This year, it could be first-time contestant Lexie Vay Gilson, of Mifflintown, being named the winner.

“Having local titleholders and titleholders who are willing to travel allowed us to be part of the community and do more in the community than we did in the past,” Miss Central Pennsylvania Scholarship Organization Executive Director Lisa Metzger said.

“Hopefully, more local young ladies will see they can do it, too,” Metzger added.

The 18-year-old Gilson, a 2024 graduate of Juniata High School, has entered the Miss Central Pennsylvania Scholarship Competition for the first time. She will vie for the title on Saturday at Mifflin County Middle School, 2 Manor Drive in Lewistown.

Hannah Fox

A total of five titles will be awarded at this year’s competition, which is slated to start at 4 p.m. A total of 12 contestants will be vying to become Miss Central Pennsylvania, Miss Greater Juniata Valley, Miss MidState and Miss Freedom Forge.

There will also be a titleholder given to Miss MidState’s Teen, which has two contestants — Sterling Busza and Markie Russell — competing for the crown.

“When they are local, they know the area and know what is important to the community, but all of the titleholders participated in local events,” Metzger explained.

Besides Gilson, there are several contestants who attend the Pennsylvania State University.

Current Miss Freedom Forge Shannon Cattie drove three hours to participate in Shining Light Through the Darkness at Kishacoquillas Park in Lewistown, while Miss Greater Juniata Valley Finley Miller drove over from Penn State to appear at an event at the Juniata Valley YMCA in Burnham.

Lexie Gilson

Three other titleholders were in the Homecoming Parade at Penn State, and four of them took part in the Belleville Memorial Day Parade and four were in the Fourth of July Parade in State College.

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

This year’s contestants for Miss Central Pennsylvania include (not all contestants submitted information forms):

Dylan Jewel Abke

Age: 19

Kristen Griffiths

High School: Frankenmuth High School

Graduation Year: 2023

College: Pennsylvania State University

Graduation Year: 2027

Talent: Herstory

AK Hazel

Title of Talent: “Enough”

Community Service Initiative: Advocacy in Action: Raising funds and advocating for childhood cancer to ensure no family fights this battle alone.

Lexie Vay Gilson

Age: 18

High School: Juniata High School

Madeline High

Graduation Year: 2024

College: New York University

Graduation Year: 2028

Talent: Singing

Title of Talent: “If This is Love” from “The Notebook: The Musical”

Community Service Initiative: Changing the Narrative: Empowering Teens, Parents and Educators to Build Healthy Relationships

Madeline High

Age: 19

High School: State College Area High School

Graduation Year: 2023

College: Pennsylvania State University

Graduation Year: 2027

Talent: Violin Solo

Title of Talent: “An Execerpt from Concerto B Minor” by O

Community Service Initiative: “Overdose is Preventable,” promoting harm reduction through advocacy, education and outreach.

Annie Rieg

Age: 21

High School: Deer Lakes High School

Graduation Year: 2021

College: Pennsylvania Western University

Graduation Year: 2025

Talent: Dance Twirl Routine

Title of Talent: “The Greatest Show”

Community Service Initiative: Advocacy in Action: “Give the Gift,” educating and encouraging organ transplant registrations.

Madelyn Rowan

Age: 21

High School: Schuylkill Haven Area High School

Graduation Year: 2021

College: West Chester University

Graduation Year: 2025

Talent: Competitive Irish Step Dancing

Title of Talent: “Victory” from “Lord of the Dance”

Community Service Initiative: “The Loosen the Leash Project,” ending animal abuse in America.

Camryn Sacco

Age: 19

High School: Marion Center Area Junior-Senior High School

Graduation Year: 2023

College: University of Pittsburgh

Graduation Year: 2027

Talent: Tap Dance

Title of Talent: “Boogie Shoes”

Community Service Initiative: “Heart to Heart”

Kailee St. Pierre

Age: 21

High School: Central Cambria High School

Graduation Year: 2021

College: Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Graduation Year: 2024

Talent: Herstory

Title of Talent: “A Letter to My Younger Self”

Community Service Initiative: “CFC: Crime Fighting Communities,” which teaches Americans how to make the world a safer place through crime prevention education, fostering compassion between individuals and by inspiring the next generation of crime fighters.

This year’s contestants for Miss MidState Teen include:

Sterling Busza

Age: 17

High School: Downingtown West High School

Graduation Year: 2026

Talent: Baton Twirling

Title of Talent: “Hit Me With a Hot Note”

Community Service Initiative: Advocacy in Action: Bridging Generations fosters meaningful connections with seniors, helping them feel deeply loved and valued in retirement homes.

So join in saying an official farewell to the outgoing titleholders as well as welcoming the new members of the Miss and Teen classes of 2025.

Tickets cost $20 and will be sold at the door.

Annie Rieg

Madelyn Rowan

Nicole Kutner

Kailee St. Pierre

Camryn Sacco

Jackie Tobin

Markie Russell

Sterling Busza