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    FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES $11,000 IN COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS

 

The Leaf Foundation announces the availability of applications for its two Miss America preliminary pageants, to be held at 3 pm on Sunday afternoon, February 21, 2010, at Thames Elementary School in Hattiesburg. 

The Miss Leaf River Valley Scholarship Pageant and The Miss Riverland Scholarship Pageant will both crown representatives to The Miss Mississippi Pageant, to be held in Vicksburg this summer.  In addition, Leaf River Valley’s Outstanding Teen and Riverland’s Outstanding Teen will send representatives to Miss Mississippi’s Outstanding Teen Pageant.

Miss Leaf River Valley and Miss Riverland are open to young women 17-24 who are at least high school seniors.  Miss LRV is open to young women who live, work, or attend school in Covington, Greene, Forrest, Lamar and Perry Counties.  Miss Riverland is open to any young woman, who lives works or attends school in Mississippi. These “Miss” division contestants will compete in interview, talent, swimsuit, evening wear and platform/community service.

According to Leaf Foundation CEO Michael Marks, the teen division is open to young women who are 13-17 but have not yet reached their senior year of high school.  Contestants in the “Teen” division will compete in interview, talent, active wear, and platform/community service. LRV’s Outstanding Teen must come from the five county area while Riverland’s Outstanding Teen will represent the state at large.

 “Central to our mission,” says Marks, “Is providing career opportunities for young women.  We are excited to award over $11,000 in college scholarships to Mississippi students.”

Colleges and universities participating in the Leaf Foundation’s Scholarship Program include:  Jones Junior College, Pearl River Community College, Jackson State University, University of Southern Mississippi, Delta State University, and William Carey University.

Tracy Robinson, President of The Miss Mississippi Local Pageant Directors Association, states that this year will see changes in the Leaf Foundation’s local competition.  In addition to its Miss America preliminary competitions, The Leaf Foundation will add a Lady of the Leaf Competition, an evening gown only/most beautiful category for high school girls in grades 7-12, who are not also entered in the LRV or Riverland Outstanding Teen Pageants. “We hope that this onstage experience will help to instill confidence and poise in high school girls.”

Entry forms, schedules, and general information including corporate sponsorship opportunities are available online at <leafrivervalley.com> or by contacting Contestant Chair Susan Slaughter at the slaughters@comcast.net or 601-583-4149. 

Lady of the Leaf contestants should send applications to Tracy Robinson, 2902 Lincoln Road #4, Hattiesburg, MS  39402/tracyrobinson45@gmail.com.

The entry deadline is February 7 for all divisions.