Nineteen girls will compete for Miss LCMS crown tonight

Nineteen girls in grades six, seven, and eight will take part in the annual Miss LCMS Pageant tonight (Thursday) at 7 p.m. in the school auditorium.

In addition to Miss LCMS, judges will also select a grade winner, first and second runners-up, and Miss Congeniality for each grade. Furthermore, every contestant will receive at trophy for her participation in the pageant.

Competing in the pageant are Jasmine Benning, Brett Matthews, Alexis Simmons, Amanda Bentley, Hannah Bryant, Kaylee Clary, Morgan Easter, Hannah Holliman, Kathryn Poss, Kathryn Remsen, Catherine Crookham, Jourdan Cunningham, Jennifer Dandron, Elizabeth Dunaway, Shannon Harmon, Carrie McCauley, Brittany Perkins, Eleese Matthews, and Tiara Wynn.

The event is being sponsored by the LCHS Family, Career, and Consumer Leaders of America (FCCLA) Chapter, formerly known as the Future Homemakers of America (FHA).

According to Cherrie Campbell, FCCLA advisor, the Miss LCMS Pageant was started 28 years ago by Renee Griffith Guthrie as part of the requirements for her FHA State Degree.

"Since there was not a pageant for the middle school girls at the time, Renee thought it would be a good idea to offer these girls the opportunity to compete in a pageant setting to help them acquire the self-confidence and poise needed for the high school pageant," said Campbell.

She went on to add that over the years, many of the Miss LCMS contestants have had a mother, aunt, or sister who took part in the middle school pageant. "It's become a wonderful tradition in some families," she said.

Admission to the pageant is $4 for adults and students in the middle and high school grades and $2 for children in the Pre-K, primary, and elementary grades. Children under the age of three will be admitted free of charge. Also, LCMS Gold Cards will be accepted.