Junior Miss articles archive

First Junior Miss program scheduled for Nov. 2

Milledgeville-Baldwin County's first Junior Miss 2002 program will be held in Russell Auditorium at Georgia College & State University in conjunction with the seventh annual Fest of Ville, scheduled for Nov. 9 and Nov. 10.

The Milledgeville MainStreet/The Downtown Development Authority is hosting the event, which will be at 7 p.m. Nov. 2. A community orientation will be held at 10 a.m. Aug. 24 in the Arts and Sciences Auditorium at GC&SU. Parents are encouraged to attend with their daughters.

April Bragg, local program coordinator, received certification after several months of planning and preparing. Bragg participated in Dublin-Laurens County Junior Miss program in 1996 and knows the value of this program to the community as a whole.

"This program encourages goal-setting and educational achievement in young women. This program provided me with a road map for success that I have used throughout my entire college career and adult life," Bragg said. "In addition to individual development, I made lasting friendships and learned that together we can achieve a common goal - to be our best selves."

The program fosters an atmosphere in which young women are applauded for living a moral and principled life, organizers said. The participants will be evaluated on seven elements that are the heart of the program and the "Be Your Best Self" platform: living by moral principles, getting a good education, staying fit, proper nutrition, community service, setting goals and working to reach them.

"Be Your Best Self" celebrates and cultivates positive character traits in individual women.

The Junior Miss program selects judges who live outside of the county and who have no prior knowledge of any participating contestant. The judging panel is a select group of individuals familiar with the Junior Miss program and its judging procedures.

The categories in which each contestant is evaluated are scholastics (20 percent), interview (25 percent), talent (25 percent), fitness (15 percent) and poise (15 percent). The goal of the program is to honor young women who excel in all these areas and to encourage them to continue the path of excellence by completing their college education and assuming roles of leadership in their communities and professions.

- The Union-Recorder

Inaugural Junior Miss program draws from all in community

To the Editor:

As a member of this unique community, I am pleased that yet one more positive event will be taking place. On Nov. 2, the Inaugural Junior Miss group representing our city and county will be on stage at Russell Auditorium. This will be the culmination of many months of preparation and effort for all involved.

The motivating force behind the Junior Miss scholarship program's effort to recognize and encourage excellence is its aim to contribute to the inner development of participants. The focus is for each young woman to strive for continued improvement and always be her best self.

This is a marvelous opportunity for those eligible to join in and work toward scholarships and educational dreams. Even some of the downtown merchants like J.C. Grant and Daphne's are displaying pictures of the participants along with their selected gifts. Everyone seems to be having a great time and all while competing for scholarship funds.

Georgia Seabrook

Milledgeville

Junior Miss participants named

The Milledgeville-Baldwin County Junior Miss scholarship program will be held Nov. 2 at Russell Auditorium on Georgia College & State University's main campus.

Nine women will compete for the title of either Milledgeville Junior Miss or Baldwin County's Junior Miss. Both will represent the community at Georgia's Junior Miss next summer.

The young women participating in the 2004 Milledgeville-Baldwin County's Junior Miss program are London Black, Kimberly Bradley, Kaila Jaworski, Amber Powell, Katie Rackley, Hollie Salter, Carmen Simpson, Emily Vance and Crystal Zhang.

April Bragg is the chairman for the Milledgeville-Baldwin County Junior Miss Program. She has been involved in the Junior Miss program since her participation as a Dublin-Lauren's County's Junior Miss. This is the first year of a local Junior Miss scholarship program and Bragg's first year as a program volunteer.

The categories in which each contestant is evaluated are scholastics (20 percent), interview (25 percent), fitness (15 percent) and poise (15 percent). The program's goal is to honor young women who excel in all these areas and to encourage them to continue on the path of excellence by completing their college education and assuming roles of leadership in their communities and professions.

The America's Junior Miss program was founded in 1957, and is the oldest and largest scholarship program for high school girls. More than 700,000 young women compete at the local, state and national levels, with $28 million available in scholarships each year.

Former participants include Diane Sawyer of ABC News (America's Junior Miss 1963), Deborah Norville of inside Edition (Georgia's Junior Miss 1976), and Julie Moran, weekend anchor of Entertainment Tonight (America's Junior Miss 1980). The AJM National Finals will be held in Mobile, Ala., in June 2004.

The national presenting sponsor of America's Junior Miss in HealthSouth. Other national sponsors include Coca-Cola, Salon Selectives, uppseedaisees loungewear, Healthy Choice and Orville Redenbacher's. National category sponsors include Tyson Foods, The Guardian Life Insurance Co. of America, Terminix, UBS/Paine Webber and Mobile Gas. Governmental support is furnished by the City of Mobile, Mobile County and the State of Alabama.

•  The Union-Recorder

Milledgeville, Baldwin County Junior Miss winners are selected

Kaila Jaworski was named Milledgeville's Junior Miss and Katie Rackley was named Baldwin County's Junior Miss in a scholarship program held Nov. 2 at Russell Auditorium.

Jaworski, 16, is a student at Georgia Military College and is the daughter of Bob and Kelly Jaworski.

Rackley, 16, is a student at Georgia Military College and is the daughter of Terry and Patricia Rackley.

For winning the Milledgeville Junior Miss title, Jaworski was awarded a $1,500 cash scholarship sponsored by Exchange Bank, a one-year membership to Milledgeville Total Fitness, a one-year subscription to The Union-Recorder, one day of beauty at Oasis Day Spa, a gift certificate to Lina's on Wayne Street and a one-hour massage by Heavenly Hands Massage Therapy.

During the program, Jaworski was awarded of the Scholastic Achievement Award and a $250 cash scholarship sponsored by the Milledgeville-Baldwin County Junior Miss and Milledgeville MainStreet; and the Talent Award, which came with a $250 cash scholarship sponsored by Carpet Max.

For winning the Baldwin County Junior Miss title, Rackley was awarded a $1,500 cash scholarship sponsored by Milledgeville-Baldwin County Junior Miss and Milledgeville MainStreet.

She was also awarded a one-year membership to Milledgeville Total Fitness, a one-year subscription to The Union-Recorder, one day of beauty at Oasis Day Spa, a gift certificate to Lina's on Wayne Street and a one-hour massage by Heavenly Hands Massage Therapy.

During the program, Rackley was awarded of the Be Your Best Self Essay, winning a $250 cash scholarship sponsored by the Milledgeville-Baldwin County Junior Miss and Milledgeville MainStreet.

She also was awarded the Fitness Award, for which she was given a $250 cash scholarship sponsored by Loco's; and the Talent Award, which was a $250 cash scholarship sponsored by Studio One School of Dance.

Kimberly Bradley, 16, was the first honoree, for which she was awarded a $1,000 cash scholarship sponsored by Arby's, Charter Communications and Kids First Pediatrics.

Bradley, a student at Baldwin High School and the daughter of Wayne and Betsy Bradley, also received the Spirit of Junior Miss Award, for which she won a $500 cash scholarship.

This award was voted on by the contestants and sponsored by Magnolia State Bank.

She also received the Poise Award, for which she received a $250 cash scholarship sponsored by the National League of Junior League Cotillion Antebellum Chapter.

Crystal Zhang, 16, was the second honoree, for which she was awarded a $750 cash scholarship sponsored by Blimpie and Charles Miller & Co.

Zhang, a student at Baldwin High School and the daughter of Zhenzhong Zhang and Shuqin Bai, also received the Scholastic Achievement Award, for which she was awarded a $250 cash scholarship sponsored by EBLA.

The scholarship money will be distributed to the winners' college or university of choice before they attend their first semester of higher education.

The event was chaired by April M. Bragg. Heather Holder was the production coordinator, Bonni Bigler was the choreographer, Amanda Mercer was the local judges chair and Melanie Lynch was the house manager.

The event was emceed by Jimmy Holder.

Contestants were judged on scholastics, achievement, interview, talent, physical fitness and poise.

Other contestants included Carmen Simpson, Emily Vance, Hollie Salter and London Black.

2 ready to compete in Ga. Junior Miss event

Milledgeville-Baldwin County will be represented for the first time at Georgia's Junior Miss scholarship competition set for today and Saturday at Kennesaw Mountain High School in Kennesaw.

Kaila Jaworski and Katie Rackley will be among 23 young women competing for the title of Georgia's Junior Miss and a share of thousands of dollars in cash scholarships. The event will be at 8 p.m. each night.

At the local program last November, Jaworski was selected as Milledgeville's Junior Miss and Rackley was selected Baldwin County's Junior Miss.

Jaworski, a rising senior at Georgia Military College's high school, is the daughter of Bob and Kelly Jaworski. She received more than $2,000 in college tuition scholarships also winning the scholastic achievement award and the talent award.

Rackley, also a rising senior at GMC High School, is the daughter of Terry and Patricia Rackley. She was awarded scholarships for fitness, talent and the Be Your Best Self essay contest totaling more than $2,250.

The American's Junior Miss program was founded in 1957 and is the oldest and largest scholarship program for high school senior girls. It has helped thousands of girls pay for their education and pursue their ambitions. More than 700,000 young women have competed at the local, state and national levels. More than $27 million is available for scholarships each year.

During the past 45 years, America's Junior Miss has awarded scholarships totaling more than $81 million to girls from across the nation. In addition, other cash scholarships worth $2 million have been awarded at the National Finals in Mobile. Past participants include Diane Sawyer of ABC News, Deborah Norville of "Inside Edition" and Debra Messing, co-star of NBC's "Will & Grace."

The categories in which each contestant is evaluated are scholastics (20 percent), interview (25 percent), talent (25 percent), fitness (15 percent) and poise (15 percent). The program's goal is to honor young women who excel in all these areas and to encourage them to continue on the path of excellence by completing their college education and assuming roles of leadership in their communities and professions, thereby setting an example for other young women to follow.

The national presenting sponsor of America's Junior Miss is HealthSouth. Other national sponsors include Bally Total Fitness, Coca-Cola, uppseedaisees loungewear, ThermaSilk, and Tyson Foods. National category sponsors include The Guardian Life Insurance Co. of America, Terminix, Mobile Gas and UBS/Paine Webber. Government support is furnished by the City of Mobile, Mobile County, and the state of Alabama.

- The Union-Recorder

Junior Miss program gearing up for 2005 event

Are you interested in competing for thousands of dollars in cash and college-granted scholarships? Are you a high school senior girl? Do you excel in the classroom? Do you have a special talent? Are you physically fit? Do you like to serve your community? Do you set goals and strive to reach them?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then Milledgeville-Baldwin County's Junior Miss program is looking for you.

Milledgeville-Baldwin County's Junior Miss is part of a nationwide endeavor to honor and reward the nation's outstanding young women for their accomplishments.

There is no entry fee, and the event is open to any young woman graduating from high school in the spring of 2006 who is a resident of Baldwin County.

Junior Miss emphasizes excellence in scholastics, talent, interview, fitness and self-expression. In the past two years, the local program has awarded more then $15,000 in scholarships and prizes to local young women.

Girls interested in participating in the program should contact April Bragg at (478) 457-6730 or by e-mail at bragg@alltel.net . The application deadline is Oct. 30, 2004.

Milledgeville-Baldwin County's Junior Miss program is an official preliminary of the America's Junior Miss nationwide scholarship program.

The women chosen to be Milledgeville's and Baldwin County's Junior Miss for 2006 will compete in June 2005 in the Georgia's Junior Miss program, which awards cash scholarships as well as tuition scholarships throughout the state. Universities and colleges across the nation offer scholarships to young women who participate in the program.

National sponsors of America's Junior Miss include Coca-Cola, Tyson Foods Inc., SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, the Riverview Plaza Hotel, the City of Mobile, and Mobile County. National category sponsors include Mobile Gas and Regions Bank. Governmental support is furnished by the state of Alabama. The 48th annual America's Junior Miss National Finals will be held in Mobile, Ala., in June.

For more information on America's Junior Miss, call (800) 256-5435 or visit the AJM Web Site at www.ajm.org

- The Union-Recorder

Milledgeville-Junior Miss program is Jan. 17

The Milledgeville-Baldwin County Junior Miss scholarship program will be held Jan. 17, 2004, at Jenkins Hall Auditorium on the campus of Georgia Military College.

Eight women will compete for the title of Milledgeville's Junior Miss or Baldwin County's Junior Miss. Both will represent the community at Georgia's Junior Miss in the summer.

The young women participating in the 2004 Milledgeville-Baldwin County's Junior Miss program are Chanerica Thomas, Hannah Gilbert, Shella Lumansoc, Lizzie Jones, Carrie Goggans, Porsha Roberson, Evie Scogin and Leia Eubanks.

April Bragg is the chairman for the Milledgeville-Baldwin County Junior Miss program. She has been involved in the Junior Miss program since her participation as a Dublin-Lauren's County Junior Miss. This is the second year of a local Junior Miss scholarship program.

Last year the program awarded more than $7,000 in college tuition scholarships. Kaila Jaworski was selected as Milledgeville's Junior Miss and Katie Rackley was selected as Baldwin County's Junior Miss.

Both young women competed last summer at Georgia's Junior Miss in Marietta.

The categories in which each contestant is evaluated are scholastics (20 percent), interview (25 percent), talent (25 percent), fitness (15 percent), and poise (15 percent). The program's goal is to honor young women who excel in all these areas and to encourage them to continue on the path of excellence by completing their college education and assuming roles of leadership in their communities and professions.

The America's Junior Miss program was founded in 1957, and is the oldest and largest scholarship program for high school girls. More than 700,000 young women compete at the local, state and national levels, with $28 million available in scholarships each year.

National sponsors of America's Junior Miss include Coca-Cola, Tyson Foods Inc., SeaWorld and Busch Gardens. National category sponsors include The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, Terminix, Bally Total Fitness, Mobile Gas and Regions Bank. Governmental support is furnished by the City of Mobile, Mobile County and the State of Alabama, with special support from the Mobile Area Convention and Visitor's Bureau.

•  The Union-Recorder

Volunteers needed for Junior Miss program

Local volunteers are needed to help increase awareness of and participation in the Junior Miss scholarship program in Milledgeville and Baldwin County.

April Bragg, chairwoman of the Milledgeville-Baldwin County Junior Miss program, has worked with the program for eight years and encourages individuals to volunteer with the Junior Miss program.

"Volunteering in the Junior Miss program at any level - local, state or national - can be an incredibly fulfilling experience," Bragg said. "When you see a young woman gain more confidence and showcase her talents and abilities, as well as win money for college, you know that committing your time was well worth the effort."

Bragg also invites past participants to renew their involvement with the program.

Milledgeville-Baldwin County's 2005 Junior Miss program recently awarded more than $15,000 in cash scholarships to young women in Milledgeville-Baldwin County's.

Anyone interested in volunteering for the Milledgeville-Baldwin County's Junior Miss program should contact Bragg at bragg@alltel.net or by calling (478) 457-6730

The Milledgeville-Baldwin County's Junior Miss program is an official preliminary of America's Junior Miss, a national scholarship program for high school girls.

National sponsors of AJM include Coca-Cola, Tyson Foods, Inc., SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, the Riverview Plaza Hotel, the City of Mobile, and Mobile County. National category sponsors include Mobile Gas and Regions Bank.

Governmental support is furnished by the state of Alabama. The 48th annual America's Junior Miss National Finals will be held in Mobile, Ala., in June.

For more information about AJM, call (800) 256-5435 or visit the AJM Web site at www.ajm.org

-The Union-Recorder

Eubanks, Scogin garner Junior Miss titles

Milledgeville and Baldwin County now have two new representatives for the Georgia's Junior Miss Scholarship program this July.

Leia Eubanks and Evie Scogin were awarded more than $5,000 in scholarship money and prizes as Milledgeville and Baldwin County's 2005 Junior Misses.

Eight women from Baldwin High School, Georgia Military College and John Milledge competed for the chance of becoming the next Junior Miss on Jan. 17.

The Milledgeville-Baldwin County Junior Miss Scholarship Program is part of America's Junior Miss Program, which is open to all high school junior girls. The Junior Miss Program, through the Be Your Best Self motto, delivers the message of living by moral principals, getting a good education, staying fit, proper nutrition, community service, setting goals, and working to reach them.

The girls are judged in scholastics, interview, talent, fitness and poise. This is the second Milledgeville-Baldwin County Junior Miss program.

In all, 12 cash tuition scholarships were awarded, thanks to the numerous local scholarship donors.

Leia Eubanks, a GMC junior, received more than $2,750 in scholarship money and prizes including Baldwin County's Junior Miss, sponsored by Rheem; Be Your Best Self Essay Award, sponsored by Arby's of Milledgeville; a Talent Award, sponsored by Flooring America; the Fitness Award, sponsored by Subway; the Poise Award, sponsored by Blimpie of Milledgeville; and a Scholastic Achievement Award, sponsored by Pico's Mexicali Grill.

Evie Scogin of John Milledge Academy received more than $2,200 in scholarship money and prizes including Milledgeville's Junior Miss sponsored by Serenity Wellness Spa & Salon & Truss Inc.; the Spirit of Junior Miss Award, sponsored by The Brick; and a Scholastic Achievement Award, sponsored by ReMax Vision Realty & Oconee Insurance Agency.

First honoree, sponsored by The Union-Recorder, went to Lizzie Jones, of GMC, along with the Talent Award, sponsored by Studio One School of Dance. Carrie Goggans, also of GMC, took home the second honoree award, sponsored by Exchange Bank.

"I can't begin to express how honored I am to be a part of this amazing program. Junior Miss has had an great impact on my life, and I am thrilled to be able to share this opportunity with the young women of Milledgeville-Baldwin County," said April Bragg, chairwoman of the local program. "I have been so encouraged by the overwhelming response we received from the eager contestants, willing volunteers, and supportive businesses and individuals."

Bragg stressed that the motivating force behind the Junior Miss program is its effort to recognize, reward and encourage excellence in its aim to contribute to the inner development of each participant.

"The focus of the Junior Miss program is always on encouraging each young woman to strive for continual improvement and to always be her best self," Bragg said. "This year we had eight wonderful participants who have been an inspiration to me by reminding me what the Junior Miss spirit is really all about by truly being their best selves."

Joy Eady, manager of Milledgeville Main Street, expressed her thanks to the program.

"Milledgeville Main Street is proud to be a part of this wonderful scholarship program," said Eady. "This is a great way to showcase our local high school juniors and award them for being their best self. Congratulations to all the girls who participated and thank you to the numerous volunteers who worked so hard to make this program a success."

•  The Union-Recorder

Student organizes a benefit concert for cancer foundation

By Amy H. Mullis - The Union-Recorder

As Make A Difference Day and Breast Cancer Awareness Month rolled around in October, Leia Eubanks wanted to support breast cancer awareness and research but wasn't excited by any of the available benefits. So she decided to organize her own.

At 7 p.m. Saturday, the fruits of the high school senior's labor will come to fruition with An Evening in Pink, a benefit concert Eubanks called "a showcase of lots of talented people."

The event is being held in the Jenkins Hall Auditorium at Georgia Military College. Admission is $5 and includes refreshments after the performances.

Eubanks, who will be reading one of her original poems, said several other locals will take the stage with original performances. She said there will be singing, dancing, readings and band performances.

Eubanks said, through the help of others, the event has evolved from something small to a big, wonderful event.

"Because there are so many people in our community willing to lend their extraordinary talents to the promotion of a good cause, my small Make A Difference Day idea has grown into what I think will be a fantastic showcase of the talent and love of the people of Milledgeville," she said.

All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

Eubanks said when she first concocted the idea of planning the concert, she didn't really know what she was in for.

"I honestly didn't know how big of an undertaking it was going to be when I started it," she said, adding that she has had much appreciated help along the way. "There's just tremendous community support here, and it wasn't that difficult because people just have a desire to do good things here."

And Eubanks is a self-proclaimed member of that body of people with a desire to do good things.

"I have a passion for entertaining others and a passion for making a difference," she said.

Eubanks is a member of Black Springs Baptist Church and also attends First Church of the Nazarene in Sandersville. She is both a teacher and student of dance at Studio One School of Dance, and is a cadet major at GMC, making her the school's highest ranking female officer.

She also participates in the Rivers of Life program and the annual Relay for Life. Eubanks is also the reigning Baldwin County Junior Miss, which has led her to volunteer work at the Bike Ride Across Georgia (BRAG) and the Tour de Georgia.

As an involved young person and someone who is dedicated to service, Eubanks has a message she hopes organizing this event will send to people her age.

"There are lots of wonderful young people in Milledgeville, but young people in general, I think view volunteer work with 'What am I going to get out of it?' instead of the way that you should think about it," she said. "So I guess if I could give a message out to other young people about volunteer work it is don't look for what you can get out of it."

Leia is the daughter of Buck and Beth Eubanks. Beth said from an early age, she knew Leia had a special gift.

"I'm very, very proud of her," she said. "Every child is special, and every child has a special place in society and I've always just known she was going to do special things."

Amy H. Mullis can be reached at (478) 453-1458 or by e-mail at newsroom@unionrecorder.com

Milledgeville-Baldwin's 2006 Junior Miss program is this weekend

Eighteen young women will compete for the titles of Milledgeville and Baldwin's Junior Miss and a share of more than $7,500 in college scholarships during the Milledgeville-Baldwin Junior Miss scholarship program set for Saturday and Sunday.

The event will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at Russell Auditorium on the campus of Georgia College & State University.

The winners will go on to compete in the Georgia Junior Miss program, an official preliminary of the America's Junior Miss scholarship program.

The young women participating are Jessica Grant, Rachael Crittenden, Holly Herrin, Blair Harshbarger, Evon Tomoda, Abigail Register, Nikita Fluellen, Krystal Stevens, Mary Beth Martinez, Magan Cowart, Jessica Boone, Rebecca Hattaway, Anna Sirmons, Jennifer Leverett, Mary-E Godfrey, Shaveta Waller, Heather Rogers and Abbie Wood.

The categories in which each contestant is evaluated are scholastics (20 percent), interview (25 percent), talent (25 percent), fitness (15 percent) and self-expression (15 percent).

The program's goal is to honor young women who excel in all these areas and to encourage them to continue on the path of excellence by completing their college education and assuming roles of leadership in their communities and professions, thereby setting examples for other young women to follow.

Tickets are available for the competition. Call Milledgeville MainStreet at (478) 414-4015 for more information.

Local sponsors include Serenity Wellness Spa & Salon, Rheem, The Union-Recorder, The Brick, Exchange Bank, An Burgs, Dramatic Action School of Character, Flooring America, Studio One School of Dance, Bridals by Harrold's, Georgia Military College, Holiday Inn Express, Quay Fuller - REALTOR, EBLA Academy, Blackbird Coffee Co., Light Force Family Chiropractic, Captain D's of Milledgeville, Lawrence Flower Shop, JC Grant Co. Jewelers, Fitness Plus, Blindworks, Middle GA Management - Rusty Kidd, LANE Realty, The Guest House, Hop In, Williams Funeral Home, Chandler Bros. ACE Hardware and Craig Massee Realty.

National sponsors of AJM include Coca-Cola, Tyson Foods, Inc., SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, the Riverview Plaza Hotel, the City of Mobile, and Mobile County. National category sponsors include Mobile Gas and Regions Bank. Governmental support is furnished by the State of Alabama. The 48th annual America's Junior Miss National Finals will be held in Mobile, Ala., in June.

For more information on AJM, call (800) 256-5435 or visit the AJM Web Site at www.ajm.org.

- The Union-Recorder

Martinez, Harshbarger garner Junior Miss titles; ready to go to state in July

Mary-Beth Martinez of Georgia Military College High School was named Milledgeville's Junior Miss 2006 and Blair Harshbarger of Baldwin High School was named Baldwin's Junior Miss 2006, meaning they will compete in the state program this summer.

Martinez and Harshbarger were among 18 girls from Milledgeville and Baldwin County who competed for a share of $7,500 in college scholarships Jan. 8 and Jan. 9 in Russell Auditorium at Georgia College & State University.

Martinez also was awarded a $1,500 cash scholarship and Harshbarger was awarded a $1,500 cash scholarship. In addition to winning their titles, Martinez received a self-expression award and Harshbarger received a talent and scholastic achievement award.

The Georgia's Junior Miss program will be held in July.

Martinez is a varsity football cheerleader, a member of the varsity tennis team, public relations officer on the GMC 2nd Battalion staff and hopes to attend the University of Georgia in the fall of 2006 where she will major in English and later attend law school.

Harshbarger actively participates in the Baldwin High fine arts program, Theatre Macon and is a member of Beta Club and the National Honor Society. She has also participated in the Governor's Honors Program and upon graduation she hopes to attend Northwestern University to pursue a major in vocal performance and writing.

The first honoree, Abbie Wood of GMC High School, received a $1,000 cash scholarship. The second honoree, Magan Cowart of John Milledge Academy, received a $750 cash scholarship.

Scholastic Achievement award winners received $250 cash scholarships and the recipients were Blair Harshbarger and Magan Cowart. Talent award winners also received $250 cash scholarships and the recipients were Mary E. Godfrey, BHS and Blair Harshbarger.

Fitness award winners received $250 cash scholarships and the recipients were Magan Cowart and Abbie Wood. Self-expression award winners received $250 cash scholarships and the recipients were Abbie Wood and Mary Beth Martinez.

Special recognition awards for the program were presented to Jessica Grant of GMC for the most sponsorships sold and Abbie Wood for the most tickets sold. Each contestant received a $100 gift certificate to the business of her choosing.

Jessica Grant also received the Be Your Best Self essay award along with a $250 cash scholarship.

National sponsors of AJM include Coca-Cola, Tyson Foods Inc., SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, the Riverview Plaza Hotel, the City of Mobile and Mobile County. National category sponsors include Mobile Gas and Regions Bank. Governmental support is furnished by the state of Alabama.

The 48th annual America's Junior Miss National Finals will be held in Mobile, Ala., in June. For more information on AJM, call (800) 256-5435 or visit the AJM Web site at www.ajm.org

Editor's note: This story is being rerun in its entirety to correct an omission.

•  The Union-Recorder

Milledgeville resident garners first place in state vocal auditions

Blair Harshbarger of Milledgeville has won first place in the Advanced High School Women's Division of the State Auditions of the National Association of Teachers of Singing.

Harshbarger, a classical soprano, received ratings of Superior on all five judging criteria from each of the three judges.

She is a joint enrollment student at GC&SU and Baldwin High School and studies voice under GC&SU adjunct faculty member Nancy Rehberg and music faculty member Chris Hendley.

She is the daughter of Bruce and Debbie Harshbarger of Milledgeville.

At Baldwin High School, she is a member of the BHS Chorus, Theatre and Beta Club.

She participates in Theatre Macon and is a member of the Youth Actors Company of Theatre Macon.

She participated in the Governor's Honors Program in 2004, and is currently Baldwin County's Junior Miss. She has also been listed in the Who's Who Among American High School Students. National Association of Teachers of Singing is a national professional society for voice teachers.

Once a year, the members of the Georgia Chapter send their students to the state auditions, held at a different university each year.

This year's competition was held at Valdosta State University. The competition includes around 275 singers, their accompanists, and is judged by a panel of three NATS teachers for each category.

Depending on the number of students enrolled, categories might be separated into divisions, and include final run-offs for the category winner.

Local Junior Miss winners on their way to state

By Philip Gaffney - The Union-Recorder

MILLEDGEVILLE -- For two rising seniors representing Georgia Military College Prep School and Baldwin High School, the Junior Miss Scholarship Program required months of rehearsing and preparation.

Mary Beth Martinez and Blair Harshbarger reaped the benefits of hard work Tuesday morning when they were honored as the program's winners for Milledgeville and Baldwin County. The send-off was held at Blackbird Coffee Shop.

"These girls are college-bound, well-rounded individuals," said April Bragg, local program director.

They competed at GC&SU on Jan. 8-9 and faced stiff competition from 16 other juniors in the area.

Martinez, a rising senior at GMC and Milledgeville recipient, and Harshbarger, a rising BHS senior and Baldwin County recipient, are preparing for the upcoming state competition held at the Cobb Civic Center in Atlanta on Saturday and Sunday.

"The girls are leaving Wednesday to begin their rehearsals," Bragg said.

There is more behind this program than judging based on high grades, test scores or beauty. It requires participants to demonstrate an array of talents.

"The girls are evaluated in five different areas," Bragg said.

She explained these areas include scholastic achievement, interview, talent, physical fitness and self-expression.

"It seeks to award overall excellence in young women and not just one specific area of their lives. We have had some amazing girls competing in this," Bragg said.

She added the program has attracted growing attention. It is the oldest scholarship program for young women in the country. This is the third year the area has sponsored the program and Bragg has been delighted with the support it has received.

"In the last three years, we have awarded over $25,000 in scholarships and prizes to our local representatives. Not just the two overall winners, but category awards and other awards that the (other) girls were able to achieve. Those were only made possible by the community's support. We couldn't do it without our sponsors, scholarship donors and volunteers," Bragg said.

Mayor Floyd Griffin Jr. said this is a wonderful program to promote outstanding achievement for future community leaders. He presented Martinez a plaque on behalf of the city for her hard work.

Griffin reminded Harshbarger and Martinez of an old cliche that he said is still timeless.

"I know you hear this all the time, but you really are our future," he said.

County commissioner Dennis Blizzard awarded Harshbarger a plaque on behalf of the county commission. He also praised Martinez and Harshbarger for their hard work and dedication.

"I was thrilled and excited. There were so many talented women in the competition," Harshbarger said.

"I'm thrilled for Blair," said Debbie Harshbarger, her mother. "These girls have obviously worked very hard on their academics and activities."

Another proud recipient and her mother said they are grateful for the opportunity to participate in the program.

"It was definitely a very big honor. I didn't realize all the publicity Junior Miss would bring. I'm very excited and thankful for everything going on today. April (Bragg) has done so much for me," Martinez said.

Both participants said it was an honor to be recognized among a distinguished group. Martinez' mother Jeanine voiced her sentiments about her daughter's accomplishments.

"We (the family) have been very proud and a little surprised. There were so many girls at the local level that were so talented. I'm about to burst with pride. When she (Mary Beth) puts her mind into something, she sets out to accomplish it," Jeanine said.

Participation for the program increased this year. Last year, eight women participated, compared to 18 for this year's local competition, Bragg said.

She said she credits the community, area schools and 12 volunteers working with her for all the program's success. This year, Bragg said more than $8,000 was awarded in scholarships and prizes for the participants.

Next year, Milledgeville might be in the state spotlight.

"We're putting in a bid for having the state competition held at Georgia College & State (University) next year," Bragg said. This would occur after the local competition, which will be held on Jan. 7-8.

For more information about the Junior Miss Scholarship Program, contact April Bragg at (478) 453-3417.

Philip Gaffney can be reached at (478) 453-1451 or by e-mail at newsroom@union-recorder.com

Baldwin teen is state Junior Miss

By Philip Gaffney - The Union-Recorder

MILLEDGEVILLE - When Blair Harshbarger heard her name called Sunday as Georgia's Junior Miss, her first reaction was denial.

"I think I said, 'No, no, no, no' and I backed up," she said Monday. "The girl next to me had to push me forward. It was surreal."

But it was real - and both Harshbarger and Mary Beth Martinez received honors during the weekend event. They said it was an opportunity to be a part of a treasured experience.

After being named the 2006 Georgia Junior Miss, a self-effacing Harshbarger praised everyone who helped bring out the best in the program.

"It was just a wonderful day seeing everyone do their best," Harshbarger said. "All the girls put on a truly wonderful show, no matter what the outcome was going to be. Everyone felt they did their best. We're all so proud of the ideals Junior Miss offers. We all feel like being a representative from a group of winners. It's really a celebration of everyone's excellence."

Harshbarger, who represented Baldwin County, said she was more excited to just be a part of the program than winning it. Tentatively, she is set to represent Georgia and compete at the national competition in Mobile, Ala., in the summer of 2006.

Along with winning the event, Harshbarger received $4,250 in cash scholarships, in addition to several full tuition scholarships offered to state Junior Miss winners from various U.S. universities. Harshbarger plans to pursue a liberal arts degree at Northwestern University with a concentration in vocal performance and creative writing after completing her senior year at Baldwin High School.

Martinez, a rising senior at Georgia Military College Prep School representing Milledgeville, was one of two competitors who won the preliminary self-expression category of the competition. She received a $150 scholarship award.

April Bragg, local program director, said she was thrilled for Harshbarger and Martinez to represent this area in such a positive light. Bragg began a recruitment effort in September for any young women who were high school juniors.

"They are shining examples of what the Junior Miss (scholarship) program is all about," Bragg said about Harshbarger, Martinez and 16 other young women who competed at the local level.

Harshbarger said she was greatly appreciative of all the community's support and what the Junior Miss scholarship program has to offer.

"This program supports every wonderful attribute a woman should have growing up," she said. "It encourages well-rounded excellence for young women...Mary Beth and I are so proud to represent this community."

Harshbarger and Martinez spent Saturday and Sunday evening performing three out of five competitive categories in front of a large audience and a five-judge panel at the Cobb Civic Center in Atlanta: talent, self-expression and fitness. The other two were solely performed for the judges: scholastics and interview.

The judges came from various backgrounds, with a few winning the Junior Miss program in their respective communities. They all have backgrounds in performing arts, as well as participating in and judging the Junior Miss scholarship program.

One judge, Amy Goodman, current editor for In-Style magazine and correspondent for VH1, The Today Show and Entertainment Tonight, won the national competition in 1991. Other national winners include Diane Sawyer of ABC News, MSNBC's Deborah Norville and Debra Messing, co-star of NBC's "Will & Grace."

Debbie Harshbarger, Blair's mother, said she was proud of her daughter and all the competitors.

"I was elated and very happy," Debbie said. "Her brother (David) looked up at me and said, 'See, mom, I told you she was going to win.' We were equally thrilled for Mary Beth Martinez, who came away with a wonderful award."

Debbie said her 15-year-old daughter Laura Brett is also interested in the Junior Miss scholarship program. Laura Brett is a rising sophomore at BHS and Debbie said, "Don't be surprised to see her in the Junior Miss scholarship program."

Mayor Floyd Griffin Jr. is another supporter who wishes to see the program continue to thrive in Milledgeville for years to come.

"I am extremely proud of Mary Beth Martinez and Blair Harshbarger who represented Milledgeville and Baldwin County in the contest," he said. "It speaks well for Milledgeville and Baldwin County. They're quality young people who had the ability to compete at the state level. We hope this will give us a leg up in getting the Junior Miss program to move its headquarters to Milledgeville," Griffin said.

Debbie said she was touched that Kaila Jaworski and Leia Eubanks, the two previous winners of the local program, decided to attend last weekend's event.

Eubanks and Jaworski, along with Laura Brett Harshbarger, are rehearsing for "Fiddler on the Roof," where they play sisters.

"The really neat thing is the two older sisters in the play won the local Junior Miss program and decided to show their support this weekend," Debbie said.

In the midst of the post-program excitement, Blair told Bragg that "I can't believe this is really happening to me. The reality hasn't sunk in yet."

Philip Gaffney can be reached at (478) 453-1451 or by e-mail at newsroom@unionrecorder.com

Future of program uncertain

By Philip Gaffney - The Union-Recorder

MILLEDGEVILLE - One of Baldwin County's own, Blair Harshbarger, walked away from the Cobb Civic Center in Atlanta on July 19 as Georgia's Junior Miss. But her participation on the national stage is pending as questions remain as to whether the America's Junior Miss Scholarship Program will continue.

The AJM has hosted a national pageant for 48 years, but its future is in jeopardy n. Proposals are in the works for having the competition in Mobile, Ala., or Chattanooga, Tenn. However, an employee at the AJM headquarters in Mobile said determining which site it will be held at is irrelevant.

"At this point, there is no national competition," said David Mann, public relations director for America's Junior Miss Scholarship Program.

Twenty-three states opted not to host their state's competition this year, he added.

Georgia was not one of them. It was one state that still believed in the program. Others contend the program will continue by reaching out to different supporters.

On May 4, the AJM board of directors said the program would be discontinued. Bragg said she simply received a letter saying "they were closing their doors." This was without feedback from community supporters like those from Milledgeville/Baldwin County providing suggestions on how the program can continue.

AJM employees sought advertising for a nationally televised audience. But it was poorly received by the viewing audience, causing AJM to have a problem gaining sponsors.

April Bragg, local program coordinator, said the program is not intended to be nationally televised. In the past, she said it has been "very watered-down" with all the editing, and didn't portray the program for what it really is. She contends the AJM's paid employees were looking for sponsors based on the "premise it was going to be on television.

"It's like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole," Bragg said. "Junior Miss, in my opinion, was not created or was never meant to be a televised event. The format is not TV friendly. It doesn't conform to that."

Bragg said it's intended to be an event promoting "overall excellence and strong moral values." She said this doesn't appeal to today's TV audience.

"That's why a lot of the shows that promoted moral virtues from decades ago are no longer on the air. It's why we're watching the Osbornes instead of the Cleavers."

AJM board members met again on Tuesday and are looking at new proposals, mainly citing ways to eliminate looking at advertising for a televised audience.

In a Wednesday article in The Mobile Register, Eric Patterson, AJM president, said he was receptive to what had been presented at a Tuesday board meeting.

An inch-thick proposal was distributed to Patterson and board members. An advocacy group, Friends of Junior Miss, launched a grassroots campaign and fundraising Web site, www.saveajm.com, approximately three weeks ago. Since that time, Friends has raised more than $65,000.

"There were some exciting opportunities in their proposal. My hopes are much higher today than they were two weeks ago," he said.

The board is scheduled to meet again on Aug. 9. Bragg said she expects the Junior Miss Program will survive.

"I fully believe that just in conversations I've had and e-mails I've gotten from people who were actually there at the board meeting, I'm very confident there's going to be a national program for Blair to go to," Bragg said.