Article from the St. George News

City provides $2,000 in Scholarships through Miss Ivins Pageant

Written by Dayna Lundin on February 15, 2012 in Education, Life - 2 Comments

Miss Ivins Scholarship Pageant Hopefuls 2012 | Photo courtesy of Miss Ivins Scholarship Pageant

IVINS- The third annual Miss Ivins Scholarship Pageant will begin at 6 p.m. on March 24 in the Hafen Theater at Tuacahn Center for the Arts, 1100 Tuacahn Drive, in Ivins.
There pageant crowns a princess, first attendant, second attendant and a miss congeniality. The princess receives a $1000 scholarship to the college of her choice, the first and second attendants each receive a $500 scholarship to the college of their choice, and miss congeniality receives her title.
The scholarships are funded through Ivins City and are set aside each year for the Miss Ivins Pageant.
“When they are ready to go to school they come back to the city get their money that can be used for anything pertaining to schooling,” Horlacher said.
This year’s pageant has had more contestants enter than in years past. Pageant Director Tonya Horlacher said the pageant normally receives approximately 11 entries, but this year there are 16 contestants who will participate in the events.
Participants must be 14-18 years of age before Sept. 1 of this year. The participants must also have lived in Ivins or Washington County for at least six months.
The pageant includes an interview by a panel of judges, an active wear presentation, talent and evening wear.
Ivins is the only city in the area that has an active wear portion of the pageant, Horlacher said. Active wear can include anything from butterfly catching to horse backing riding attire.
Any participant can compete as many times as she desires as long as she has not won princess and abides by the age and residency requirements.
The reigning Miss Ivins Princess is 15 year old Missy Madsen. She has lived in Ivins for six years, and last year was her first year competing in the Miss Ivins Pageant. The royalty is required to contribute to the Miss Ivins parade float, to contribute hours of community service and to attend many community events representing the City of Ivins.
“[Being princess] means I am representing the city, and I should be a good example to all the other little girls who look up to me,” Madsen said.
Madsen has not decided where she will attend college.

Miss Ivins Pageant Court 2011 | Photo courtesy of Miss Ivins Scholarship Pageant

Fifteen year old Kamri Hafen is the reigning Miss Ivins First Attendant and has lived in Ivins her entire life. She is also participating in this year’s competition because she had such a positive experience.
“I loved [competing] it was a good experience:” Hafen said. “It helped me come out of my shell. I really enjoyed being active and involved.”
She hopes to use her scholarship from last year toward a degree at Brigham Young University.
The pageant is free to the public and is so well attended there is standing room only. Plan to attend and arrive early.
“It has become a very positive experience for the girls:” Horlacher said. “It’s not all about the crown and winning … they learn so many things about themselves and grow to set goals and accomplish those goals. [The pageant] helps them with a lot of life lessons.”
Workshops for the pageant contestants began in January and will continue to be held each Saturday until the pageant takes place. The pageant’s blogspot, self-proclaiming to be “The Cutest Blog on the Block,” provides more information, schedules for the contestants, photos and a running account of things the girls are engaged in as they seek the crown..

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