As the Miss River Raisin Scholarship Program opens its 2020 pre-application process to crown the 26th Miss River Raisin Festival July 10, it invites talented young women who seek scholarship, leadership and service opportunities to enter the competition.
The Miss River Raisin Scholarship Program has awarded $150,100 in college scholarships to Lenawee County women over the past 25 years. Last year, $8,800 was awarded with a minimum scholarship of $300 to each young woman competing. Potential contestants are being asked to sign up by April 17 and to attend an April 19 orientation in Blissfield. Lenawee County young women between ages 18 by July 31, 2021, and no older than 25 on Dec. 31, 2021, are invited to seek the title and scholarships offered by the program. They must be a high school senior or older this fall.
Current Miss River Raisin Festival Sydney Papenhagen of Blissfield, who will compete in Muskegon for the title of Miss Michigan in June, has had a tremendous year of impact with her Social Impact Initiative (formerly known as the platform) “Finish It! Prevention of Tobacco Use and Vaping in Youth” as vaping suddenly, late last summer, became a national topic beginning with Michigan’s change in the tobacco law in early September 2019 to make vaping materials illegal to sell to or be possessed by youth under the age of 18. Sydney is speaking in schools to all ages as well as working with staff throughout the county to prevent vaping among youth. Further, as a “truth rider” against tobacco use including vaping, she works for The Truth Initiative at major events nationwide.
Marcia Loader, Executive Director of the Miss River Raisin Scholarship Program said novices and experienced candidates alike make this program successful as each, regardless of experience or inexperience, is prepared to find their “best self” and encouraged to make the year their own.
“It’s all about individuality and personal empowerment,” she added. Candidates will find confidence, interview skills, a love of service, encouragement, an opportunity to hone and present a talent, and a positive group of peers in the program. Young women from Onsted, Adrian, Clinton, Sand Creek, Deerfield, Tecumseh, Britton and Blissfield have launched their careers based on the skills developed in the program to handle a job interview and present a professional resume with community service.
“This is a Lenawee County-wide opportunity — from border to border. We welcome young women from the aforementioned communities to join the program, but we know there are also young women in Hudson, Morenci and Addison who have aspirations that could be advanced through the Miss America Organization at the local level,” Loader said.
This year, the paperwork the judges see will include an individualized professional resume rather than a format used in the past, which Loader says will help the young women launch their real-life job searches.
The local program has a schedule of rehearsals and events beginning in June, and two fundraisers in May to build camaraderie and confidence. A schedule is provided at Orientation. Each young woman must raise $100 for the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals program, Miss America’s national social impact initiative, but there is no entry fee.
The Miss RRF program maintains a closet of competition clothing for candidates and the new titleholder, and there is no admission fee to make this program affordable for all. In addition, the actual Miss River Raisin Scholarship Competition is the only local competition in the state that has free admission and is held outdoors.
“Our legacy is to prepare young women from the ground up for the Miss America Program, but more importantly, for their careers and life. We have had two first runners-up at Miss Michigan, several in the top 10 and many winners of academic achievement, community service and interview awards,” Loader said. “In addition, many of our titleholders have gone on to win other local titles and be able to return to Miss Michigan with one reaching the top five twice. The opportunity for empowerment and personal growth cannot be measured, but we have former candidates and titleholders who are serving as medical professionals — including a pediatric cardiologist at Mott Children’s Hospital — in education, politics, law, health, engineering, business, the arts, manufacturing, social work and non-profit leadership.”
The new Miss River Raisin Festival will preside over the 37th annual Blissfield summer event, appear at Lenawee County activities, promote her Social Impact Initiative and compete in the 2021 Miss Michigan Competition. Miss Michigan 2021 competes for the title of Miss America 2022.
The local pageant is a highlight of the River Raisin Festival at 6 p.m. Friday, July 10, 2020, in Blissfield’s Bachmayer Park. Miss Michigan 2020— to be crowned in mid-June — will co-host the event.
Pre-applications, which detail eligibility requirements will soon be in Lenawee County high school guidance counselors’ offices. Single young women who meet the age requirements, who are residents of Lenawee County, or who attend college or high school in the county on a full-time basis, or who work full-time in the county (and have in both instances since at least Jan. 10, 2020,) are invited to apply for the title. Contestants compete in private interview; talent; red carpet evening wear; and onstage interview and social impact statement. There is no longer a swimsuit competition. Talent is limited to 90 seconds and contestants must use the technical equipment provided.
At this time, the scholarship amounts have not yet been set and will depend on what is raised in the coming months. The last several winners have received a minimum of $2500. The scholarship dollars come from businesses, fundraising projects and individual donations.
The program objectives are to provide educational scholarships, to empower area young women and to select an articulate young woman who possesses good character, personality, poise, talent, work ethic, commitment and intelligence to represent the River Raisin Festival at Miss Michigan activities, at Lenawee County events throughout the year, and to make an impact as she pursues her own Social Impact Initiative.
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*From a press release by Marcia Loader, Executive Director of the Miss River Raisin Scholarship Program*