Longtime Evans City resident and 13-year Air Force reservist Errin Black has been selected as a semifinalist in this year's Miss Veteran America competition.

EVANS CITY — Longtime borough resident and 13-year Air Force reservist Errin Black has been selected as a semifinalist in this year’s Miss Veteran America competition.

“I was born and raised in Western Pennsylvania,” she said. “My family has lived in Evans City since I was about 11.”

Black joined the Air Force Reserve in 2004 a year after graduating from Butler High School. She works full time at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The Miss Veteran America competition seeks to encourage female veterans by highlighting their achievements and sacrifice while raising funds to support homeless female veterans.

“All the money raised goes to Final Salute Inc. which helps house and find employment for our homeless female veterans,” Black said. “Just looking at the numbers, there are not a lot of resources for female veterans. Women veterans are actually the least likely to seek help, and of that number 70 percent of them are single moms. That’s a huge thing for me because I’m a single mom.”

Black first heard of the competition from a friend at work who encouraged her to apply, though Black was initially hesitant.

“I’m not a pageant queen, I don’t like public speaking. I’m terrified of those things,” she said. “I made a deal saying if she could get 100 people to sign a piece of paper saying I should do it, I would.”

Hundreds of people signed, and before she knew it, Black was accepted as a semifinalist in the competition.

“I’m terrified to do it, but I’m very excited. Even if I go to regionals and don’t get past there I’m doing my little bit to help with a huge issue,” Black said. “The crown’s not worth it if the word doesn’t get out.”

To raise money for Final Salute Inc. Black set up a CrowdRise campaign at www.crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/erinn-b-4mva2018.

She’s already raised over $600.

“Every little bit helps. It only takes 25 dollars a day to house a female veteran and her children,” Black said. “I want so badly to get the word out there.”

She’ll be going to the regional competition in Arlington, Va. June 9.

For more information about the competition visit www.msveteranamerica.org.