Texas Tech has so many clubs and organizations<\/a> that you can be a part of. When I finished my bachelor\u2019s, I was in more than 10 organizations
\n on campus. I saw it as an opportunity to put myself out there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ironically, that was also a time in her life when Kortnie considered herself shy,
\n not necessarily someone who might compete in pageants and their overtly public nature.<\/p>\n

Originally, Kortnie was going to attend graduate school in Australia, but visa issues
\n complicated that option, so she stayed at Texas Tech.<\/p>\n

Finding her Place in Pageants<\/p>\n

\u201cI like to stay busy, and I was looking for something more, so I told my mom that
\n I wanted to do a pageant,\u201d she remembered. \u201cSo, I did my first one, and nothing happened
\n (as far as placing), but it opened the door for so many more opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kortnie saw pageants as a perfect counterbalance to her forensic science aspirations,
\n where separating the job from one\u2019s personal life was critical. Pageants became another
\n outlet, similar to her volunteerism, where she could demonstrate her commitment to
\n mental wellness.<\/p>\n

Her self-care involves collecting soda can tabs and using them to create fashion items.
\n She has designed soda-tab clothing items, and the work is a creative outlet for her.
\n She began collecting them several years ago after Red Raider<\/a> basketball games, but soon, she had a sizable number assembled and wasn\u2019t sure what
\n to do with them.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t want to throw them away, and I didn\u2019t want to recycle them,\u201d she said. \u201cI
\n wanted to do something unique, and a big part of pageants is branding yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n

With that objective in mind, Kortnie took to Pinterest for inspiration. There are
\n several fashion designers whom she admires in terms of building a unique brand, and
\n then she noticed Miss Universe Thailand had created a dress from soda tabs.<\/p>\n

That piqued her interest, and her attention turned to using the tabs creatively to
\n set her apart from pageant competition, especially in the interview portion. It is
\n during that two- to five-minute window when contestants have the chance to make a
\n lasting impression on the judges. She has become so proficient and creative with the
\n soda tabs that Kortnie can now create a design in less than 24 hours.<\/p>\n

\"Miss<\/p>\n

\u201cI am known as the girl who creates projects out of soda tabs,\u201d she said. \u201cFor the
\n Miss America organization, talent is part of it. So, I do a spoken word piece on my
\n talent of creating fashion design.\u201d<\/p>\n

There is more to the soda tabs than that, though.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe soda tabs allow me to have a mental break,\u201d she said. \u201cWhen I am down or feeling
\n stressed, it\u2019s what I go do. Even when I am watching videos for an exam or something,
\n I work with the soda tabs to keep my hands busy. I am being challenged every time
\n I pick up a tab because I think to myself, \u201cHow can I make it better?\u201d<\/p>\n

The pageant season will continue for Kortnie in June when she competes for the Miss
\n Texas title. She will travel to Richardson, Texas, for a week along with about four
\n dozen other hopefuls. Contestants will go through an interview phase as well as a
\n fitness assessment before the evening gown competition, after which the top 12 finalists
\n will be named.<\/p>\n

The eventual winner will represent the state at the Miss America event.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re all preparing for the end goal of Miss America,\u201d Kortnie said. \u201cEveryone\u2019s
\n dream is to compete and become Miss America. My goal is to make that top 12.\u201d<\/p>\n

Between now and then, Kortnie is taking part in numerous community service events
\n as she hopes to make 100 Miss Lubbock appearances before the Miss Texas event.<\/p>\n

Busy is the One Who Wears the Crown<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of my favorite memories, and one that means even more because it\u2019s so recent,
\n was seeing her crowned Miss Lubbock,\u201d Bethany said. \u201cI knew she had moments of doubt,
\n which is completely normal, but I also knew she was ready. I am incredibly happy for
\n her and excited to see what comes next. I truly believe this is just the beginning,
\n and I cannot wait to see her become Miss Texas.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kortnie is also proud to represent Lubbock as a Texas Tech student, despite the fact
\n she understands there are some who are critical of pageants because of how they allegedly
\n objectify women and reinforce stereotypes around appearance.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy ultimate response to that is I am unconventional,\u201d she said. \u201cI have a lot of
\n tattoos, nearly a half-sleeve and on my back, so in terms of being conventionally
\n Miss America, I am not of that mold.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rather, Kortnie says she is tall and fit, someone who enjoys working out and someone
\n who has never seen pageants as being about a woman\u2019s \u201clooks.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Miss<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s more about what you are doing in the community,\u201d she said. \u201cMiss America (events)
\n don\u2019t care about what you look like. They care about what you\u2019re doing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kortnie reinforces that point with an example of once being interviewed during a pageant
\n and removing her jacket to reveal some of her tattoos. She said the judges asked more
\n questions about her ink than her soda tab projects.<\/p>\n

Her favorite tattoo rests on her shoulder and honors her grandfather, a Canada native
\n who opened an automotive repair shop in the Dallas area. The tattoo features a favored
\n vehicle make and model, the shop\u2019s name and her grandfather\u2019s signature.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s definitely one I carry close with me,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

The same is true of her years at Texas Tech, which have given her moments, memories
\n and mental mementos she will carry with her forever.<\/p>\n

\u201cWithout Texas Tech, I wouldn\u2019t be Miss Lubbock,\u201d she said. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t have gone
\n abroad. I wouldn\u2019t have met amazing people from working at the Study Abroad office.
\n Most importantly, I don\u2019t know where I would be.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery path is there for a reason, even if it\u2019s not the path you intended to take
\n originally. I firmly believe Texas Tech is life changing.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"She is working on her second graduate degree while getting ready to represent the city and the university…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":39691,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[168,170,169],"class_list":["post-258160","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-lubbock","tag-lubbock","tag-lubbock-headlines","tag-lubbock-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/258160","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=258160"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/258160\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/39691"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=258160"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=258160"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=258160"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}