By Mandy McFarland
Staff Writer

BREMEN — Small numbers will make for big changes to this year’s Bremen Junior Miss program.

When only a few girls signed up this year, there was a possibility that there might not even be a competition.

However, Bremen’s Junior Miss, Inc. knew the show must go on, and so they decided to produce a scaled-back version of the program for 2009.

This year’s Junior Miss program will take place Saturday, Aug. 15.

One perk for anyone who wants to watch the competition is the fact that there will be no admission fee this year. Given this, funds raised for the competition will come strictly from business sponsors within the Bremen community who have stepped up to support the program. However, coordinator Pam Gunterman still hopes for a good turnout, and encourages freewill donations.

“Production costs are many to prepare and produce the on stage traditional program, and although businesses operating within the community are a major source of funds for scholarships and production cost, we rely on a good crowd to supply scholarship dollars,” Gunterman said in a letter sent earlier this month to sponsors.

The changes have been proposed for this year only. If participation increases for the 2010 competition, the committee will go back to the original format. However, less interest could mean a permanent end to Bremen’s program, something the committee does not want to see happen.
Gunterman partially attributes this year’s small numbers simply to changing times.

“I would suspect that the participation declining over the last few years is that there are many other opportunities for girls to get scholarships,” she said.

The Junior Miss will still be judged on five areas, with each representing a certain percentage of the contestants’ overall scores. These include the following.
1. Fitness: displaying physical well being, 15 percent
2. Personal Expression (formerly Poise) on stage question, 15 percent
3. Talent: Performing Arts presentation, 25 percent
4. Scholastic ranking by school, 20 percent
5. Interview: 10 minute judges interview, 25 percent.

Proceeds from the event go into scholarships for the contestants. Each local winner takes part in the statewide competition, which will be in Frankfort in February.

When it began nearly 40 years ago, Junior Miss was one of very few scholarship programs that existed for girls. However, as time has gone on, more and more opportunities have arisen—though none are quite as unique as Junior Miss. With the normal format stretching out over a period of several days, Junior Miss gives contestants plenty of time to get to know one another, forming bonds that last throughout high school.

“They’ll miss out on that to a certain degree because there isn’t the same amount of time that’s going to go into it,” Gunterman said.

Gunterman was not sure how the low attendance will affect the annual Lion King program, for which Bremen High School always enlists the help of the Junior Miss contestants from the previous year.