While the ultimate goal is to have a crown placed on top of her head, the women competing for the title of Miss Thurston County aren’t princesses at all.
These smart women are using the Miss Thurston County pageant to earn valuable scholarship dollars. Continuing their education beyond high school, the seven candidates have a diverse set of interests way beyond sparkly dresses.
Meet the seven women competing for the crown while making an impact in the community along the way.
Tarin Bracher – The South Puget Sound Community College student is studying architecture. More than a pageant princess, Tarin is also an equestrian. Her platform is to inspire youth to be involved in their community.
Jenise Davis – The Tumwater High School athlete is interested in furthering her education in arts and music. She is focused on breast cancer awareness.
Shelby Gebb – A student at Yelm High School, Shelby is intent about informing children of alcoholics that they are not alone. The musician can be found rocking on her electric guitar.
Emily Hamack – Studying at South Puget Sound Community College, Emily believes in stamping out human trafficking by sharing a message that a “hope and future belong to everyone.”
Ciara King – Sending a message about mentorship, Ciara is focused on helping “youth find someone to guide them.” She plans on becoming a teacher.
Cat Murphy – Looking toward a career in education, the South Puget Sound Community College student is intent on encouraging people under the age of 30 to vote. Cat is also an enthusiastic cosplayer.
Kalina Springer – A German language and literature major at Pacific Lutheran University, Kalina believes that Special Olympics gives the community a chance to develop strength and confidence.
The seven contestants all live, work or attend school in Thurston County. During the scholarship pageant, each woman will individually perform a talent live on stage for 90 seconds.
Prior to the big day, contestants are active in the community. The scholarship pageant asks the women to make a commitment to workshops, community events, and fundraisers for the three months leading up to the event.
The Miss Thurston County board spends months choosing pageant judges. They look for individuals that are diverse and receive instruction on proper judging procedures.
Miss Thurston County is run entirely by volunteers who believe in supporting the candidates in their future educational goals.
A special thanks goes to this year’s sponsors including Dirty Dave’s Pizza Parlor, Edward Jones – Tim Scheuffele, Shanna Paxton Photography, ThurstonTalk.com, D Zines, The Creative Office, Merle Norman, KAYO Radio, KGY Radio and Center Stage Dance Academy.
Watch the pageant live. Timberline High School will host the 2015 Miss Thurston County scholarship pageant on March 15 at 5:30 p.m. The $15 tickets can be purchased online here or at the Lacey South Sound Chamber of Commerce office, Merle Norman Cosmetics in Lacey, at the Edward Jones office of Tim Scheuffele in Olympia.
