After a pleasant first experience with a local pageantry and scholarship program, Renae Wright decided to return for another shot at the title this year.

“It was a great experience, and it helped my confidence and public speaking skills,” said the Tri-Valley High School senior. “I thought I would try again, and I hope I become the new Miss SEO Teen.”

On Sunday, Sept. 9, Wright will join six other teens will to compete for the title of Miss SEO Teen. The competition returns for its second year, and will be held at 3 p.m. at the Muskingum County Conference and Welcome Center, 205 N. Fifth St.
Wright said she is excited about this year’s event. “I look forward to working with the other girls and showcasing my talent,” she said. “I’ll be singing ‘My Guy.’ It’s a fun, upbeat song; once the audience gets into it, that helps me get into it.

“This is a wonderful experience for girls my age, and I want to be a role model and show how volunteering and community involvement is extremely important.”

First-year competitor Miranda Walker, a sophomore at John Glenn High School, said she wanted to participate because of the many possibilities the contest offers.

“It’s exciting; I wanted to become involved because of the scholarship money and performance opportunities,” she said. “And it’s a good way to get involved in the community, especially with my platform of child safety and prevention of child abuse. I also look forward to getting to know the other girls and developing a relationship with them.”

Areas of competition include interview (30 percent), talent (20 percent), commitment to community service (20 percent), health and fitness (15 percent) and evening wear (15 percent).

For her talent portion of the contest, Walker will sing “Born to Fly.”

” I’ve been working on it for the past month and taking voice lessons with Andy LeVeck,” she said. “It’s an upbeat, fun song to sing.”

Open to area girls between ages 13 and 18, the competition allows them to showcase their talents, earn money for future college pursuits and become involved in the community.

“The teen program was established two-fold as a fundraiser (for the scholarship foundation) and a stepping stone or mentoring program to help prepare for Miss SEO,” said Vicki LeVeck, program director. “With college becoming more expensive, this gives girls additional opportunities to earn money for college.”

LeVeck said she drew on her own experience when developing the program. “I was one of those kids,” she said. “Through scholarship pageants I was able to showcase my performing arts and improve my art of communication; that helped me afford my own college education. Now we’re helping provide the same opportunities.”

The seven contestants will compete for scholarships and prizes valued around $2,000, and the grand prize of a $1,000 cash scholarship will be awarded to the winner for the school of her choice.

She said more than 60 girls inquired about participating in this year’s event, but the majority of them couldn’t commit because of scheduling conflicts.

“We want that to grow, but I’ll take quality over quantity,” she said. “These seven contestants have exquisite talent, are incredibly committed, and are all charming. We will continue to see great things out of them.”

Along with the seven contestants, two Junior Miss SEO and two Little Miss SEO ambassadors will appear at Sunday’s event. These two new programs didn’t gain many applicants, but LeVeck said the four girls will still be involved, helping recruit other youth for a possible contests later in the year.

This year’s Y-City Star winner Shelley Bobo will make a special appearance, as well as 2006 Miss SEO Teen Sasha Eby and 2007 Miss SEO Ashleigh Lemon.

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