COAL GROVE — The Dawson-Bryant High School prom committee is resurrecting the Miss Lawrence County pageant to raise money for the school’s junior/senior prom.

“With state guidelines and funding decreasing, it’s made it harder and harder to raise money,” DeAnna Holliday, Dawson-Bryant school board member and former Mrs. Ohio, said. “They were looking for ways to raise money for the prom and came up with the pageant.”

The pageant will be at noon on April 11 at Dawson-Bryant High School.

The prom committee is made up of junior class members who also serve the same positions on student council: Lindsey Cremeans, president; Kaylee Beals, vice president; Jenna Robinson, treasurer; Emily Wilcox, secretary; and class reps, Grace Cox and Matthew Camp.

“We decided to do this because we thought it would be a good fundraiser and there hasn’t been a Miss Lawrence County in lots of years,” Cremeans said. “We want to make prom as cheap as possible. With this, tickets are only going to be $30, but we need participants to make that happen. Prom tickets at other schools run between $80 and $100.”

Junior class advisor Kim Ritchie also wants to make prom more affordable for the students.

“My main goal is to keep the price down,” she said. “I want everyone to be able to come so no one gets excluded. When tickets are that expensive plus a dress or tux and flowers, not everyone is able to come.”

The seven groups that the pageant will include are Baby Miss for boys and girls 23 months and under, Mini Miss for boys and girls ages 2 and 3, Tiny Miss for girls only ages 4 and 5, Little Miss for girls only ages 6 and 7, Junior Miss for girls only ages 8-10, Young Miss for girls only ages 11-14 and Miss for girls only ages 15-18. There is also a photogenic contest with the same groups. The cost of joining either the regular evening gown pageant or the photogenic pageant is $40. If contestants wish to enter both, the cost is $65.

The prize package for the winners will include a crown, sash, flowers, a place in the Memorial Day and Christmas parades as well as other opportunities to get involved in the community.

Holliday feels pageantry is a positive experience that helps in many aspects of life.

“So often pageantry is stereotyped, but it provides an opportunity to promote confidence,” she said. “Anyone that walks on that stage is a winner because it takes so much to get up there. This gives them an edge to present themselves well for future endeavors such as interviews.”

There will also be a silent auction at the pageant as well as concessions available.

Holliday will host a seminar at 6 p.m. the Friday before to give an overview and give participants and parents an opportunity to ask questions, although this is not mandatory.

Applications for the pageant are available at the Coal Grove Giovanni’s, Indulgence Tanning, the Coal Grove UPS and all of the county high schools. You can also email Holliday at mrs.ohio2012@yahoo.com or Ritchie at kim.ritchie@yahoo.com. More information is also available on the Miss Lawrence County Facebook page. All applications must be in by March 31.