Clarkston High School’s Sarah Mehaffey had a good showing in the 2003 Michigan Junior Miss Program in Alpena.
The recent graduate placed second runner-up in the event.
‘I didn’t have any expectations going into the event. All I wanted to do was go and have a good time,? Mehaffey said.
The competition included 22 senior girls from all around Michigan who had won their local contests. Clarkston did not have a local contest so Mehaffey received an at-large bid.
The contestants were judged in interviews (25 percent), talent (25 percent), scholastic (20 percent), poise (15 percent) and fitness (15 percent.)
‘It was not a beauty pageant. It is important that people know that,? Mehaffey said.
Each of the contestants spent a week in Alpena and stayed with a host family. The judging took place on the final night with judges who were flown in from around the country.
This was the first time Mehaffey entered a contest like this. The 18-year-old had a few individuals suggest she give it a try.
‘My pastor at Clarkston United Methodist Church has this big joke that I should be Miss America. Also Nancy Cale, who takes piano lessons from me, suggested the program and said I would have a good time doing it. I was a little skeptical about it and didn’t tell anybody that I was doing it.?
Cale participated in the competition during her youth.
‘It is the largest scholarship program for high school girls in the state,? Cale said. ‘It is not a beauty pageant by any means. It is a great program. Junior Miss is how Diane Sawyer got her start.?
Mehaffey was joined in Alpena by CHS classmate Heather Chjonowski.
‘It was an awesome experience and really a lot of fun,? Mehaffey said. ‘I made a lot of friends and still keep in touch with my host family. For the most part everybody up there was real nice and got along real well.?
Mehaffey is set to attend the University of Michigan in the fall and enter their School of Music. Being second runner-up earned her an $850 college scholarship.
‘I realized if you work hard at what you want you can achieve it,? Mehaffey said.