On Monday, Sept. 16, an informational meeting was held in the UC for young women interested in competing in the Miss UTM Scholarship/Miss Tennessee Soybean Festival pageants.
This year’s event will be held on Oct. 26, on the UTM campus. The application deadline has been set for Wednesday, Oct. 16.
Scholarship money is awarded to the royalty of the pageants, as well as prizes and gifts from local businesses. Though these awards and scholarships are subject to final confirmation, the Miss UTM Scholarship prizes include $1500 for Miss UTM, $500 for the first runner-up, and $250 for the second runner-up.
The scholarship amounts for Miss Tennessee Soybean Festival have not been determined yet. Both winners will receive the official Miss America preliminary crown and sash as well as compete in the Miss Tennessee pageant in 2014. Current UTM students are eligible for either crown.
Although the two titles are named during the same pageant, the Miss UT Martin crown is only open to current UTM students. The Miss Tennessee Soybean Festival is for non-UTM students.
Executive Director of the scholarship program Hollie Holt said that the pageant is divided into five phases of competition, including private interview, swimsuit, talent, evening wear and on-stage questions.
Young women interested in competing should be of high moral character, a high school graduate by June 30, 2014, a U.S. resident, a resident of Tennessee for at least six months prior to the pageant, be no younger than 17 on Jan. 28, 2014 and no older than 24 by Dec. 31, 2014. Young women competing must also have never been married or have had children.
Holt also provided prospective contestants with packets containing useful information about the pageant, as well as rules and guidelines pertaining to each. For more information about this scholarship program, contact Holt at hholt@utm.edu.
