Fort Smith residents gathered in excitement as the city prepared to honor a local trailblazer, buoyed by a wave of pride and anticipation.
Fort Smith will dedicate a new street—Madison Marsh Avenue—near Southside High School on October 30, 2026, honoring Madison Marsh, a 2019 Southside graduate who earned a pilot’s license at 17, graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy with a physics degree, and made history as the first active‑duty service member to win Miss America in 2024.
Dedication of Madison Marsh Avenue
The city announced the dedication ceremony for October 30, 2026, with the new Madison Marsh Avenue to be unveiled near Southside High School. The announcement came from the City of Fort Smith, Arkansas. Details about the ceremony’s program are not yet known.
Madison Marsh graduated from Southside High School in 2019 and earned her pilot’s license at the age of 17. She later earned a physics degree from the U.S. Air Force Academy and now serves as an Air Force officer. Her educational and military background is central to the honor.
In 2024, Marsh became the first active‑duty military member to be crowned Miss America, a historic achievement recognized nationwide. Her win highlighted the intersection of service and public platform. No further information about additional titles is available.
Beyond her titles, Marsh advocates for military service, cancer research, and youth opportunities, supporting the Whitney Marsh Foundation established after her mother’s death from pancreatic cancer. The foundation continues to benefit from her involvement. Further details on future initiatives were not disclosed.
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