Sign-ups for the 79th annual Miss Dowagiac Scholarship Pageant will kick-off Monday and be open through Friday, Oct. 13, at Dowagiac Union High School.

A mandatory meeting for all those interested will be at 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 15, at The Mane Attraction in downtown Dowagiac.

Director Jessica (Cuthbert) Voldrich, Miss Dowagiac 2002, said girls who apply must be 17 by the cut-off date of Jan. 1. Other requirements include living and attedning classes in the Dowagiac Union Schools district year round. Applicants must also have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher at the end of the semester prior to the application, and good attendance standing at school, which pageant officials verify with the school.

Voldrich also said that, after the applications have been reviewed, a social will be on Wednesday, Nov. 8, at the Dowagiac Area History Museum for all contestants and parent(s)/guardian(s). That time will be designated for applicants to receive more detailed pageant information, have their headshots taken and for questions to be answered.

The pageant is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 13. Tickets sales will open the evening of Tuesday, Dec. 19, at Round Oak Revisited.

For more information on the pageant or how to apply, contact Voldrich at missdowagiacscholarshippageant@gmail.com.