Young women of Union County are being presented an extravagant scholarship, personal growth, and transcript building opportunity. Union County is officially hosting a preliminary division of the Miss Tennessee Scholarship Pageant. Ladies from Union County and surrounding areas can compete for the Miss Union County and Miss Thunder Road titles. This is an Official Miss America Local Competition.

Each titleholder will receive a $500 scholarship, an official crown, an official sash, and a glow of confidence that can be carried with pride. Finalists will advance to the Miss Tennessee Scholarship Pageant to be held in June at Thompson Bowling Arena. Local businesses have sponsored donations for the scholarships and will be featured in the program as well as verbally the night of the pageant. The program is still seeking sponsors.

The Miss Tennessee Executive Director contacted Julia Gibbs of Union County to be a local director in 2019. This will bring a pageant to an area that has not previously offered the opportunity. Julia grew up in Union County and has held a career in special education with Union County Schools for twenty years. She and her husband, Marty, are active members of the community and are raising their two sons as a part of it as well. Julia says she is honored to be a part of this amazing organization and endeavor. She speaks, “I’m thrilled to offer this to ladies of Union County and surrounding areas. It’s an amazing opportunity for someone to be able to advance to Miss Tennessee and participate in that scholarship pageant.”

The Miss Union County/Miss Thunder Road Scholarship Pageant is being held on March 16, 2019 at Union County High School. Ladies ages 17 (graduating seniors) through 24 are eligible to participate and compete. There is much encouragement needed for these ladies to become involved in this grand opportunity. Spots are still available for entry, so spread the word. There will be a talent portion, evening gown, on stage question, panel review, and platform/social impact statement from each contestant. Also, each competitor must raise $100 for the Children’s Miracle Network.

Julia shows hope that this will become a legacy for intelligent, talented, and beautiful young women of the community to receive scholarship monies assisting in advancing their education. All the while, the women are representing the best county in the state in a positive, well-rounded manner. The community has stepped up on a grand scale with support. The donors are extremely supportive and have expressed the desire for this pageant to succeed and continue for years to come.

Overall goals of this program are to inspire the young women of Union County to follow their dreams and achieve their goals. This chance will assist these ladies in developing leadership skills that go above and beyond a crown and sash and to be beautiful in the way she is smart, principled, and passionate. The mission of Miss America is, “Prepare great women for the world. Prepare the world for great women.” It starts here, in Union County. To register for the local prelims, simply email Julia, the local director, at gibbsj@ucps.org or call her at 865-235-9766 and she will direct you on the next steps.