MOUNT VERNON — The talent, fitness and self-expression of 32 Knox County high school seniors was showcased Friday evening at Memorial Theater when preliminary competition in the 2012 Knox County Distinguished Young Women Scholarship program took place.
For 47 years the program was known as the Knox County Junior Miss Scholarship Program, and, since there was a name change this year, the theme of this year’s competition is “What’s in a Name?” As each contestant was introduced, she told the audience why her parents chose her name. Responses ranged from being named in honor of a family member to wanting a certain letter group in the name to “It was the only name my dad didn’t hate.”
Program emcees Joe and Marcy Rinehart were assisted by Olivia Van Winkle, 2011 Greater Knox County Junior Miss and Kinsey Crow, 2011 Central Knox County Junior Miss and Ohio’s 2011 Junior Miss. Van Winkle advised the contestants to “Do your best and have fun,” and Crow suggested they should “be satisfied with your performance tonight.”