BOURBON – The Triton Junior Miss Program is honoring its 50th year with the theme “Continuing the Tradition” at 7 p.m Saturday. Kevin Boyer will return as host for the night in Triton High School’s auditorium. Eight contestants will compete for the title of the 2014 Triton Junior Miss/DYW. The Junior Miss program is full of scholarship opportunities for high school senior girls. Since its beginning, Junior Miss has awarded young women scholarships for their academic and on-stage performances. Each contestant is judged in five categories: scholastic achievement, talent, interview, a fitness routine and self-expression on stage. Before the show, a panel of academic judges tally scores based on each contestant’s GPA, SAT scores and level of class difficulty. Another panel of judges scores the other four categories. The day of the show contestants spend 10 minutes with the judges for a personal interview. The audience is able to enjoy the 90-second talents from each of the contestants, a fitness routine and a self-expression portion which highlights the contestants’ grace under pressure. Each contestant is required to answer a question on stage while in their formal gowns. Triton Junior Miss is awarding over $3,200 in scholarships to the eight young women from Triton High School. The awards given consist of preliminary awards, Spirit of Junior Miss award, 1st, 2nd and 3rd runners-up and the 2014 Triton Junior Miss winner. Preliminary awards include the winners in the individual categories of scholastic achievement, fitness, self-expression and talent. The Spirit of Junior Miss award is an award voted on by all of the contestants and given to the girl who best exemplifies the principles of the Junior Miss Program. The 2014 Triton Junior Miss winner will be crowned Saturday evening along with all runners-up. The winner of Triton Junior Miss 2014 will join other senior girls from across the state to compete for Indiana’s Junior Miss in Kokomo, Feb. 20-22, 2014. The Junior Miss journey will continue for the winner of the state competition as she will go on to the national competition. The 57th annual America’s Junior Miss National Finals will be in Mobile, Alabama, in June 2014. National sponsors of the America’s Junior Miss include the City of Mobile and Mobile County. National category sponsors are Alabama Power, Encore Rehabilitation, Mobile Gas, Regions Bank and Wintzell’s Oyster House. Tickets for the show are being pre-sold by the contestants, and will be available at the door prior to the show, with a cost of $6 per person; children 5 and under are free. The doors at Triton High School’s auditorium will open at 6:30 p.m. for the show to start at 7 p.m. The contestants vying for the title of the 2014 Triton Junior Miss include the following: Contestant #1 Kayleigh Nichole Craig is the daughter of Katie and Troy Craig. Her future plans are to attend either Bethel or Manchester College to become a pediatric physical therapist. Her activities include; church/youth group, cross country, dance, track, Spirit Club, Art Club, Key Club, drama, Color Guard, band , Spanish Club and basketball. Kayleigh will be doing a Color Guard Routine/Dance to “Feelin Good.” Constant #2 Nichaela Rose Rock is the daughter of Teresa and David Rock. Her future plans are to attend Butler University to become a pharmacist. Her activities include; National Honor Society, Walnut Church of the Brethren Choir, Color Guard, piano, Church Praise Team, Destination Imagination, Trojan Singers (Show Choir), Concert Band, 4-H, and Pep Band. Nichaela will be playing the piano for her talent. Constant #3 Mikayla Rae Harker is the daughter of Kim and Eric Waggoner and Colin Harker. Her future plans are to attend Indiana University of Bloomington to study speech pathology. Her activities include; National Honors Society, Kosciusko Youth Leadership Academy, Key Club, volunteer for Red Cross Blood Drive, Bear Lake Church Camp volunteer, yearbook, Spirit Club, Spanish Club, Youth Group and volleyball. Mikayla will be preforming a Lip Sync to “9-5.” Constant #4 Mallory Renee Jennings is the daughter of Staci and Scott Jennings. Her future plans are undecided at this time. Her activities include; National Honor Society (vice president), Kosciusko Youth Leadership Academy, softball ( 4-year starting pitcher); basketball (3-year starting varsity player); Future Farmers of America (President); 4-H 10-year member and president of her local club; Key Club (treasurer); Spirit Club, Science Club and yearbook. Mallory will be preforming a Jump Rope routine to “Rockey.” Contestant #5 Courtney Catherine Zentz is the daughter of Michael and Lisa Zentz. Her future plans are to attend Indiana University Bloomington to become a radiologist. Her activities include; Youth Group, Principal Service Corp, Key Club, varsity golf, band, drama, Science Club, FBLA and JV softball. Courtney will be playing the Saxophone to Sonata # 3.” Constant #6 Holly Nicole Stogsdill is the daughter of Laura Beno and Donald Stogsdill. Her future plans are to attend Indiana University Bloomington. Her activities include; Kosciusko Youth Leadership Academy, HS and USTA Team Tennis, HS and club volleyball, Spirit Club (president), elementary teacher’s aid, Family Career and Community Leaders of America, Spanish Club, Science Club, Key Club and Future Business Leaders of America. Holly will be doing a Jazz Dance to “Party People.” Constant #7 Taylor Nicole Hatfield is the daughter of Angela and Howard Hatfield. Her future plans are to attend Indiana University Bloomington to study dentistry and orthodontics. Her activities include; varsity basketball, varsity cross country, National Honor Society (Secretary), Key Club, Kosciusko Youth Leadership Academy, yearbook (editor), Principal Service Corp, Science Club, FBLA and Spanish Club. Taylor will be doing a Jazz Dance to “It’s Oh So Quiet.” Contestant #8 Michal Erin Scherer-Berry is the daughter of Stormy and Ed Scherer-Berry. Her future plans are to attend Valparaiso University to become an experimental scientist. Her activities include; Science Club, National Honor Society, Book Club, School Musical/Play (“Music Man,” Pick a little lady, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” Violet, and “James and the Giant Peach,”) tennis and solo and ensemble contest. Michal will be singing “No Good Deed” from “Wicked.”
