LEWISTOWN - The 2009 Miss Central Pennsylvania Scholarship Pageant is slated for Nov. 9 at the Lewistown Area High School.
The pageant is sponsored by the Miss Central Pennsylvania Scholarship Organization, and is set to start at 2 p.m. on Sunday.
Executive director of the Miss Central Pennsylvania Scholarship Organization, John Metzger, said the competition is tight this year.
"I'm excited to see what is going to happen, I think it is going to be very competitive," said Metzger of the competition.
On Sunday, 11 young women will be competing for two "Miss" titles. Competing for the Miss Central Pennsylvania and Miss Greater Juniata Valley titles will be: Amber Marie Alsop, Clarion University, Knox; Kelly Ann Bensigner, Pennsylvania College of Technology, Valley View; Casey Bryant, Bucknell University, Lewisburg; Heather Marie Fawcett, Pennsylvania State University, McKeesport; Jenna Knopsnyder, Towson University, Somerset; Kayla Mormak, University of Pittsburgh, Nazareth; Smruti Jalaj Patel, Penn State University, Altoona; Meredith Semon, Allegheny College, West Newton; Sarah Timm, Westminster College, Mount Joy; Kendra Walmer, Penn State University, Lebanon; Rita Inez Zell, Penn State University, State College.
For each young woman to be eligible to compete in the pageant, they must raise a minimum of $100 in charitable donations for the Children's Miracle Network, and also must establish that they are residents of Pennsylvania, are attending a Pennsylvania college or are a full-time employee in Pennsylvania. Eligible young women must be between the ages of 17 and 24 to compete.
Contestants for the "Teen" titles of Miss Central Pennsylvania Outstanding Teen and Miss Greater Juniata Valley Outstanding Teen are: Maria Cinti, age 13; Katy Galimberti, age 17; Anjelica Elizabeth Iby, age 16; Kasey-Lyn Johnson, age 12; Kaitlynne Marie Kline, age 14; Brandi Lawrence, age 17; Kaitlyn Miller, age 13; Jill Christine Wiley, age 16.
Slated performances for the evening will be, Eka Akpakip, Miss Central Pennsylvania 2008; Hannah Timm, Miss Greater Juniata Valley Outstanding Teen 2008; Erica Bristor, Miss Central Pennsylvania Outstanding Teen 2008, Anna Welsh, Miss Greater Juniata Valley 2008.
Chris Ruble will be the master of ceremonies and will also be performing.
Tickets for adults are $15, senior citizens (age 65 and older) are $10, children (ages 7 to 16) are $10 and children (age 6 and under) are free. Tickets can be pre-ordered by calling Ann Clark at 248-7396. All main floor seats are reserved and are sold on a "first come first served" basis. In addition to being sold in advance, tickets will also be on sale at the door the day of the pageant beginning at 1 p.m.
The winners of the Miss and Teen pageant will advance to the Miss Pennsylvania competitions, after which is the Miss America Pageant and Miss America's Outstanding Teen Pageant.
