Miss Troup County Scholarship Program is now accepting applications for Miss Troup County, Miss LaGrange, Miss Troup County’s Outstanding Teen and Miss LaGrange’s Outstanding Teen. Judy Neighbors, the executive director for the Miss Troup County Scholarship Program, said Miss Troup is open for anyone around the state and Miss LaGrange is for local contestants only.

“I’m really working hard on getting Miss LaGrange and Miss LaGrange’s Outstanding Teen going again,” Neighbors said. “This past year, I couldn’t get anybody to enter. I had a few, but I have to have a certain number in order to give a crown, and I just didn’t make the number. I’m hoping this year we will have enough young ladies from LaGrange who want scholarship money because we are a scholarship program.”

Neighbors said for Miss LaGrange to be run, four contestants are needed, and for Miss LaGrange Outstanding Teen, three participants are needed.

“I don’t know why anybody wouldn’t want scholarship money and all the benefits that comes from participating in a scholarship program,” Neighbors said. “They learn to write resumes. They learn to interview. [They gain] interview skills that are more valuable than anything they’ll have in their lifetime. They learn how to set goals and work toward goals, and be community oriented, giving back to the community with a personal platform of their choice that is important to them.”

Neighbors said the amount in scholarships depends on how much they receive in donations, but this year’s Miss Troup, Lizzy Stanford, received about $1,000 in scholarship, and $800 in preparation fees for Miss Georgia.

Neighbors said Miss Troup’s Outstanding Teen, Rebecca Zhang, received about $800 in scholarship funds and $800 in preparation fees for Miss Georgia Outstanding Teen.

“I wouldn’t say it’s nothing to sneeze at, every scholarship amount helps,” Neighbors said. “Both girls represented Troup wonderfully. They did really well, and they had a blast, and that was important.They enjoyed representing Troup County.”

Neighbors said the pageant’s programs include a private interview with the judges, answering an onstage question, evening wear, performing a 90 second talent and physical fitness.

Neighbors said her favorite thing about running the pageants is watching the women grow as they participate.

“I’ve seen many young women get jobs who were as equally qualified as other candidates, but they got the job because they could interview,” Neighbors said. “They knew how to talk to people. They knew how to meet people. They knew how to reach out to people, and they learned these skills by participating in this type of program.

The pageants will be held Jan. 19, 2019, at the Troup High School Performing Arts Center.

For more information on applying, visit Misstroupcounty.org.