Sunday, August 7 - 2:00 p.m. - Gaston College Myers Auditorium

CONTESTANTS LINE UP FOR MISS GASTONIA PAGEANT

Competition features 19 young women vying for the coveted Gastonia, Gaston County crowns

The Miss Gastonia Scholarship Pageant will be held Sunday, August 7 at 2:00 p.m. in Myers Auditorium at Gaston College, 201 Hwy. 321 South, Dallas.

Nineteen contestants will vie for the titles of Miss Gastonia, Miss Gaston County, Miss Gastonia’s Outstanding Teen, and Miss Gaston County’s Outstanding Teen 2012.  The four winners will make public appearances, participate in community service projects, and represent the Gaston region in next year’s Miss North Carolina competition.

Tickets cost $20.00 and will be available at the door.  The theme is "Dynamite!" and the show features contestants competing in talent, interview, swimsuit/fitness, and evening wear categories.

Nicole Southgate Lowe, Miss Gaston County 2007, and Laura Page, Miss Gastonia 2009, will host the program.  Adrienne Perry Sulkey, the first runner-up to Miss North Carolina 2001, is the featured vocalist.

Cash and in-kind scholarships totaling more than $43,000 are available to the contestants.  Belmont Abbey College, Gaston College, Cleveland Community College, Gardner-Webb University, and Carolina Academy-Paul Mitchell School are contributing in-kind scholarships again this year.

Miss Gastonia/Miss Gaston County is for young women ages 17-24 who live, attend college, or work full-time in one of the following counties: Gaston, Cleveland, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Union, Rutherford, Catawba, Caldwell, Burke, and Polk.  The Outstanding Teen portion of the pageant is for girls who are ages 13-16 and N.C. residents – the teen contestants are not required to live in a particular county.

The Miss Gastonia Scholarship Association is sponsoring the pageant.  For more information, call (704) 827-7277.

Here is a list of the contestants competing Sunday, August 7 at 2:00 p.m. in the Miss Gastonia Scholarship Pageant (names are in alphabetical order):

Lindsey Alsip, 17, of Mount Holly; the daughter of Lee and Jenifer Moore; a student at the Highland School of Technology; will present a musical theater jazz dance for the talent competition.

Malyn Bailey, 18, of Kings Mountain; the daughter of Lori Bailey; a student at Western Carolina University; will present a baton twirling routine for the talent competition.

Ansley Black, 17, of Shelby; the daughter of Ronnie Black and Jill Black; a student at Shelby High School; will present a vocal selection for the talent competition.

Cassie Carson, 13, of Charlotte; the daughter of Thomas and Misty Carson; a student at Hickory Grove Baptist Christian School; will present a clogging routine for the talent competition.

Emma Cassell, 14, of Mount Airy; the daughter of Eddie and Charlotte Cassell; a student at North Surry High School; will present a vocal selection for the talent competition.

Ashley Conner, 18, of Gastonia; the daughter of Tisha Conner and Scott and Elizabeth Conner; a student at Gaston College; will present a vocal selection for the talent competition.

Bailee Eurey, 14, of Cherryville; the daughter of Chad and Ronda Eurey; a student at West Lincoln High School; will present a rhythm tap dance for the talent competition.

Amy Felix, 14, of Seven Lakes; the daughter of Michael and Tonia Felix; a student at Pinecrest High School; will present a tap dance for the talent competition.

Alexandria Freeman, 22, of Gastonia; the daughter of Glenn and Regina Freeman; a graduate of Meredith College; will present a vocal selection for the talent competition.

Shelby Howell, 15, of Gastonia; the daughter of Mark Howell and Chantel Philbeck; a student at Ashbrook High School; will present a lyrical dance for the talent competition.

Victoria Hunter, 19, of Sapphire; the daughter of Wade and Tracy Hunter; a student at Gardner-Webb University; will present a tumble dance routine for the talent competition.

Julia Karcher, 20, of Lowell; the daughter of Mike and Sherry Karcher; a student at Western Carolina University; will present a clogging routine for the talent competition.

Lindsey Mackey, 16, of Gastonia; the daughter of Natalie Mackey; a student at Gaston Christian School; will present a tap dance for the talent competition.

Martina Marler, 16, of Dunn; the daughter of Marty and Ceicla Marler; a student at Triton High School; will present a tap dance for the talent competition.

Taylor Rainwater, 14, of Gastonia; the daughter of Allen and Marla Rainwater; a student at Forestview High School; will present a lyrical dance for the talent competition.

Hailey Rotenberry, 16, of Kings Mountain; the daughter of Lisa and Eric Hubbard and Michael Rotenberry; a student at Kings Mountain High School; will present a vocal selection for the talent competition.

Ashley Sanders, 19, of Gastonia; the daughter of Robert and Anita Sanders; a student at N.C. A&T State University; will present a vocal selection for the talent competition.

Beth Smith, 20, of Charlotte; the daughter of Ronald Smith and Jayne Tasselli; a student at the University of South Carolina; will present a ballet en pointe routine for the talent competition.

Erica Whittaker, 21, of Mount Holly; the daughter of Tabatha and Brian Baldwin and Chris and Kathy Whittaker; a student at UNC-Charlotte; will present a vocal selection for the talent competition.