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DURANT – The second annual Miss Durant High School pageant will be held on Saturday, March 9 at the new DHS auditorium beginning at 6:30 p.m. The pageant will feature seventeen young women as they compete in Interview, Casual Wear, Talent and Evening Gown. However, they will also perform an exciting opening number to the theme, Set It Off, which will feature the current Miss DHS Rheagan Jones.

In order to compete, the girls must be a student at DHS and can be a freshman through senior, and must maintain eligibility. However, all contestants must conduct themselves appropriately and be a role model and ambassador of Durant High School. Many of the contestants are involved in school organizations, sports, and/or community service.

Those competing for the title include Amber Andersen, sophomore and daughter of Jennifer Crank and Denny Andersen; Allison Swearengin, junior and daughter of Sonya and Mark Swearengin; Kiersten Burkhalter, sophomore and daughter of Brian and Leticia Burkhalter; Darian Carper, senior and the daughter of Jason and Chasity Carper; Natalie Stephens, junior and daughter of Phillip and Laura Stephens; Brittni White, junior and daughter of Nathan and Lesa White; Crystal Green, senior and daughter of Michael and Jennifer Green and Deena and Jerry Williams; Terra Angelly, senior and daughter of LaDonna and Brett Angelly; Sydney Wheeler, freshman and daughter of Shannon Wheeler and Michael Wheeler; Kali Ritterhouse, senior and daughter of Autumn Karr and Jeremy Ritterhouse; Lacey Elrod, freshman and daughter of Becky and Michael Elrod; Brittany Trent, junior and daughter of Ronnie and Mandy Trent; Jasmine Lozano, junior and daughter of Susan and Juan Lozano; Savannah Park, junior and Misty and Billy Jones; Macayla Hickman, freshman and daughter of Latonia Tomson and the late Sam Tomson and the late Eddie Hickman; Alayna Gipson, senior and the daughter of Dewayne and Lisa Gipson; and Kenzie Effland, freshman and the daughter of Don and Michele Effland.

Awards given at the end of the pageant will be Miss DHS and her court, Miss Congeniality, Most Tickets Sales, Crowd Pleaser and Escort of the Evening. Miss DHS will be awarded over $7,500 in college scholarships provided by Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Murray State College and Carl Albert State College. Other prizes have been donated from various businesses in the community, including the Miss DHS tiara donated by Cricket Box Jewelry.

The Miss DHS pageant is a DECA fundraiser. However, it is also a class project, allowing all marketing students to plan and implement this special event. Students played key roles in all aspects of the pageant from conception of the theme and décor to promotion and producing the event itself. Durant DECA, led by advisor Tascha Bond, is a marketing association for students and one of only 40 programs in the state.

Tickets can be purchased at the door, which opens at 6:10 p.m. the night of the pageant. Or you can purchase tickets in advance from a contestant or at Durant High School Main Office. For more information or group ticket sales, contact Tascha Bond, DECA Advisor and Miss DHS Director, at 580.924.4424 or Tascha.bond@durantisd.org.