Published Tuesday, March 09, 2010

Clark, Rayburn named local Junior Misses

The Newnan Times-Herald

Under blooming flowers and beautiful butterflies, 21 high school junior girls competed Sunday afternoon in Newnan for a share of $11,000 in college scholarships through the Junior Miss program.

The theme of the annual scholarship program was "Spring into Junior Miss."

Jason Jones served as master of ceremonies and guided the audience at the Centre for Performing and Visual Arts through an afternoon of entertainment and excitement.

Ellen Rayburn, daughter of Michael and Suzanne Rayburn, was awarded the title of Newnan's Junior Miss and $2,050 in cash scholarships. Latrice Clark, daughter of William Clark and Regina Brewster, was awarded the title of Coweta's County's Junior Miss and $2,150 in cash scholarships.

Abigail Shell, daughter of Brian and Christi Shell, was named first runner-up and received $1,150 in cash scholarship.

Cortney Carlow, daughter of Michael and Shelli Carlow, was named second runner-up and received $1,200 in cash scholarships.

The Junior Miss selection process is broken down into five categories: interview, 25 percent; talent, 25 percent; scholastics, 20 percent; fitness, 15 percent; and self-expression, 15 percent. Four preliminary awards of $350 each were given in all categories.

Rayburn won in the preliminary categories of interview and fitness. Clark won in the preliminary categories of talent, fitness and self-expression. Shell won in scholastics. Carlow won in interview and talent.

Other winners included Mary Margaret Taylor, scholastics and fitness; Lainie Long, talent and fitness; Katie Davis, scholastics; Forrest Skelton, scholastics; Brooke Moore, talent; Krysten Johnson, interview; Morgan Bowen, interview; Ashley Pearce, self-expression; Lyndsey Witter; self-expression; and Taylor Anne Ingalls, self-expression.

The Spirit of Junior Miss Award and a $250 scholarship were presented to Ellen Rayburn. The honor is awarded to the contestant who best captures and understands the ideals of the Jr. Miss program, and is voted on by the contestants.

The Be Your Best Self Award and a $250 scholarship were presented to Porchia Bradford. The honor is awarded to the contestant who best captures the Be Your Best Self ideals.

Amy Pierce, Aliah Smith, Kristin Owens, Mary Ellen Pierson, Laurel Smith and Erika Jeane also competed.

Specialty act entertainment during the afternoon included Hannah Gravitt, Newnan's Junior Miss class of 2010; Emily Stephens, Coweta County's Junior Miss class of 2010; Ellen Dorrell, first runner-up class of 2010, Maya Austin, second runner-up class of 2010 and Monica Kotz double preliminary winner class of 2010.

Angela Jones and Cynthia Bennett are chairmen for the program. Additional committee members include Karen Poore, Suzanne Brooks, Kristine Ryan, Donna Wilson, Scott Ondovchik and Hugh O'Steen.

"We are excited and humbled by the support the community showed these amazing young women. We were able to award the highest amount of scholarships ever since Newnan-Coweta's Junior Miss Program began thirteen years ago" said Jones. "Junior Miss is a program that not only rewards overall excellence in the lives of young women but allows them to further their education through much needed scholarship money."

Rayburn and Clark will go on to compete for additional scholarships at Georgia's Junior Miss Program in Marietta in this summer. Ticket information is available by emailing cowetajm@hotmail.com .

For more information on America's Junior Miss, call 800-256-5435 or visit the AJM website at www.ajm.org .