The reigning Miss Pennsylvania Miranda Moore won her crown on the Mifflin County Middle School stage in 2023. Two years before that, Meghan Sinisi did the same as the 2021 winner.

“You wonder what happens next,” said Metzger, executive director for the Miss Central Pennsylvania Scholarship Organization. “We’re always excited, sometimes a little anxious to make sure everything goes right.”

A total of five titles will be awarded at this year’s competition, slated for 4 p.m. today at Mifflin County Middle School. A total of 15 contestants will be vying to become Miss Central Pennsylvania, Miss Greater Juniata Valley, Miss MidState and Miss MidState’s Teen.

“There will be five young ladies with the opportunity to go to Miss Pennsylvania,” Metzger explained. “For them, they will have the opportunity to earn more scholarship funds. Last year, Miss Pennsylvania gave away $70,000 in funds.”

Shannon Cattie

Metzger said is proud to carry on the tradition of the competition, which was run by her late father, John, for many years. She is appreciative of all the support the competition receives from former and current title holders, including Moore who will crown this year’s winners, as well as the many volunteers.

Lisa’s mother, Rosie, also has helped to take the reins since her husband passed away in 2022.

Metzger is also excited to have a local flavor to this year’s group of contestants as Abby Traxler graduated from Mifflin County High School and there are several contestants who attend Penn State.

“It is exciting any time we have local girls,” Metzger said. “It’s more of a tie with the community when you have local contestants.”

For Traxler, who won the title of 2023 Miss Pennsylvania Volunteer, there’s nothing like competing on a local stage.

Louella Jade Formica

“It’s exhilarating to compete in the same building I attended middle school and to have friends and family from the area there to support,” Traxler said.

Traxler said she participated in the princess program at the Miss Central Pennsylvania competition since she was old enough to do so – about age 4 or 5. She also entered the teen competition about a decade ago. Traxler competed for four years, winning a new local title each time, she said.

“This is my second time competing as a Miss and I’m so excited to be back!” she added.

CONTESTANTS

Olivia Allison

Emma Elizabeth Glad

Age: 20

High School: Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA), Pittsburgh, Pa.

Graduation Year: 2021

College: Butler University

Graduation Year: 2025

Christina Herman

Talent: Tap dance

Title of Talent: “What’s a Girl Gotta Do?”

Community Service Initiative: Beyond Bars: Supporting Children of the Incarcerated

Shannon Cattie

Age: 27

Mia High

High School: Academy of Notre Dame de Namur, Villanova, Pa.

Graduation Year: 2014

College: Virginia Tech University

Graduation Year: 2019

Talent: Vocal

Title of Talent: “A New Life”

Community Service Initiative: Giving a Voice to the Chronically Resilient Patients Struggling with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Louella Jade Formica

Age: 20

High School: Cocalico Senior High School, Denver, Pa.

Graduation Year: 2021

College: Reading Area Community College/Albright College

Graduation Year: 2023/2025

Talent: Country tap dance

Title of Talent: “Life is a Highway”

Community Service Initiative: Encouraging Expressivity in the Arts

Emma Elizabeth Glad

Age: 26

College: Waynesburg University

Graduation Year: 2021

Talent: Opera

Title of Talent: “Quando me’n vo'” from La Bohème.

Community Service Initiative: Caring for Those Who Care: Improving the Health and Well Being of Front Line Workers and First Responders.

Christina Herman

Age: 25

High School: Northeastern Senior High School, Manchester, Pa.

Graduation Year: 2017

College: Penn State

Graduation Year: 2021

Graduate School: York College

Talent: Baton twirling

Title of Talent: “Hit the Road Jack”

Community Service Initiative: Active Mind, Body and Life: Reducing Our Risk of Alzheimer’s

Mia High

Age: 18

High School: State College Area High School

Graduation Year: 2023

College: Penn State

Year in school: First-year student

Talent: Color guard

Title of Talent: “A Million Dreams”

Community Service Initiative: Empowering Youth Arts

Finley Miller

Age: 18

High School: Hanover Senior High School, Hanover, Pa.

Graduation Year: 2023

College: Penn State

Year in School: First year

Talent: Contemporary dance

Title of Talent: “Amen”

Community Service Initiative: Essential Project, spreading joy and positivity through collecting and gifting donations as well as her social media platforms

Bryn Patton

Age: 22

High School: Waynesburg Central High School, Waynesburg, Pa.

Graduation Year: 2020

College: Penn State

Graduation Year: 2024

Talent: Tap dance

Title of Talent: “Proud Mary”

Community Service Initiative: American Heart Association, helping others recognize the signs and symptoms of a heart attack and advocating for CPR/AED and first aid education.

Chanda Scott

Age: 23

High School: Punxsutawney Area High School, Punxsutawney, Pa.

Graduation Year: 2018

College: Indiana University of Pa.

Graduation Year: 2022

Talent: HerStory

Title of Talent: “Hush”

Community Service Initiative: Advocating for those who can’t

Marissa Simmons

Age: 20

High School: Moon Area High School, Moon Township, Pa.

Graduation Year: 2021

College: Indiana University of Pa.

Graduation Year: 2024

Talent: Chemistry demonstration

Title of Talent: “Genie in a Bottle”

Community Service Initiative: Diversity in first responders

Abby Traxler

Age: 22

High School: Mifflin County High School

Graduation Year: 2019

College: Lycoming College

Graduation Year: 2022

Talent: Vocal

Title of Talent: “Bring Him Home”

Community Service Initiative: Money Matters: Promoting Financial Literacy for a Brighter Future

TEEN CONTESTANTS

Jillian Donia

Age: 17

High School: North Star High School, Boswell, Pa.

Graduation Year: 2024

Talent: Tap dance

Title of Talent: “I Gotta Lot of Rhythm in My Soul”

Community Service Initiative: Educating youth of America on dangers of vaping through various social media channels.

Jay Maslowski

Age: 17

High School: Carlisle High School, Carlisle, Pa.

Graduation Year: 2026

Talent: Monologue

Title of Talent: “Elphaba’s Life”

Community Service Initiative: Infinite Diversity, Infinite Combinations: Creating beauty, growth and profess from the union of the unlike

Ella Rabin

Age: 16

High School: Trinity High School, Camp Hill, Pa.

Graduation Year: 2026

Talent: Tap dance

Title of Talent: “Great Balls of Fire.”

Community Service Initiative: Advocacy in Action

Morgan Smith

Age: 17

High School: Berwick Area Senior High School, Berwick, Pa.

Graduation Year: 2025

Talent: Vocal

Title of Talent: “I Gotta Lot of Rhythm in My Soul”

Community Service Initiative: Sing It Out: Coping with Mental Health and Medical Issues One Note at a Time.

Finley Miller

Bryn Patton

Chanda Scott

Marissa Simmons

Abby Traxler

Jillian Donia

Jay Maslowski

Ella Rabin

Morgan Smith