MOUNT VERNON — A motorcade through downtown Mount Vernon and a red-carpet welcome at the Memorial Building brought 18 Ohio high school senior girls to the 35th annual Ohio Junior Miss Scholarship Program on Saturday morning. They were introduced one by one, and presented a key to the city by Mayor Richard Mavis.
Mavis and Commissioner Bob Wise welcomed the girls to Mount Vernon and Knox County. The girls will practice this week in the theater for the progam, which will be held Friday and Saturday nights.
Primary awards with scholarship money were announced by Contestant Coordinator Cheri Butcher. The Stephen Zelkowitz Communication Award of $100 went to Caroline Drennen, Greene County’s Junior Miss. There are three Service Above Self Leadership awards; the overall winner, Megan Howard, Northridge Junior Miss will take home $300. Winning $200 each are Brielle Stark, Delaware County’s Junior Miss and Kasi Eastep, Cardington’s Junior Miss.
After settling in with their host parents, the girls returned to the Memorial Building, where the Service Above Self winners read their winning essays. Then rehearsal for the program’s dance numbers got under way. On Sunday morning, the girls and their host families attended worship service at St.Paul’s Episcopal church; brunch followed at the Parish House.
In the afternoon rehearsal resumed, and each girl practiced her talent while stage, lighting and sounds crews worked out production details. In the evening, a host family carry-in dinner was held in the theater dinning room.
Although competing in the OJM program, the girls have not entirely escaped from school for a week; several of the girls mentioned they had homework to complete. Rehearsals started at 8 a.m. today with a break for lunch at The Alcove with Kiwanis Club members. This evening, Mount Vernon Nazarene University will host the girls and their host parents for dinner.
