Scholarships will be awarded to top 3 contestants

May 27, 2009 Last Updated: May 27, 2009 02:26 PM Community

Rachel Brown, Michelle Clay

The Butler County Junior Miss Scholarship Program will showcase 10 contestants at 7 p.m. June 6 during a pageant at Butler County Community College's Succop Theater.

A Chinese auction will be held before the program to benefit the scholarship fund.

Scholarships will be awarded to the top three contestants based on personal interviews, scholastic achievements, talent, fitness and poise. Smaller scholarship awards will also be given to individual category winners.

In addition to receiving a scholarship, the Butler County winner will proceed to the state pageant, set for Aug. 8 in Johnstown.

The state winner will advance in June 2010 to America's Junior Miss program in Mobile, Ala.

Director/choreographer of the pageant is Greta Curry. Board of directors president is Mary Ann McCandless. Chairwoman is Barbara Brandon.

This year's Butler County contestants include:

• Rachel Brown is the daughter of Sunita Peacock and Matthew Onega of Slippery Rock. She belongs to the National Honor Society and is president of her junior class at Slippery Rock High School. She will play "Fantasia" on the piano. • Michelle Clay is the daughter of Thomas and Linda Clay of Prospect. She is a student at Slippery Rock High School, where she is on the honor roll, is treasurer of the chamber singers and serves on the executive council and committee of the literary magazine. Michelle will sing Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" theme song.

• Kristie Dash is the daughter of Ken and Marta Dash of Cranberry Township. She is a member of the National Honor Society and is on the high honor roll at Seneca Valley High School, where she also is on student council. She will sing "Here I Am" from the musical "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels." • Taylor Green is the daughter of Alisa Green and Ralph McElhaney, both of Butler. She attends Butler High School, where she is a member of the National Honor Society and the Butler Sequinettes dance team. She also has participated in varsity track and field. Taylor will do a contemporary dance performance to "Beautiful Disaster" by Kelly Clarkson.

• Devon Herbert is the daughter of Jamie and Marie Brandon of Butler. She attends Knoch High School and has participated in the University of Pittsburgh Health Careers Scholars Academy. She also plays basketball. Devon will play "Sad Violin" on the electric violin. She will be accompanied by Bonnie Myers on piano. • Kimberly King is the daughter of Paula Lunz and Daniel King. She is a student at Karns City Junior Senior High School, where she belongs to the National Honor Society, student council and the bowling team. She will do a hip-hop/acro/dance/tumbling routine.

• Rosel Nesbitt is the daughter of Scott and Susan Nesbitt of Butler. She attends Butler High School, where she is on the National Honor Society and participates in outdoor track. She is the second vice president of candystriping at Butler Memorial Hospital. Rosel will play "Saxophobia" by Rudy Wiedoft on the alto saxophone. • Jaime Ann "Annie" Rosellini is the daughter of Jaime and LouAnn Rosellini of Butler. She is senior class treasurer at Butler High School, where she also belongs to the National Society of High School Scholars and the Sequinettes dance team. She will do a lyrical dance performance to "Let it Be" by The Beatles.

• Jenna Smaldino is the daughter of Tony and Karen Smaldino of Butler. She attends Knoch High School, where she is varsity cheerleading captain and belongs to FCCLA and the class cabinet. She will do a tap dance to "Can't Buy Me Love" by Michael Buble. • Hannah Tumolo is the daughter of David and Teri Tumolo of Zelienople. She is on the high honor roll at Seneca Valley High School, where she belongs to the Tri-M Music Honor Society. Hannah also is listed in the Who's Who Registry of Academic Excellence. She will do a trombone performance/accompaniment of "Georgia on my Mind" by Hoagy Carmichael from the movie "Ray."