36 vie for title of Miss Mister GHS

Annual Gravette pageant is set for Saturday at the high school's Performing Arts Center

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

— Thirty-six contestants will be vying for the title of Mister or Miss Gravette High School at this year’s pageant, scheduled for Sept. 29 at the GHS Performing Arts Center.

The Gravette High School Parent-Teacher Organization would like to encourage everyone to attend the 2012-13 Mister and Miss GHS Pageant. In addition to the naming of Mister and Miss GHS for 2012-2013, Mister and Miss Lions Pride (congeniality) and Mister and Miss Lions Choice (audience favorite by monetary vote) titles will be determined.

Entertainment confirmed so far includes vocal performances by Ashton Yarbrough and Hannah Gibson, a dance performance by AJ Claborn, a twirl performance by Rosalyn Turner, and a special performance by the Gravette Orange and Black Pee Wee Cheerleaders. Pageant music will be provided by Simply Cello - Lauren and Cole Leonard.

Tickets can be purchased at the door - which opens at 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 for adults over 18 and $3 for 18 and under. children under 3 are admittedfree. Pre-pageant entertainment begins at 1:45 p.m. Rosalyn Turner, third runner-up Miss Arkansas 2012; Hannah Gibson, 2011 Miss Bentonville High School; and Savvy Shields, Miss Arkansas Collegiate and a former Miss Arkansas Teen serve as emcees for the event. A special team of auditors has been secured to ensure absolute integrity in the point allocation for each phase of the competition.

Contestants

Twenty-three Miss contestants and thirteen Mister contestants will make up this year’s pageant contest. Each contestant personally selected his or her escort, all of whom are current GHS students. New this year to the Mister and Miss GHS Pageant is the addition of the “Outfit of Choice.” Contestants will be wearing a fun casual outfit, their favorite sport outfit, or any other suitable outfit that reflects their personality.

An experienced panel of “outside” pageant judges will determine this year’s Mister and Miss GHS after their evaluation of interview, an “Outfit of Choice,” and formal wear segments of the competition. Winners of the Mister and Miss GHS awards will eachreceive a $250 scholarship to the college they choose to attend, a gift bag, and a Mister or Miss GHS T-shirt. First, second and third runners-up will be named in addition to Mister GHS, and first through fifth runners-up in addition to Miss GHS will be named. All contestants will receive a gift bag of merchandise and special offers which are valued at $50 retail.

The Mister and Miss Lion Pride titles are “congeniality” awards. Secret ballots, cast by each of the Mister and Miss GHS contestants will determine the winners of these prestigious awards. In addition to the prestigious title, winners will receive a gift bag and a Mister or Miss Lion Pride T-shirt.

Each year the Mister and Miss Lions Choice (audience favorite) award is determined by monetary vote. Funds raised are used to support the pageant scholarship program and other PTO sponsored events which benefit GHS students and teachers. The winners of these two awards will receive a cash prize, a gift bag, and a Mister or Miss Lions Choice T-shirt.

A special display of “Treasure Chests,” provided by Rapid Prototypes, has brought a new elementthis year to the voting process for these awards. Each contestant has a treasure chest that is being used to collect monetary votes. These treasure chests will be on display through intermission for voting. The community is encouraged to show its support of contestant(s) by placing monetary votes in the applicable contestant treasure chest. All contestants have been encouraged to gather votes prior to the pageant, but “contributory votes” can also be made prior to the start of the pageant and through intermission.

Miss GHS contestants and their sponsors are: Claudia Anderson, Sophomore Class; Marlie Ball, Math Dept.; Dariann Coffelt, Volleyball; Amber Countryman, Art Dept.; DaMayla Cowan, HOSA; Quincy Curtis, Quiz Bowl; Cristina Guerra, HOSA; Elexis Harper, Art Dept.; Haley House, FBLA; Anna Huckaba, English Dept.; Jacquelyn Janes, Volleyball; Tori Key, Volleyball; Destiny Laymon, Volleyball; Deanna Marta, FCCLA; Megan McAfee, Forensics; Caitlin McKee, Lion Book Club; Makayla Moore, Key Club; Stephani Slaney, Choir; Kara Smith, Choir; Connie Sperry, Science Dept.; Madison Turner,Quiz Bowl; Jordan White, Golf; and Madeline Zillman, Choir.

Mister GHS contestants and their sponsors are: Jacob Bookout, HOSA; William Dahl, HOSA; Hunter Grimes, English Dept.; Adrian Holland, Science Dept.; Carson King, Quiz Bowl; Kelly Lang, English Dept.; Joshua Lockhart, NHS; Chay McDaniel, Science Dept.; Michael Olvera, History Dept.; Quinten Parker, FFA; Cody Robinson, Science Dept.; Jasper Russ, NHS; and Noah Smith, Skills USA.

Sponsors

On behalf of the Gravette High School Parent-Teacher Organization, the 2012-13 Mister and Miss GHS Pageant Committee would like to express their appreciation to this year’s Honorary PTO Member/Sponsors: Platinum - ARVEST Gravette; Built Well Construction, Clear Creek Cattle Co., Tri-State Propane; Gold - Austin Drug, Dr. Kent Leonard, Sportswired Retail; Silver - Hendren Plastics, Shelter Insurance-Bob Kelly; Bronze - The Patio.

At the time of this article, other pageant sponsors include Paris Presents, Inc.; McKee Foods; Serv-Pro of Benton and Washington County; Coty, Inc.;Rapid-Prototypes; Jalopy Joe’s Carwash; Blue Ocean; Lindt Chocolate; 47 Brand; and Beckett Associates.

“Sincere thanks are due to those who have dedicated countless hours to make this year’s pageant a success,” said Kimberly Yarbrough, pageant chair. “Please come out and support the contestants, the escorts, PTO and our school by attending the 2012-13 Mister and Miss GHS Pageant. Not only is it an extremely worthy cause, this year’s event promises to provide great entertainment!”

Special appreciation is also extended to Maxie Carpenter, former vice president of People/Training and Development, Wal-Mart U.S., and current director of operations, Samaritan Community Centers of NWA, who conducted a Life Skills Workshop this past Saturday on “Steps to a Life of Poise, Confidence and Respect,” which focused on interview tips and skills, personal presence and presentation, and self-confidence building. The workshop, sponsored by the Gravette High School Parent-Teachers Organization, was provided at no charge to all pageant contestants, escorts, and the rest of the GHS student body.

Community, Pages 16 on 09/26/2012