The 2020 Nation Ford Scholarship pageant will be held on Thursday, April 2nd in the auditiorium. In addition to offering scholarships, the pageant will support Rock Hill Attention Home.
The school has hosted the annual event for all grade levels for 10 years in which students participate in community service.
This year’s pageant is directed by science teacher Mrs.Dana Seastead and sponsored by the Student Council.
“One of the first things that we did was make the pageant not about beauty but about the individual,” Mrs. Seastead said. “We ask the girls to pick a quote that reflects the person that they are. It is a lot of fun to see all these wonderful girls shine on stage not for their beauty but for their intellect and compassion.”
The scholarship funds come from ad money raised by participants in the contest. Ticket sales go towards stage decorations and the programs.
Pageant contestant Isa Rivas (23’) is excited to be a part of the 2020 pageant. A couple of years ago her brother’s girlfriend competed in the pageant.
“Ever since then I have wanted to do the pageant because it looked super fun,” Rivas said. “This will be my first pageant and I know it will be a great experience.”
The pageant girls are chosen months before the pageant is held, and girls begin preparing immediately.
“Girls are taught an opening dance act about three weeks before the pageant,” Mrs. Seastead said. “One week before the pageant ,we have practices after school where girls run through all of the sections of the pageant. They learn how to walk out, where to stand, and practice the dance as an entire group.”
The girls also volunteer together as a part of the pageant process. Last year, the girls volunteered at Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte, where they went to the house and made crafts for the rooms and cleaned the house as part of their service project.
This year’s platform, Rock Hill Attention Home, also offers girls the opportunity to help in the community, according to Mrs. Seastead.
“The pageant girls will be creating entertainment baskets for the houses that kids stay in as well as making lunch for the residents,” she said.