The Starr’s Mill High School Drama Department will present the annual Miss Starr’s Mill High School Scholarship Pageant this Thursday and Friday, Jan. 14 and 15 at 7 p.m. and Saturday night, Jan. 16 at 7:30 p.m.

The pageant is the main fundraiser for the drama program at Starr’s Mill.

“We produce several main stage productions each year,” said David Spearman, Starr’s Mill Drama teacher. “Production costs are very high.  We need a way to raise funds, and producing a show seems to be the most logical way to raise those funds.”

Thirty young ladies will compete for the title of Miss Starr’s Mill High School. Each contestant participates in casual wear, evening wear, talent, and personal interview. Contestants are divided into two groups; Group A and Group B.  Group A will participate in talent on Thursday while Group B participates in casual wear and evening wear. On Friday evening, the groups will reverse categories.  On Saturday afternoon, each of the contestants will meet with the panel of judges.

“The judges judge on the Olympic system; on a scale of 1 to 10; 10 being the highest,” Spearman explained. “The three judges scores are added together and then multiplied by the weight of the particular category.”  

Talent is 40 percent of each contestants preliminary score, interview is 30 percent, casual and evening wear are 15 percent each. After the interviews are completed, the 10 contestants with the highest scores will be named the top ten Saturday night. At that point, their scores are erased except for interview.

Those top ten will then participate again in causal wear, talent, and evening wear.
Over $7,000 in scholarship and prizes will be awarded at the end of Saturday evening.  This makes the Miss Starr’s Mill High School Scholarship Pageant the largest high school pageant of its kind in the nation.

Tickets are $7 each night or a three night pass for $15. Tickets may be purchased at the front office of the school or in the Willie Duke Auditorium lobby each night of the pageant.