MASP to host Central Maine Egg Festival Pageant

   PITTSFIELD – The 40th annual Central Maine Egg Festival Scholarship Pageant is returning this year in conjunction with the Maine Academic Scholarship Program (MASP) to increase scholarship opportunities for Central Maine youth and teens.  This year’s program will be held at Millennium on Route 100 in Palmyra Friday, July 13 at 2 p.m., under the direction of Deb Landry, President of Crossroad’s MASP.

   Under the 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit organization Crossroads, MASP primary responsibility is to award scholarships to young women and men of Maine and provide opportunities for personal growth, community service, and academic achievement through volunteerism, social awareness issues and scholarships.

   They also partner with the Miss Collegiate America and Miss High School and Junior High America Organization that represents today’s young women and have the mission to assist young women and men in scholarship achievement and personal growth through a national and international pageant.

   This year the CMEF Collegiate Queen, Callie MacQueston represented her title at the national pageant in San Antonio, placing in the top 15. “It was an honor to represent my crown and be chosen a finalist,” said MacQueston who will emcee the pageant this year with Nokomis Regional High School’s Miss High School Sweetheart Drew Graves.

  Applications for the Central Maine Egg Festival Scholarship Pageant are available online at www.missmainepageant.com, by email editor@breathemaine.org or call (207) 838-2146.

  The pageant schedule has contestants arriving at 9 a.m. for registration and practice, with the actual competition, open to the public, beginning at 2 p.m. A talent, essay and photogenic competition will also be held on the same day.  Applications for this competition are due by June 1 to be included in the program; however, applications will be taken up to July 1. Tickets to the event are $10 and $5 for children 5 and under.

   The CMEF is accepting applications in the following grade levels as of September 1, 2011: Grades 1 to College or ages 7 to 21. Divisions are divided by, Primary, Elementary, Junior High (Princess), High School (Queen) and Collegiate.

  Judging criteria for the program is 40 percent personal interview, academic achievement, and community service; 30 percent fashion runway (personality) and 30 percent evening gown (poise and elegance). The Princess, Queen and Collegiate winners will advance to the state pageant on August 18 in Saco Maine.

   There are no swimwear or talent portions in this competition. This program is strictly a scholarship program and all divisions must be age and grade appropriate.

   For more information regarding this competition, as well as 2012 national, international, state, and other local competitions, appearances by Miss Collegiate International, Miss Maine High School, Miss Maine Collegiate, or any of our local or state titleholders, or to become a volunteer, visit www.missmainepageant.com.