Young women who would like to enter the 2015 Miss Dowagiac Scholarship Pageant will meet with pageant officials on Monday, Oct. 13, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. within the library at Dowagiac Union High School (DUHS).

At the mandatory meeting, prospective contestants will hand in their signed contract, $20 entry fee and emergency contact information form. Sign-up packets containing these forms and further information are available within the administrative office at DUHS. Pageant officials will review the contract, schedule of practices and events, and will answer questions contestants have.

As a long-standing tradition in Dowagiac, pageant officials in 2000 were pleased to take the program to new heights, as scholarships were awarded for the first time to that year’s Queen, and to the first and second runners-up. Since then, $45,150 in college of choice scholarships have been presented to 63 young women of this community.

Co-chairing the 2015 pageant are Courtney Livingston, and Marti and Lori Key.

“As pageant directors, we are excited to meet our 2015 contestants,” Lori Key said. “We look forward to helping each of these young women continue to grow as individuals and achieve their goals, while creating life-long memories with one another.”

To enter the pageant, contestants must be 17 years old on or before Jan. 1; live in the Dowagiac School District as a year round resident; attend Dowagiac Union schools; and have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 or higher, as calculated by school officials at the end of the semester to determine class rankings, college admission and college scholarships.

Established in 1930, the Miss Dowagiac Scholarship Pageant is sponsored by the Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce. Since then, a queen has been chosen each year, with the exception of the years World War II was being fought. The 76th Miss Dowagiac will be crowned on Jan. 24.

“I highly encourage all young ladies to participate in Miss Dowagiac and to step out of their comfort zone, by learning more about themselves,” said Mackenzie Whitmyer, the reigning Miss Dowagiac. “Having the opportunity to represent the Grand Old City has been nothing less than amazing.”

“When I decided to participate in the scholarship pageant, I had no idea the multitude of things I would learn. I not only gained lifelong skills, I have made new friendships and memories that will last a lifetime.”

For more information, contestants can call the Chamber of Commerce at 782-8212 or e-mail the co-chairman at Lori.Key@CroweHorwath.com