“YOUR STEPPING STONE TO MISS AMERICA AND MISS AMERICA’S OUTSTANDING TEEN”
Dear Prospective Miss Contestant:
We are pleased that you are considering entering the 2016 Miss Greater Hazleton Scholarship Program which will be held
on Saturday, March 5, 2016 tentatively at the Hazleton Area High School at 1601 West 23 rd Street in Hazle Township, PA
with a start time of 6:30pm.
The title of Miss Keystone’s Outstanding Teen is open to all contestants and the title of Miss Greater Hazleton’s Outstanding
Teen, provided that there are at least 2 eligible contestants will be available to women who reside in, attend school in or
who work full time as per requirements listed on the website of school districts within Luzerne, Carbon, and Schuylkill
Counties. Those contestants are also eligible for both the Miss Keystone. All titles lead directly to Miss Pennsylvania
competition during the week of June 19-25, 2016 in Pittsburgh, PA. There is also a mandatory orientation on April 30 th, 2016
in Pittsburgh, PA. Contestants must be between the ages of 12 and 17 and at least 13 by June 22, 2016 and no older than
high junior as of this March competition. If you are 17 years of age, you may not turn 18 prior to August 1st, 2016. All
contestants must reside, attend school full time or work full time in Pennsylvania to be eligible to compete. Scoring in the
competition is as follows:
Private Interview – 25%
Talent – 35%
Evening Wear – 25%
Lifestyle and Fitness in Active wear – 15%
These scores result in an unannounced Top Five who are then ranked by the Judges.
Please check our website for additional contestant requirements and scoring information. If you are not sure of your
eligibility, please contact us for assistance at missgreaterhazletonpageant@gmail.com prior to submitting your application.
When you are ready to enter:
Email your 2016 Miss Application Form, your Critical Issue Essay, your Fact Sheet for the judges, and the Talent
Registration Form with a copy of your birth certificate, proof of residency (state ID card, school ID or another document
which confirms your eligibility), and, if possible, a headshot for our Program Book and Newspaper Publicity. (If the headshot
is not sent with your application materials, it will be needed by Monday, February 8, 2016.) The mailing address is 751 North
Church Street, Hazleton, PA 18201.The email address is missgreaterhazletonpageant@gmail.com. You should submit your
paperwork as soon as possible because we are limited to 26 TOTAL MISS AND TEEN CONTESTANTS. Many times we
have been forced to put contestants on a waiting list because of receiving more than 26 contestant applications.
Once we receive your entry materials you will receive a confirmation email. You will be notified if you are on our contestant
list or on the “waiting list.” If we will have eligibility questions, we will also make sure they are cleared up at that time. If you
do not receive the confirmation email please check back with us because it probably means that for some reason we have
not received your paperwork.
What you will need on pageant day:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Evening Wear for Gown Competition (preferably a floor length dress/gown)
An appropriate Interview Outfit (Pants with blazer, skirt with top, fashionable dress, etc.)
Tank Top, Black Capri Pants, and a sports Bra for Lifestyle and Fitness in Activewear Competition.
Your talent costume (No high cut leotards!)
An Opening Number Outfit which will be determined at a later date.
6. Two copies of your music CD (if any). Be sure to test them on a variety of devices to be sure they will
work on our sound system the day of the pageant. Also, please note, that no one else is allowed on
stage on in the wings to provide live musical accompaniment for you during your performance. You
must accompany yourself or use the CD.
7. Be sure to bring make-up, hair products, etc.
8. Some contestants bring full length and make-up mirrors as well as racks for hanging clothing.
9. A copy of the standard Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Local/State Contract filled in as completely as
possible but not signed. You will receive a copy of the contract prior to the pageant along with an
explanation of how it will be enforced by the Miss Greater Hazleton Scholarship Organization. Because
it applies to both local and state contestants there are some things in it that do not really apply at the
local level. WHEN YOU ARRIVE ON THE MORNING OF MARCH 5TH, WE WILL COLLECT IT IF IT WAS
NOT RECEIVED PRIOR TO THE PROGRAM. PLEASE ALSO NOTE THAT IF YOU ARE 17 OR YOUNGER,
A PARENT OR GUARDIAN WILL ALSO HAVE TO SIGN.
Prizes and Awards: All winners will advance to Miss Pennsylvania completion. In addition all will receive a Miss America
local crown and sash. Last year the winners and their runner-ups had $4500 in scholarships and awards made available to
them from the Miss Greater Hazleton Scholarship Organization. In their will be numerous other prizes and plaques awarded.
Other Information About Paperwork:
Paperwork bearing the logos of other local pageants may be submitted to the Miss Greater Hazleton Scholarship
Organization to avoid repeating the same paperwork for every pageant.
The Interview Process:
The private interview will take place on the date of the pageant on March 5th during the morning or afternoon prior to the
start of the on-stage competition. The judges are seated and the contestant is at a podium in front of the judges. The judges’
chairperson will introduce you and the questions begin immediately. Do not go the judges table to shake hands with them.
You will immediately go to the podium and begin to answer questions. For Teen Contestants the interview length is 6
minutes. There is no closing statement. Please remember that no visual aids, paperwork or props may be brought into the
interview.
Times and Dates
August 2015 – Entry Forms Available
February 8, 2016 – Entry Deadline
February 8, 2016– Any optional Program Book ads are due
February 8, 2916– All Photo Headshots for the Program Book and Publicity are due
March 5, 2016 at 8:00 am – All Contestants should arrive at the Hazleton Area High School Auditorium for
Rehearsals and Interviews. You will be given a schedule for the day which will include your interview time.
March 5, 2016 at ~ 6 or 6:30 pm – Miss Greater Hazleton Scholarship Program begins.
Program Book Ads: We offer an ad incentive program which is described in the packet. Forms for ads are on the website.
Questions:
Email – missgreaterhazletonpageant@gmail.com
Website – MissGreaterHazleton.weebly.com
Thank you for your interest in the Miss Greater Hazleton Scholarship Program,
Katie Moore & Sherri Homanko
co-Executive Directors
Miss Greater Hazleton Scholarship Organization, Inc.
TYPING THE CRITICAL ISSUE ESSAY AND FACT SHEET
INSTRUCTIONS
PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THE ONE PAGE CRITICAL ISSUE (PLATFORM) ESSAY AND
THE FACT SHEET ARE THE ONLY TWO ITEMS WHICH ARE SEEN BY THE PAGEANT
JUDGES. THEY SHOULD BOTH BE TYPED AND CHECKED FOR GRAMATICAL AND
SPELLING ERRORS. BE SURE YOU KNOW AND ARE PREPARED TO DISCUSS EVERY
ITEM YOU PLACE ON THESE TWO DOCUMENTS! KEEP IN MIND THAT THE CRITICAL
ISSUE ESSAY AND FACT SHEET PROVIDE THE JUDGE’S FIRST IMPRESSION OF YOU. BE
SURE TO KEEP A COPY OF EACH OF THESE DOCUMENTS SO YOU CAN REVIEW THEM
BEFORE YOUR INTERVIEW.
CRITICAL ISSUE ESSAY INSTRUCTIONS
Indicate the critical issue/platform you will address if chosen to be
Miss Keystone, Miss Commonwealth or Miss Greater Hazleton 2016. This
critical issue does not have to be your community service project, but may
be, if you chose. The Miss Greater Hazleton Scholarship Organization,
Inc. may wish to implement a local platform as well.
FORMAT: Your essay should be typed (11 or 12 point font
recommended) on one sheet of white paper.
Format as follows:
TITLE OF PLATFORM
SUBMITTED BY: (Contestant’s Name)
ACTUAL ESSAY (In block form)
FACT SHEET INSTRUCTIONS
This Fact Sheet should be acceptable at any local pageant in Pennsylvania.
If you have previously submitted a Fact Sheet to another local pageant, there is
no need to change the pageant heading or titles you are seeking. We will accept
a Fact Sheet from any local as long as the proper formatting is maintained.
FORMAT: The font sizes and space provided for all answers must remain as
it is on the Fact Sheet provided to you. Many of the lines, however, are double
spaced. If you wish to provide additional information, you may single space in
order to add lines to that area. You may also remove the lines if you wish. Again,
however, you may not add to the total space provided for any response nor
may you delete any sections to gain space, even if the section is not applicable
to you. Also, no additional pages may be added to the Fact Sheet. The
judges will be given only the two pages.
Miss Greater Hazleton’s Outstanding Teen Fact Sheet
2016 Fact Sheet
Name:
Title:
Hometown:
Age:
School:
Date of Birth:
Talent:
Grade:
GPA:
Song Title:
Special Training (music, dance, drama, etc.):
Hobbies & Sports:
Honors & Awards:
Interesting Facts:
Scholastic/Career Ambition:
Why I should be a Miss Greater Hazleton’s Outstanding Teen Titleholder:
______
Platform (platform statement provided to judges):
Contract: I agree to allow my daughter to participate in the Miss Central Pennsylvania’s Outstanding Teen Pageant and the Miss Pennsylvania
Outstanding Teen Pageant and Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Pageant should she be chosen a local and/or state titleholder, and to abide by the
decision of the judges, which is final. I further hold the pageant, judges, hostesses, committee members, owners of the facility where the pageant is
conducted and all others involved in the production of the pageant harmless from any and all liability arising out of personal injury, property damage, or
similar causes.
Contestant Signature:
Date:
Parent Signature:
Date:
TALENT REQUEST FORM for a LOCAL Preliminary Pageant
Of the Miss Pennsylvania Scholarship Organization
** Please Type ALL Information keeping in the page format. **
CONTESTANT NAME: _____________________________________________________________
Title(s) Competing For: ___________________________________________________________
All talents must be in good taste. If you have any questions about whether your talent is appropriate, please contact the
local pageant before submitting your talent request. If your talent is found not to be in good taste at the rehearsal, you
will have to change your talent or you will not be permitted to participate in the pageant. Decision as to whether a talent
is in good or bad taste is at the sole discretion of the organizers of the local pageant you are competing in.
 “Regardless of talent performed, you may NOT have voices, instruments, or other noises that mimic the talent
of the contestant.” (Example: A vocalist may have background vocals with "oohs and aahs" or other background
lyrics, but cannot have a tape with a voice singing the melody line for the contestant to sing along with. The same
would be said for instrumentalists, dancers, and any other talent which could provide for an unfair advantage if a
judge could not delineate from the talent on the track versus the live performance of the contestant.)"
 Talent is limited to NO longer than one minute 30 seconds (90 seconds total).
 In case of duplicate requests, the Talent Request Form received first will prevail.
 Props must actually be used in the talent and may not sit on stage as a visual prop.
NAME: _____________________________________________
Type of Talent: ______________________________________
Music Title: _____________________________________________________________
Composer/Artist: ________________________________________________________
Props: _________________________________________ Music Timed At: _________
Talent Introduction:
(A few Short Sentences) _________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Signature: _________________________________________
Memo
To:
Contestants
From:
Miss Greater Hazleton Scholarship Organization
Date:
August 28, 2015
Re:
Program Book Ad Incentive Program
To encourage the selling of ads, the following incentive program is in effect for the 2016 Miss
Greater Hazleton Scholarship Program. For ads (both commercial and patrons) totaling
$200 or more, contestants will receive 25% of the dollar amount of the ads. Examples are:
$0.00 to $199.99 = $0.00
$200 = $50.00
$400.00 = $100.00
Conditions are:
1) The ad must be either a “new” ad or a renewal of an ad previously sold by you for
a prior Miss Greater Hazleton Scholarship Program.
2) Payment for the ad must have been received from the advertiser before your incentive
money will be paid.
3) Payment for the ads should be made to “Miss Greater Hazleton Scholarship Program. You
will receive your incentive in a check from the Miss Greater Hazleton Scholarship
Organization shortly after the day of the pageant provided payment for all ads has been
received.
4) The ad must be separate from a pageant sponsorship.
5) Ads must be received by Monday, February 8, 2016
PROGRAM BOOK INFORMATION
Due February 8, 2016
Name:______________________________________________________
Age on March 5, 2016:_____________________________________
High School and State:________________________________________
Year of High School Graduation:_______________________________
College (If Applicable):________________________________________
Class or Year of College Graduation:____________________________
Graduate School (If Applicable):________________________________
Type of Talent:_______________________________________________
Title of Talent:_______________________________________________
Platform Summary Statement (One Sentence):
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Checklist for Paperwork Items
Application
Fact Sheet
Platform Essay
Talent Registration
Birth Certificate
Head Shot
Contract (hand in date of program)
Ads (if any sold)
Sent In?