Scholarship program allows New Brunswick women to support charities and help pay for schooling

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Ten years ago Marc Gagnon became the founder and president of Miss and Miss Teen NB International. This week, the organization is holding its annual scholarship competition, which will culminate this Saturday night.

"The competitors will be rehearsing for this show all week," says Marc, "as well as participating in sponsored activities. For example, we opened our week last Saturday with our competitors, chaperons, and volunteers all taking part in the Lupus Walk. Supporting charities is a big part of what we are all about."

It is such a big part of the programme's philosophy, in fact, that the winner of the competition can be required to relinquish her crown if, during the year following her win, she does not assist with charities around the province.

"We don't want a girl who won't support the charities which sponsor our events," explains Marc. "The winner travels the province in support of our charitable sponsors, who are too many to name. Sometimes, if the winner does an exceptional job, the sponsors may increase their donations to us, which can raise the scholarship the winner receives over the $1000.00 minimum mark."

The scholarship is presented at the end of the winner's year of support and travel, not personally to the winner, but to the academic institution which she will be attending. Expenses during the year are most often paid by the charitable sponsors, or Miss and Miss Teen NB International.

The $1,075.00 cost of entering the competition is most commonly covered by sponsors each competitor connects with prior to the competition.

"It might seem like a lot to pay to enter our competition, but it includes a week of hotel and meals, wardrobe for the night of the show, which contestants keep, and hair and make-up professionals," clarifies Marc.

For this, their tenth anniversary, all past title-holders have been invited to attend. During those ten years, Miss and Miss Teen NB has had two contestants go on to win Miss Canada International, and two others have won Miss Teen Canada International. Marc's competition is preliminary to these national ones.

"This isn't a beauty pageant," Marc emphasizes. "Competitors are judged on intellect, personality, and charity work. They are, with their knowledge, monitored throughout the week, and their attitudes and behaviour are reported to the judges to help make the final decisions."

Competitors come from all over New Brunswick, and events this year took place in Moncton and Shediac. Last year's competition was split between Sackville and Sussex. Marc tries to vary the location each year, to make it a truly province-wide event.

There are in fact three simultaneous competitions: Ms., Miss, and Miss Teen. Age limits for Miss Teen are 13-18. For Miss, you must be between 18 and 27, while the Ms. competitors are nineteen and over, and can be married and/or have children. The event becomes a big part of some of the contestants' lives.

"I've had girls enter three or four years in a row," says Marc. "Some contestants come back as chaperons or volunteers."

If you want to take in the show, which includes dance routines in categories such as fitness and evening wear, questioning by judges, and final judging, it takes place in the Pavillon Jeanne-de-Valois on the Université de Moncton campus this Saturday at 8 p.m.