The 2023 Miss Wheeler County "Small Town Girl" Scholarship will hold its 1st Pageant on Sunday, October 29th at 4:00 pm at the Rogue Theater located at 406 S. Main Street in Wheeler, Texas.
The 2023 Miss Wheeler County Scholarship Pageant Board was established with the purpose to develop and maintain a high quality and professional pageant system and be recognized as the “Symbol of Excellence” within the community the program serves.
Miss Wheeler County Scholarship Pageant is open to Wheeler County High School ladies that reside in or go to High School in Wheeler County (between the ages of 15-19 years). The fee to participate is $125, which can be covered by a Sponsor. The 2023 Pageant registration is now closed, but we still have sponsorship opportunities, volunteer opportunities, people's choice voting and swag available.
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES:
There are multiple levels for 2023 sponsorship listed below, please contact Tiffany Berten 806.216.1601 or Kristen Moudy 806.367.0084 for more information. We would love the opportunity to help promote your business as a partner to create a positive platform for our young ladies in our communities.
Miss Wheeler County emphasizes the importance of community service, character and integrity. We desire to help give these young ladies resources that will develop them into future leaders of tomorrow with good moral values, goals and a community presence.
We believe in empowering women so they can empower others.
PAGEANT DETAILS:
What is involved in the Pageant? The judges will have private, individual interviews with each of the contestants, they will wear their business, casual outfit. Contestants will walk on stage in a formal dress/attire during their bio, the pageant is open to the public at 4:00 pm on Sunday, October 29th at the Rogue Theater (406 S. Main Street in Wheeler, TX).
Crowning will begin at 5:00pm on Sunday, October 29th with the following being honored:
Miss Photogenic- $200 Small Town Girl Scholarship Miss Congeniality- $200 Small Town Girl Scholarship People's Choice- $250 Small Town Girl Scholarship
3rd Runner Up- $500 Small Town Girl Scholarship 2nd Runner Up- $750 Small Town Girl Scholarship 1st Runner Up- $1,000 Small Town Girl Scholarship Miss Wheeler County 2023- $1,500 Small Town Girl Scholarship
VOTE FOR PEOPLE'S CHOICE:
People's Choice is unique because anyone, anywhere can vote on People's Choice by sending in donations, every $1 counts as 1 vote for your candidate. You can pay online via venmo or PayPal, you can send a check "WAAIC - Small Town Girl" put the name of your candidate in the MEMO. You can mail the check to WAAIC, PO BOX 489, Wheeler TX 79096 or drop it or cash off at Wheeler City Hall 501 S. Alan L. Bean Blvd. You may also vote for your candidate the day of the Pageant at the theater ($1 = 1 vote, unlimited voting). Voting is now open.
2023 Miss Wheeler County Pageant Participants
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:
We are needing young men to help usher the contestants on and off the stage. They will need to dress in black/white attire and be at the Rogue Theater at 4:30 on Sunday, Oct. 29th.
We are needing help with setup, decorating and welcoming people.
STYLE SHOW:
The Small Town Girl Scholarship is going to host a Style Show on Friday, November 24th and will feature our local, small town boutiques and retail. This will be a great FUNdraising event that will kick off the night before Small Business Saturday. Make sure to mark your calendar and bring your friends for a great time.
BACKGROUND:
The Claudia Marion Small Town Girl Scholarship was created in 2017 under the Wheeler Area Activities Improvement Council, Inc (WAAIC), the local 501c3 for area scholarships.
Past Recipients of Small Town Girl Scholarship:
2017—Naomi Tabor, Sarah Garner
2018—Abree Finsterwald
2019—Keila Rocha
2020—Valeria Tintori
2021—Natalie Varela
2022—Litzy Garza
2023—Breeley Harris
The Small Town Girl Scholarship was established as a tribute to a truly remarkable individual, Claudia Marion, a beloved teacher at Wheeler Schools. Claudia’s dedication and passion for her students were unparalleled, and she was truly an inspiration to all who had the privilege of knowing her. She possessed a unique ability to instill confidence and nurture success in her students, making a lasting impact on their lives.
This scholarship was made possible through the the sale of a book titled “Small Town Girl” which was compiled by Dr. Jodi Walker. Within the pages of the book, the stories of resilience, determination, and triumph of individuals who grew up in small towns were shared. Authors Becky Hardcastle and Dr. Mindy (Hardcastle) Brashears contributed their own experiences to the book and donated all the sales from its sale to establish The Small Town Girl Scholarship.
By naming the scholarship after Claudia Marion, we aim to celebrate her invaluable contributions to education and the lives she touched. The scholarship will serve as a lasting testament to her unwavering commitment to her students and her ability to empower them to meet their full potential.
The primary objective of the scholarship is to provide financial assistance to deserving high school students from small towns who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership potential, and a commitment to making a positive impact on their communities. It is our hope that this scholarship will enable talented individuals to pursue higher education and fulfill their dreams.
We are now reaching out to individuals and organizations who share our vision and passion for empowering small town girls to do BIG things. We kindly request your support in making a difference in the lives of these promising young ladies through a tax-deductible donation to the WAAIC - Small Town Girl Scholarship.
Your generous contribution will not only honor Claudia Marion’s legacy but also provide these deserving ladies to access education and contribute to their communities. We are investing in the future of our small towns and fostering a generation of leaders who will make a positive impact on society. We truly appreciate your support in helping us make this vision a reality one small town girl at a time.
The Claudia Marion Small Town Girl Scholarship will now serve as The Small Town Scholarship under the direction of the Miss Wheeler County Pageant. Should you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact Tiffany Berten or Kristen Moudy if you have any questions or would like to donate but need another avenue. We are willing to work with anyone interested in donating to this great cause promoting our young ladies on their path to success.
SMALL TOWN GIRL SWAG
; You Matter
The semicolon in the design represents mental health struggles and the importance of suicide prevention. The heart is represented from one of Claudia Marion's favorite verses that reminds everyone to "Love One Another". The back wording states "Stay; The World is a better place with you in it" and the words "You Matter" mean just that. We hope this is a powerful way to show others who have ever experienced the depths of depression to pause and know they matter and we need them to stay. All proceeds go to the Small Town Girl Scholarship fund and will continue to give scholarships out to our Wheeler County ladies, while giving them each a platform to build confidence, character and small town grit.
The swag options available are beach washed shirts (short and long sleeve), hoodies and really, soft, plush blankets (great gifts). IF you have any questions on the swag, please contact Kristen Moudy 806.367.0084 or kristen@wheelertexas.org
